CITE
15 USC Sec. 78ee 01/08/2008
EXPCITE
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 2B - SECURITIES EXCHANGES
HEAD
Sec. 78ee. Transaction fees
STATUTE
(a) Recovery of cost of services
The Commission shall, in accordance with this section, collect
transaction fees and assessments that are designed to recover the
costs to the Government of the supervision and regulation of
securities markets and securities professionals, and costs related
to such supervision and regulation, including enforcement
activities, policy and rulemaking activities, administration, legal
services, and international regulatory activities.
(b) Exchange-traded securities
Subject to subsection (j) of this section, each national
securities exchange shall pay to the Commission a fee at a rate
equal to $15 per $1,000,000 of the aggregate dollar amount of sales
of securities (other than bonds, debentures, other evidences of
indebtedness, security futures products, and options on securities
indexes (excluding a narrow-based security index)) transacted on
such national securities exchange.
(c) Off-exchange trades of exchange registered and last-sale-
reported securities
Subject to subsection (j) of this section, each national
securities association shall pay to the Commission a fee at a rate
equal to $15 per $1,000,000 of the aggregate dollar amount of sales
transacted by or through any member of such association otherwise
than on a national securities exchange of securities (other than
bonds, debentures, other evidences of indebtedness, security
futures products, and options on securities indexes (excluding a
narrow-based security index)) registered on a national securities
exchange or subject to prompt last sale reporting pursuant to the
rules of the Commission or a registered national securities
association.
(d) Assessments on security futures transactions
Each national securities exchange and national securities
association shall pay to the Commission an assessment equal to
$0.009 for each round turn transaction (treated as including one
purchase and one sale of a contract of sale for future delivery) on
a security future traded on such national securities exchange or by
or through any member of such association otherwise than on a
national securities exchange, except that for fiscal year 2007 and
each succeeding fiscal year such assessment shall be equal to
$0.0042 for each such transaction.
(e) Dates for payments
The fees and assessments required by subsections (b), (c), and
(d) of this section shall be paid -
(1) on or before March 15, with respect to transactions and
sales occurring during the period beginning on the preceding
September 1 and ending at the close of the preceding December 31;
and
(2) on or before September 30, with respect to transactions and
sales occurring during the period beginning on the preceding
January 1 and ending at the close of the preceding August 31.
(f) Exemptions
The Commission, by rule, may exempt any sale of securities or any
class of sales of securities from any fee or assessment imposed by
this section, if the Commission finds that such exemption is
consistent with the public interest, the equal regulation of
markets and brokers and dealers, and the development of a national
market system.
(g) Publication
The Commission shall publish in the Federal Register notices of
the fee and assessment rates applicable under this section for each
fiscal year not later than April 30 of the fiscal year preceding
the fiscal year to which such rate applies, together with any
estimates or projections on which such fees are based.
(h) Pro rata application
The rates per $1,000,000 required by this section shall be
applied pro rata to amounts and balances of less than $1,000,000.
(i) Deposit of fees
(1) Offsetting collections
Fees collected pursuant to subsections (b), (c), and (d) of
this section for any fiscal year -
(A) shall be deposited and credited as offsetting collections
to the account providing appropriations to the Commission; and
(B) except as provided in subsection (k) of this section,
shall not be collected for any fiscal year except to the extent
provided in advance in appropriation Acts.
(2) General revenues prohibited
No fees collected pursuant to subsections (b), (c), and (d) of
this section for fiscal year 2002 or any succeeding fiscal year
shall be deposited and credited as general revenue of the
Treasury.
(j) Recapture of projection windfalls for further rate reductions
(1) Annual adjustment
For each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2011, the Commission
shall by order adjust each of the rates applicable under
subsections (b) and (c) of this section for such fiscal year to a
uniform adjusted rate that, when applied to the baseline estimate
of the aggregate dollar amount of sales for such fiscal year, is
reasonably likely to produce aggregate fee collections under this
section (including assessments collected under subsection (d) of
this section) that are equal to the target offsetting collection
amount for such fiscal year.
(2) Mid-year adjustment
For each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2011, the Commission
shall determine, by March 1 of such fiscal year, whether, based
on the actual aggregate dollar volume of sales during the first 5
months of such fiscal year, the baseline estimate of the
aggregate dollar volume of sales used under paragraph (1) for
such fiscal year (or $48,800,000,000,000 in the case of fiscal
year 2002) is reasonably likely to be 10 percent (or more)
greater or less than the actual aggregate dollar volume of sales
for such fiscal year. If the Commission so determines, the
Commission shall by order, no later than such March 1, adjust
each of the rates applicable under subsections (b) and (c) of
this section for such fiscal year to a uniform adjusted rate
that, when applied to the revised estimate of the aggregate
dollar amount of sales for the remainder of such fiscal year, is
reasonably likely to produce aggregate fee collections under this
section (including fees collected during such 5-month period and
assessments collected under subsection (d) of this section) that
are equal to the target offsetting collection amount for such
fiscal year. In making such revised estimate, the Commission
shall, after consultation with the Congressional Budget Office
and the Office of Management and Budget, use the same methodology
required by subsection (l)(2) of this section.
