WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 26, Internal Revenue Code › Chapter 1

26 U.S.C. 127: Educational assistance programs

Created in 1978 by Public Law 95-600. Changed by 14 later laws. 1 new law this Congress changed it.

This Congress

  • H.R. 1 An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14. · became law · changed (c), (d)

How it got here

2020

  • Pub. L. 116–260 substituted "January 1, 2026" for "January 1, 2021". (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 116–136 added subpar. (B). Former subpar. (B) redesignated (C). (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act" or the "CARES Act) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 116–136 redesignated subpar. (B) as (C). (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act" or the "CARES Act) Law text · (c)

2001

  • Pub. L. 107–16, §411(b), struck out before period at end ", and such term also does not include any payment for, or the provision of any benefits with respect to, any graduate level course of a kind normally taken by an individual pursuing a program leading to a law, business, medic… (Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 107–16, §411(a), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (d). Text read as follows: "This section shall not apply to expenses paid with respect to courses beginning after December 31, 2001." (Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001) Law text · (d), (e)

1999

  • Pub. L. 106–170 substituted "December 31, 2001" for "May 31, 2000". (Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999) Law text · (d)

1997

  • Pub. L. 105–34 amended heading and text of subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "This section shall not apply to taxable years beginning after May 31, 1997. In the case of any taxable year beginning in 1997, only expenses paid with respect to courses beginni… (Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997) Law text · (d)

1996

  • Pub. L. 104–188, §1202(b), in closing provisions, inserted before period at end ", and such term also does not include any payment for, or the provision of any benefits with respect to, any graduate level course of a kind normally taken by an individual pursuing a program leading to… (Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 104–188, §1202(a), substituted "May 31, 1997. In the case of any taxable year beginning in 1997, only expenses paid with respect to courses beginning before July 1, 1997, shall be taken into account in determining the amount excluded under this section." for "December 31, 1994." (Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996) Law text · (d)

1993

  • Pub. L. 103–66 substituted "December 31, 1994" for "June 30, 1992". · (d)

1991

  • Pub. L. 102–227 substituted "June 30, 1992" for "December 31, 1991". · (d)

1990

  • Pub. L. 101–508, §11403(b), struck out at end "The term 'educational assistance' also does not include any payment for, or the provision of any benefits with respect to, any graduate level course of a kind normally taken by an individual pursuing a program leading to a law, business… · (c)
  • Pub. L. 101–508, §11403(a), substituted "December 31, 1991" for "September 30, 1990". · (d)

1989

  • Pub. L. 101–140, §203(a)(1), amended par. (1) to read as if amendments by Pub. L. 99–514, §1151(c)(4)(A), had not been enacted, see 1986 Amendment note below. · (b)
  • Pub. L. 101–140, §203(a)(2), amended par. (2) to read as if amendments by Pub. L. 100–647, §1011B(a)(31)(B), had not been enacted, see 1988 Amendment note below. · (b)
  • Pub. L. 101–140, §203(a)(1), amended par. (2) to read as if amendments by Pub. L. 99–514, §1151(g)(3), had not been enacted, see 1986 Amendment note below. · (b)
  • Pub. L. 101–140, §203(a)(1), amended par. (6) to read as if amendments by Pub. L. 99–514, §1151(c)(4)(B), had not been enacted, see 1986 Amendment note below. · (b)
  • Pub. L. 101–239, §7814(a), struck out par. (8) which read as follows: "Coordination with section 117(d).—In the case of the education of an individual who is a graduate student at an educational organization described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii) and who is engaged in teaching or res… · (c)
  • Pub. L. 101–239, §7101(a)(1), substituted "September 30, 1990" for "December 31, 1988". · (d)

1988

  • Pub. L. 100–647, §1011B(a)(31)(B), substituted "there shall" for "there may" and "who are" for "who may be" in last sentence. · (b)
  • Pub. L. 100–647, §4001(b)(1), inserted at end "The term 'educational assistance' also does not include any payment for, or the provision of any benefits with respect to, any graduate level course of a kind normally taken by an individual pursuing a program leading to a law, business… · (c)
  • Pub. L. 100–647, §4001(a), substituted "1988" for "1987". · (d)

1986

  • Pub. L. 99–514, §1162(a)(2), substituted "$5,250" for "$5,000" in heading and twice in text. · (a)
  • Pub. L. 99–514, §1151(c)(4)(A), added par. (1) and struck out former par (1) which read as follows: "For purposes of this section an educational assistance program is a separate written plan of an employer for the exclusive benefit of his employees to provide such employees with edu… · (b)
  • Pub. L. 99–514, §1151(g)(3), substituted "For purposes of this paragraph, there may be excluded from consideration employees who may be excluded from consideration under section 89(h)." for "For purposes of this paragraph, there shall be excluded from consideration employees not inc… · (b)
  • Pub. L. 99–514, §1114(b)(4), substituted "highly compensated employees (within the meaning of section 414(q))" for "officers, owners, or highly compensated,". · (b)
  • Pub. L. 99–514, §1151(c)(4)(B), struck out par. (6) which read as follows: "Notification of employees.—Reasonable notification of the availability and terms of the program must be provided to eligible employees." · (b)
  • Pub. L. 99–514, §1162(a)(1), substituted "December 31, 1987" for "December 31, 1985". · (d)

1984

  • Pub. L. 98–611, §1(b), amended subsec. generally, substituting "Exclusion from gross income" for "General rule" in heading, designating existing provision as par. "(1) In general" and adding par. (2). · (a)
  • Pub. L. 98–611, §1(e), substituted "allowed to the employee" for "allowed". · (c)
  • Pub. L. 98–611, §1(c), added par. (8). · (c)
  • Pub. L. 98–611, §1(a), substituted "December 31, 1985" for "December 31, 1983". · (d)
  • Pub. L. 98–611, §1(d)(3)(B), added subsec. (e). · (e)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.