Updated Interest Rates 2013

Excerpt IRS Tax Tips Issue 2013-24

Interest Rates Remain the Same for the Second Quarter of 2013

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning Apr. 1, 2013.  The rates will be: 

• three (3) percent for overpayments (two (2) percent in the case of a corporation);
• three (3) percent for underpayments;
• five (5) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
• one-half (0.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis.  For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. 

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during January 2013 to take effect February 1, 2013, based on daily compounding.

Revenue Ruling 2013-6, announcing the rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2013-13, dated March 25, 2013.