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Official form guide
Form 8038-TC: Information Return for Tax Credit Bonds and Specified Tax Credit Bonds
IRS Form 8038‑TC is an information return that issuers of qualified and specified tax credit bonds must file to report bond issue details; it is due on or before the 15th day of the second calendar month after the quarter in which the bond was issued.
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IRS Form 8038-TC - Information Return for Tax Credit Bonds and Specified Tax Credit Bonds
IRS Form 8038‑TC is an information return that issuers of qualified and specified tax credit bonds must file to report bond issue details; it is due on or before the 15th day of the second calendar month after the quarter in which the bond was issued.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Filing Form 8038‑TC later than the required 30‑day window before the first Form 8038‑CP creates a compliance violation.
- 2Filing the form before the bond issue date.
- 3Missing the 15th‑day‑of‑second‑month deadline after the issuance quarter.
- 4Entering an officer’s name on line 3 instead of an authorized individual.
- 5Including copies of the trust indenture or other bond documents.
Plain English
Form 8038‑TC tells the IRS about each tax credit bond a qualified issuer creates. It lists the bond type, issue date, and any donors. The filing deadline is tied to the bond’s issuance quarter. Missing the deadline can cause compliance problems.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2018-09-19 23:00:07
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when issuers of qualified tax credit bonds or specified tax credit bonds need to report each bond issue to the IRS.
- Do not use it when reporting Build America bonds or any bond not listed as a qualified or specified tax credit bond.
- Check Form 8038-B instead when reporting Build America bonds.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Reporting a Build America bond issue
Build America bonds are excluded from Form 8038‑TC reporting
✓ Verify bond type is Build America
Requesting direct payment of refundable credit for a specified tax credit bond
Direct payment requires Form 8038‑CP, not Form 8038‑TC
✓ Confirm eligibility under section 6431
Submitting arbitrage rebate for a tax credit bond
Arbitrage rebate payments are filed on Form 8038‑T, not Form 8038‑TC
✓ Ensure rebate amount is calculated correctly
Deadline or filing window
The filing deadline is triggered by the bond’s issue date. The return must be mailed on or before the 15th day of the second calendar month after the quarter in which the bond was issued. No extension is provided; late filings for specified bonds must still occur at least 30 days before the first Form 8038‑CP is submitted.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Bond issue date
Issue date of bond · Bond issuance documents
Bond type selection
Identify qualified vs specified tax credit bond · Bond prospectus
Debt service schedule (fixed‑rate)
Complete Fixed Rate Bond—Debt Service Schedule · Schedule attachment
Amount rounding
Rounded dollar amounts · Calculation worksheet
Signature block
Authorized signer signature · Form signature line
Before you submit
- 1Confirm the edition date matches September 2018
- 2Verify the bond was issued after March 2010 and before January 1, 2018
- 3Determine whether the bond is a qualified or specified tax credit bond
- 4Attach the Fixed Rate Bond—Debt Service Schedule if the bond is fixed‑rate
- 5Round all monetary amounts to whole dollars as instructed
- 6Sign the form in the authorized signature block
- 7Mail the form to the IRS Center in Ogden, UT 84201 using a traceable service
- 8Ensure the filing is on or before the 15th day of the second month after the quarter of issuance
- 9Do not include copies of the trust indenture or other bond documents
How to file this form
- 1Determine bond eligibility and gather required bond documents
- 2Complete Form 8038‑TC with issue date, bond type, and other required details
- 3Attach the Fixed Rate Bond—Debt Service Schedule if the bond is fixed‑rate
- 4Round all monetary amounts to whole dollars
- 5Sign the form in the authorized signature area
- 6Mail the form to Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Ogden, UT 84201 with proof of mailing
- 7Retain a copy of the filed form for your records
Known limitations
- 1Build America bonds are excluded; they must be reported on Form 8038‑B instead of Form 8038‑TC (Instructions p.1).
- 2Qualified tax credit bonds issued on or before March 2010 or on/after January 1 2018 are not required to file Form 8038‑TC (Instructions p.1).
- 3Specified tax credit bonds issued on or after January 1 2018 are not required to file Form 8038‑TC (Instructions p.1).
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
General Info
2 items
Full legal name and taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN).
Current mailing address.
Details
2 items
Complete all applicable sections of this form according to the official IRS instructions.
Enter the relevant dollar amount if this form involves tax calculation.
Certification
1 items
Read and acknowledge any certifications required by this form.
Signatures
1 items
Sign and date. Unsigned forms cannot be processed.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The instructions are Rev. September 2018 and direct filers to check the latest information at IRS.gov/Form8038TC. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act repealed the authority to issue new tax‑credit bonds after December 31, 2017, affecting which bonds must be reported.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision reads September 2018
- Latest info page — confirm IRS.gov/Form8038TC is consulted for updates
- Fee — Not stated in the official source
- Mailing address — confirm Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Ogden, UT 84201
- Signature — confirm the form is signed before submission
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1If an error is discovered, file an amended return by checking the "Amended Return" box in the form heading.
- 2The amended return must provide all information reported on the original return together with the new or corrected information.