(3) Final rate adjustment
For fiscal year 2012 and all of the succeeding fiscal years,
the Commission shall by order adjust each of the rates applicable
under subsections (b) and (c) of this section for all of such
fiscal years to a uniform adjusted rate that, when applied to the
baseline estimate of the aggregate dollar amount of sales for
fiscal year 2012, is reasonably likely to produce aggregate fee
collections under this section in fiscal year 2012 (including
assessments collected under subsection (d) of this section) equal
to the target offsetting collection amount for fiscal year 2011.
(4) Review and effective date
In exercising its authority under this subsection, the
Commission shall not be required to comply with the provisions of
section 553 of title 5. An adjusted rate prescribed under
paragraph (1), (2), or (3) and published under subsection (g) of
this section shall not be subject to judicial review. Subject to
subsections (i)(1)(B) and (k) of this section -
(A) an adjusted rate prescribed under paragraph (1) shall
take effect on the later of -
(i) the first day of the fiscal year to which such rate
applies; or
(ii) thirty days after the date on which a regular
appropriation to the Commission for such fiscal year is
enacted;
(B) an adjusted rate prescribed under paragraph (2) shall
take effect on April 1 of the fiscal year to which such rate
applies; and
(C) an adjusted rate prescribed under paragraph (3) shall
take effect on the later of -
(i) the first day of fiscal year 2012; or
(ii) thirty days after the date on which a regular
appropriation to the Commission for fiscal year 2012 is
enacted.
(k) Lapse of appropriation
If on the first day of a fiscal year a regular appropriation to
the Commission has not been enacted, the Commission shall continue
to collect (as offsetting collections) the fees and assessments
under subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section at the rate in
effect during the preceding fiscal year, until 30 days after the
date such a regular appropriation is enacted.
(l) Definitions
For purposes of this section:
(1) Target offsetting collection amount
The target offsetting collection amount for each of the fiscal
years 2002 through 2011 is determined according to the following
table:
Target
offsetting
Fiscal year: collection
amount
2002 $732,000,000
2003 $849,000,000
2004 $1,028,000,000
2005 $1,220,000,000
2006 $1,435,000,000
2007 $881,000,000
2008 $892,000,000
2009 $1,023,000,000
2010 $1,161,000,000
2011 $1,321,000,000
(2) Baseline estimate of the aggregate dollar amount of sales
The baseline estimate of the aggregate dollar amount of sales
for any fiscal year is the baseline estimate of the aggregate
dollar amount of sales of securities (other than bonds,
debentures, other evidences of indebtedness, security futures
products, and options on securities indexes (excluding a narrow-
based security index)) to be transacted on each national
securities exchange and by or through any member of each national
securities association (otherwise than on a national securities
exchange) during such fiscal year as determined by the
Commission, after consultation with the Congressional Budget
Office and the Office of Management and Budget, using the
methodology required for making projections pursuant to section
907 of title 2.
SOURCE
(June 6, 1934, ch. 404, title I, Sec. 31, 48 Stat. 904; Mar. 17,
1944, ch. 101, 58 Stat. 117; Pub. L. 94-29, Sec. 22, June 4, 1975,
89 Stat. 162; Pub. L. 104-290, title IV, Sec. 405(a), Oct. 11,
1996, 110 Stat. 3442; Pub. L. 105-353, title III, Sec. 301(b)(14),
Nov. 3, 1998, 112 Stat. 3236; Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title
II, Sec. 206(f)], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-432; Pub. L.
107-123, Secs. 2, 3, Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2390.)
AMENDMENTS
2002 - Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(1), substituted
"Subject to subsection (j) of this section, each" for "Every" and
struck out at end "Fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall
be deposited and collected as general revenue of the Treasury."
Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 2(1)-(3), substituted "$15 per $1,000,000"
for " 1/300 of one percent" and "security futures products, and
options on securities indexes (excluding a narrow-based security
index)" for "and security futures products" and struck out ",
except that for fiscal year 2007 or any succeeding fiscal year such
rate shall be equal to 1/800 of one percent of such aggregate
dollar amount of sales" before period at end of first sentence.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(3), redesignated subsec.
