Editorial Note on Part 53
Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 53 appear by T.D. ATF-447, 66 FR 19088, Apr. 13, 2001.

§ 53.157 Deposit requirement for deposits made for calendar quarters prior to July 1, 1995. Note:
For deposit requirement for deposits made for calendar quarters beginning on or after July 1, 1995, see § 53.159.
( a ) *Monthly deposits.* Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, if for any calendar month (other than the last month of a calendar quarter) any person required to file a quarterly excise tax return on TTB Form 5300.26 has a total liability under this part of more than $100 for all excise taxes reportable on that form, the amount of liability for taxes shall be deposited by the person in accordance with the instructions on TTB Form 5300.27 on or before the last day of the month following the calendar month.
( b ) *Semimonthly deposits.* ( 1 ) If any person required to file an excise tax return on TTB Form 5300.26 for any calendar quarter has a total liability under this part of more than $2,000 for all excise taxes reportable on that form for any calendar month in the preceding calendar quarter, the amount of that liability for taxes under this part for any semimonthly period (as defined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section) in the succeeding calendar quarter shall be deposited by the person in accordance with the instructions on TTB Form 5300.27 on or before the depositary date (as defined in paragraph (d)(2) of this section) applicable to the semimonthly period.
( 2 ) A person will be considered to have complied with the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section for a semimonthly period if— ( i ) ( A ) The person's deposit for the semimonthly period is not less than 90 percent of the total amount of the excise taxes reportable by the person on TTB Form 5300.26 for the period, and
( B ) If the semimonthly period occurs in a calendar month other than the last month in a calendar quarter, the person deposits any underpayment for the month by the 9th day of the second month following the calendar month; or
( ii ) ( A ) The person's deposit for each semimonthly period in the calendar month is not less than 45 percent of the total amount of the excise taxes reportable by the person on TTB Form 5300.26 for the month, and
( B ) If such month is other than the last month in a calendar quarter, the person deposits any underpayment for such month by the 9th day of the second month following the calendar month; or
( iii ) ( A ) The person's deposit for each semimonthly period in the calendar month is not less than 50 percent of the total amount of the excise taxes reportable by the person on TTB Form 5300.26 for the second preceding calendar month, and
( B ) If such month is other than the last month in a calendar quarter, the person deposits any underpayment for such month by the 9th day of the second month following the calendar month; or
( iv ) ( A ) The requirements of paragraph (b)(2) (i)(A), (ii)(A), or (iii)(A) of this section are satisfied for the first semimonthly period of a calendar month after December 1990,
( B ) If the person's deposit for the second semimonthly period of the calendar month is, when added to the deposit for the first semimonthly period, not less than 90 percent of the total amount of the excise taxes reportable by the person on TTB Form 5300.26 for the calendar month, and
( C ) If the semimonthly periods occur in a calendar month other than the last month in a calendar quarter, the person deposits any underpayment for the month by the 9th day of the second month following the calendar month.
( 3 ) ( i ) Paragraph (b)(2) (ii) and (iii) of this section shall not apply to any person who normally incurs in the first semimonthly period in each calendar month more than 75 percent of the person's total excise tax liability under this part for the month.
( ii ) Persons who make their deposits in accordance with paragraph (b)(2) (ii), (iii), or (iv) of this section will find it unnecessary to keep their books and records on a semimonthly basis.
( c ) *Deposit of certain excess undeposited amounts.* Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, if any person required to file an excise tax return on TTB Form 5300.26 for any calendar quarter beginning after December 31, 1990, has a total liability under this part for all excise taxes reportable on the form for the calendar quarter which exceeds by more than $100 the total amount of taxes deposited by the person pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this section for the calendar quarter, the person shall, on or before the last day of the calendar month following the calendar quarter for which the return is required to be filed, deposit in accordance with the instructions on TTB Form 5300.27 the full amount by which the person's liability for all excise taxes reportable on the return for that calendar quarter exceeds the amount of excise taxes previously deposited by the person for that calendar quarter.
( d ) *Definitions* — ( 1 ) *Semimonthly period.* The term *semimonthly period* means the first 15 days of a calendar month or the portion of a calendar month following the 15th day of that month.
( 2 ) *Depositary date.* The term *depositary date* means, in the case of deposits for semimonthly periods beginning after December 31, 1990, the 9th day of the semimonthly period following the semimonthly period for which the taxes are reportable.
( 3 ) *Lockbox financial institution.* The term *lockbox financial institution* means the financial institution designated as a depository for the payment of excise taxes on TTB Form 5300.27, Federal Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Deposit form.
( e ) *Depositary forms and procedures* — ( 1 ) *In general.* Each remittance of amounts required to be deposited for periods beginning after December 31, 1990 shall be accompanied by an TTB Form 5300.27, Federal Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Deposit form, or TTB Form 5300.26, Federal Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Return, which shall be prepared in accordance with the applicable instructions. Taxpayers electing to remit deposits by EFT pursuant to § 53.158 shall prepare and submit TTB Form 5300.26 or TTB Form 5300.27 in accordance with the instructions on the form. The timeliness of the deposit will be determined by the date it is received (or is deemed received under section 7502(e) and 26 CFR 301.7502-1) by the lockbox financial institution, or the TTB officer designated on TTB Form 5300.27 or TTB Form 5300.26 accompanying the deposit, or when made by electronic fund transfer, the Treasury Account. Amounts deposited pursuant to this paragraph shall be considered to be paid on the last day prescribed for filing the return in respect of the tax (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing the returns), or at the time deposited, whichever is later.
( 2 ) *Number of remittances.* A person required by this section to make deposits may make one or more remittances with respect to the amount required to be deposited. An amount of tax which is not otherwise required by this section to be deposited may, nevertheless, be deposited if the person liable for the tax so desires.
( 3 ) *Information required.* Each person making deposits pursuant to this section shall report on the return for the period with respect to which the deposits are made information regarding the deposits in accordance with the instructions applicable to the return and pay (or deposits by the due date of the return) the balance, if any, of the taxes due for the period.
( 4 ) *Procurement of prescribed forms.* Copies of the Federal Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Deposit form will be furnished, so far as possible, to persons required to make deposits under this section. Such a person will not be excused from making a deposit, however, by the fact that no form has been furnished. A person not supplied with the form is required to apply for it in ample time to make the required deposits within the time prescribed, supplying with the application the person's name, employer identification number, address, and the taxable period to which the deposits will relate. Copies of the Federal Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Deposit form are available as provided in § 53.21(b).
( f ) *Nonapplication to certain taxes.* This section does not apply to taxes for: ( 1 ) Any month or semimonthly period in which the taxpayer receives notice pursuant to § 53.151(b) to file TTB Form 5300.26 or
( 2 ) Any subsequent month or semimonthly period for which a return on TTB Form 5300.26 is required.
[T.D. ATF-308, 56 FR 303, Jan. 3, 1991, as amended by T.D. ATF-312, 56 FR 31084, July 9, 1991; T.D. ATF-330, 57 FR 40325, Sept. 3, 1992; T.D. ATF-365, 60 FR 33671, June 28, 1995; T.D. ATF-447, 66 FR 19088, Apr. 13, 2001; T.D. TTB-44, 71 FR 16958, Apr. 4, 2006]