In lieu of all existing taxes, every association shall pay to the Treasurer of the United States, in the months of January and July, a duty of one-half of 1 per centum each half year upon the average amount of its notes in circulation.

(R.S. §5214; Mar. 3, 1883, ch. 121, §1, 22 Stat. 488.)

R.S. §5214 derived from act June 3, 1864, ch. 106, §41, 13 Stat. 111, which was part of the National Bank Act. See section 38 of this title.

Section, act Mar. 14, 1900, ch. 41, §13, 31 Stat. 49, related to tax on circulating notes secured by 2 per centum bonds.

Section, act Dec. 21, 1905, ch. 3, §1, 34 Stat. 5, related to tax on circulating notes secured by Panama Canal 2 per centum bonds and rights and privileges of such bonds.

Section 544, R.S. §5215; act Mar. 3, 1883, ch. 121, §1, 22 Stat. 488, related to half-yearly return of circulation.

Section 545, R.S. §5216; act Mar. 3, 1883, ch. 121, §1, 22 Stat. 488, related to penalty for failure to make return.

Section 546, R.S. §5217, related to enforcing tax on circulation.

Section 547, R.S. §5218; act June 10, 1921, ch. 18, §304, 42 Stat. 24, related to refunding excess tax.

Effective July 1, 1935, the permanent appropriation provided for in former section 547 of this title was repealed by act June 26, 1934, ch. 756, §2, 48 Stat. 1226, such act authorizing in lieu thereof, an annual appropriation from the general fund of the Treasury.

In a communication from the Treasury Department dated February 17, 1941, it was stated “The Secretary of the Treasury called for redemption the only outstanding issues of United States bonds bearing the circulation privilege as follows:

“2% Consols. of 1930, as of July 1, 1935,

“2% Panama Canal bonds of 1916–36, and

“2% Panama Canal bonds of 1918–38, as of August 1, 1935.

“The retirement of these issues automatically put an end to National Bank note circulation and the collection of the tax thereon.”