(d) as (c), substituted "Off-exchange trades of exchange registered
and last-sale-reported securities" for "Off-exchange trades of last-
sale-reported securities" in subsec. heading, struck out par. (1)
heading, substituted "Subject to subsection (j) of this section,
each national securities" for "Each national securities", inserted
"registered on a national securities exchange or" after "narrow-
based security index))", struck out ", excluding any sales for
which a fee is paid under subsection (c) of this section" after
"national securities association", and struck out pars. (2) and
(3), which related to deposit of fees and lapse of appropriations.
Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(2), struck out heading and text of
former subsec. (c). Text read as follows: "Each national securities
association shall pay to the Commission a fee at a rate equal to
1/300 of one percent of the aggregate dollar amount of sales
transacted by or through any member of such association otherwise
than on a national securities exchange of securities registered on
such an exchange (other than bonds, debentures, other evidences of
indebtedness, and security futures products), except that for
fiscal year 2007 or any succeeding fiscal year such rate shall be
equal to 1/800 of one percent of such aggregate dollar amount of
sales. Fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be
deposited and collected as general revenue of the Treasury."
Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 2(1),(2), (4), which directed that subsec.
(d) be amended by substituting "$15 per $1,000,000" for " 1/300 of
one percent" and "security futures products, and options on
securities indexes (excluding a narrow-based security index)" for
"and security futures products", and striking out ", except that
for fiscal year 2007, or any succeeding fiscal year, such rate
shall be equal to (!1/800) of one percent of such aggregate dollar
amount of sale" before period at end of par. (1), was executed by
making the amendment in subsec. (c), to reflect the probable intent
of Congress and the amendment by Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(3),
which redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). See above.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(4), (6), redesignated
subsec. (e) as (d) and substituted "except that for fiscal year
2007 and each succeeding fiscal year such assessment shall be equal
to $0.0042 for each such transaction" for "except that for fiscal
year 2007 or any succeeding fiscal year such assessment shall be
equal to $0.0075 for each such transaction. Assessments collected
pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited and collected as
general revenue of the Treasury". Former subsec. (d) redesignated
(c).
Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 2(5), which directed that subsec. (e) be
amended by substituting "$0.009" for "$0.02", was executed by
making the amendment in subsec. (d), to reflect the probable intent
of Congress and the amendment by Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(4), (6)
which redesignated subsec. (e) as (d). See above.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(5), (6), redesignated
subsec. (f) as (e) and substituted "Dates for payments" for "Dates
for payment of fees" in heading and "The fees and assessments
required" for "The fees required" in introductory provisions.
Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(6), redesignated subsec.
(g) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (e).
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(6), (b)(2), redesignated
subsec. (h) as (g) and inserted before period at end "not later
than April 30 of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year to which
such rate applies, together with any estimates or projections on
which such fees are based". Former subsec. (g) redesignated (f).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(6), redesignated subsec.
(i), as enacted by Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 2(6), as (h). See below.
Former subsec. (h) redesignated (g).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(a)(7), added subsec. (i).
Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 2(6), added subsec. (i).
Subsecs. (j) to (l). Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 3(b)(1), added
subsecs. (j) to (l).
2000 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
206(f)(1)], inserted "and assessments" after "fees".
Subsecs. (b), (c), (d)(1). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title
II, Sec. 206(f)(2)], substituted "other evidences of indebtedness,
and security futures products" for "and other evidences of
indebtedness".
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
206(f)(6)], added subsec. (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
206(f)(5)], redesignated subsec. (e) as (f). Former subsec. (f)
redesignated (g).
Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec. 206(f)(3)],
inserted "or assessment" after "fee".
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
206(f)(5)], redesignated subsec. (f) as (g). Former subsec. (g)
redesignated (h).
Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec. 206(f)(4)],
inserted "and assessment" after "fee".
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106-554, Sec. 1(a)(5) [title II, Sec.
206(f)(5)], redesignated subsec. (g) as (h).
1998 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-353 substituted "this section"
for "this subsection".
1996 - Pub. L. 104-290 reenacted section catchline without change
and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as
follows: "Every national securities exchange shall pay to the
Commission on or before March 15 of each calendar year a fee in an
amount equal to one three-hundredths of 1 per centum of the
aggregate dollar amount of the sales of securities (other than
bonds, debentures, and other evidences of indebtedness) transacted
on such national securities exchange during each preceding calendar
year to which this section applies. Every registered broker and
dealer shall pay to the Commission on or before March 15 of each
calendar year a fee in an amount equal to one three-hundredths of 1
per centum of the aggregate dollar amount of the sales of
securities registered on a national securities exchange (other than
bonds, debentures, and other evidences of indebtedness) transacted
by such broker or dealer otherwise than on such an exchange during
each preceding calendar year: Provided, however, That no payment
shall be required for any calendar year in which such payment would
be less than one hundred dollars. The Commission, by rule, may
exempt any sale of securities or any class of sales of securities
from any fee imposed by this section, if the Commission finds that
such exemption is consistent with the public interest, the equal
regulation of markets and brokers and dealers, and the development
of a national market system."
