Amendment 16 - United States Constitution Interactive

This page provides the text and interpreted text of the 16th Amendment of the United States Constitution. It is part of our interactive Constitution.

Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam has come to be the symbol of tax season.

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What does it Say?

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

What does it Mean?

The 16th Amendment authorized Congress to collect income taxes from its citizens. The amendment was originally passed in 1894, but Congress declared it unconstitutional.

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