- 3Late filings for specified tax credit bonds must still be submitted at least 30 days prior to the submission of the first Form 8038-CP for that issue.
- 4Do not submit copies of the trust indenture or other bond documents with Form 8038-TC.
Sources
- SRCInstructions p.1 — filing deadline is on or before the 15th day of the 2nd calendar month after the close of the calendar quarter in which the bond was issued.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — qualified tax credit bond issuers must file a separate Form 8038‑TC for each issue issued after March 2010 and before January 1 2018.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — specified tax credit bond issuers must file a separate Form 8038‑TC for each issue issued before January 1 2018.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Build America bonds are reported on Form 8038‑B, not Form 8038‑TC.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — if Form 8038‑TC is filed late for specified tax credit bonds, it still must be filed 30 days prior to the first Form 8038‑CP for that issue.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — filing address is Department of the Treasury, IRS Center, Ogden, UT 84201; private delivery services may be used per IRS list; PDS cannot deliver to P.O. boxes.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — do not submit copies of the trust indenture or other bond documents.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — rounding to whole dollars is allowed; all amounts must be rounded using the described rule.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — line 3 must name an individual other than an officer; officer names belong on line 10.
- SRCInstructions p.3 — line 5 requires the maximum term entered to two decimal places with trailing zeros (e.g., 10.00); line 6 requires the permitted yield to four decimal places with trailing zeros (e.g., 10.7400%).
Common confusion points
Do I need to use Form 8038‑TC for a Build America bond?
The instructions state Build America bonds belong on Form 8038‑B, not Form 8038‑TC.
→ Verify the bond type and, if it is a Build America bond, file Form 8038‑B.
Is the filing deadline the 15th of the month after the bond issue?
The deadline is tied to the quarter in which the bond was issued, not the issue month itself.
→ Identify the quarter of issuance, then count to the second month after that quarter; the return is due by the 15th day of that month (Instructions p.1).
Can I mail the return to a P.O. box using a private delivery service?
Private delivery services cannot deliver to P.O. boxes; only the U.S. Postal Service may be used for PO‑box addresses.
→ Use USPS if the mailing address is a P.O. box; otherwise follow the designated private delivery service list (Instructions p.1).
Should I attach the trust indenture or other bond documents with the return?
The instructions explicitly say not to submit copies of the trust indenture or other bond documents.
→ File the return without any bond document attachments (Instructions p.1).
Do I round cents on each line or only on the final total?
The rounding rule requires rounding every amount to whole dollars, and when adding amounts, include cents then round the sum.
→ Apply rounding to every dollar figure; when aggregating, keep cents until the total is calculated, then round the total (Instructions p.2).
Do I enter the officer’s name on line 3 as the contact person?
Line 3 must list an individual who is not an officer; officer names belong on line 10.
→ Ensure line 3 contains a non‑officer individual and use line 10 for the officer’s name (Instructions p.2).
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 8038‑CP — can be filed to correct or supplement bond issue information for each maturity (Instructions p.2).
Questions about IRS Form 8038-TC
What is IRS Form 8038-TC used for?
Form 8038‑TC tells the IRS about each tax credit bond a qualified issuer creates. It lists the bond type, issue date, and any donors. The filing deadline is tied to the bond’s issuance quarter. Missing the deadline can cause compliance problems.
Who must file IRS Form 8038-TC?
Issuers of qualified tax credit bonds (such as qualified forestry conservation bonds, new clean renewable energy bonds, qualified energy conservation bonds, qualified zone academy bonds, and qualified school construction bonds) and issuers of specified tax credit bonds (new clean renewable energy bonds, qualified energy conservation bonds, qualified zone academy bonds, qualified school construction bonds) must file.
What information does IRS Form 8038-TC require?
The form gathers bond‑issue information, donor names and EINs (e.g., lines 5a and 5b for a fifth donor), and details of qualified renewable energy facilities in Part III. It also records whether a bond is a new CREB on line 9.
When is IRS Form 8038-TC due?
File Form 8038‑TC on or before the 15th day of the 2nd calendar month after the close of the calendar quarter in which the bond was issued. The form may not be filed before the issue date.
Where do I file IRS Form 8038-TC?
Send Form 8038‑TC and any attachments to the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Ogden, UT 84201, or use an IRS‑designated private delivery service.
How do I complete IRS Form 8038-TC?
Enter the name of any authorized individual on line 3 (do not list an officer there). List the officer’s name on line 10. Complete donor information on lines 5a‑5b and attach a schedule if there are more than five donors. Fill out Part III with issuer information and any qualified renewable energy facilities, then sign the form before mailing.
What happens if IRS Form 8038-TC is filed incorrectly?
If Form 8038‑TC is filed late for specified tax credit bonds, it still must be filed at least 30 days before the first Form 8038‑CP for that issue, or the filing will be non‑compliant.
Do I need to use Form 8038‑TC for a Build America bond?
The instructions state Build America bonds belong on Form 8038‑B, not Form 8038‑TC. Verify the bond type and, if it is a Build America bond, file Form 8038‑B.
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