1975 - Pub. L. 94-29 amended section generally, extending
provisions requiring the payment of fees to include transactions in
listed securities which occur in the over-the-counter market.
1944 - Act Mar. 17, 1944, amended section generally, inserting
provisions exempting from the payment of the fee securities
designated for exemption by the Secretary of the Treasury.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2002 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 11, Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2401, provided
that:
"(a) In General. - Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c),
the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 2002 Amendment
note set out under section 78a of this title] shall take effect on
October 1, 2001.
"(b) Immediate Transaction Fee Reductions. - The amendments made
by section 2 [amending this section] shall take effect on the later
of -
"(1) the first day of fiscal year 2002; or
"(2) thirty days after the date on which a regular
appropriation to the Commission for such fiscal year is enacted.
"(c) Additional Exceptions. - The authorities provided by section
6(b)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933 [15 U.S.C. 77f(b)(9)] and
sections 13(e)(9), 14(g)(9), and 31(k) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. 78m(e)(9), 78n(g)(9), and 78ee(k)], as so
designated by this Act, shall not apply until October 1, 2002."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1996 AMENDMENT
Section 405(b) of Pub. L. 104-290 provided that:
"(1) In general. - Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall
apply with respect to transactions in securities that occur on or
after October 1, 1997.
"(2) Off-exchange trades of last sale reported transactions. -
The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall
apply with respect to transactions described in section 31(d)(1) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [subsec. (d)(1) of this
section] (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) that occur
on or after September 1, 1997."
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1975 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 94-29 effective Jan. 1, 1976, see section
31(a) of Pub. L. 94-29, set out as a note under section 78b of this
title.
TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS
For transfer of functions of Securities and Exchange Commission,
with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg.
Plan No. 10 of 1950, Secs. 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175,
64 Stat. 1265, set out under section 78d of this title.
STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF FEE REDUCTIONS
Pub. L. 107-123, Sec. 9, Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2400, provided
that:
"(a) Study. - The Office of Economic Analysis of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (hereinafter referred to as the 'Office')
shall conduct a study of the extent to which the benefits of
reductions in fees effected as a result of this Act [see Short
Title of 2002 Amendment note set out under section 78a of this
title] are passed on to investors.
"(b) Factors for Consideration. - In conducting the study under
subsection (a), the Office shall -
"(1) consider the various elements of the securities industry
directly and indirectly benefiting from the fee reductions,
including purchasers and sellers of securities, members of
national securities exchanges, issuers, broker-dealers,
underwriters, participants in investment companies, retirement
programs, and others;
"(2) consider the impact on different types of investors, such
as individual equity holders, individual investment company
shareholders, businesses, and other types of investors;
"(3) include in the interpretation of the term 'investor'
shareholders of entities subject to the fee reductions; and
"(4) consider the economic benefits to investors flowing from
the fee reductions to include such factors as market efficiency,
expansion of investment opportunities, and enhanced liquidity and
capital formation.
"(c) Report to Congress. - Not later than 2 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 16, 2002], the Securities and
Exchange Commission shall submit to the Congress the report
prepared by the Office on the findings of the study conducted under
subsection (a)."
FEES FROM NATIONAL SECURITIES ASSOCIATIONS FOR MEMBER TRANSACTIONS
OTHER THAN ON NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGES
Pub. L. 104-208, div. A, title I, Sec. 101(a) [title V], Sept.
30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009-61, provided in part: "That
effective January 1, 1997, every national securities association
shall pay to the Commission a fee at a rate of one-three-hundredth
of one percentum of the aggregate dollar amount of sales transacted
by or through any member of such association otherwise than on a
national securities exchange (other than bonds, debentures, and
other evidences of indebtedness) subject to prompt last sale
reporting pursuant to the rules of the Commission or a registered
national securities association, excluding any sales for which a
fee is paid under section 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(15 U.S.C. 78ee), and such increase shall be deposited as an
offsetting collection to this appropriation, to remain available
until expended, to recover the costs to the Government of the
supervision and regulation of securities markets and securities
professionals: Provided further, That the fee due from every
national securities association shall be paid on or before
September 30, 1997, with respect to transactions and sales
occurring during the period beginning on January 1, 1997, and
ending at the close of August 31, 1997".