Manufacturers, producers, and importers of taxable vaccines owe a federal excise tax of $0.75 per dose for each taxable vaccine component, under IRC § 4131. It's reported on Form 720 as IRS No. 97, and funds the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund. EasyFile720 files it for you.
The vaccine excise tax is a federal tax under IRC § 4131 on the first sale or use of certain vaccines made, produced, or imported into the U.S. It is a flat $0.75 per dose for each taxable vaccine component, reported on Form 720 under IRS No. 97. The revenue funds the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund — it is not a tax on patients or providers.
The manufacturer, producer, or importer of a taxable vaccine — not the clinic or patient. The tax attaches to the first sale or use of the vaccine in the U.S. under IRC § 4131 and is reported on Form 720 as IRS No. 97.
$0.75 per dose for each taxable vaccine. A dose that contains more than one taxable vaccine is taxed $0.75 × the number of components — so a 3-component vaccine like MMR is $2.25 per dose.
Net revenue funds the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund, which pays claims under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) — a no-fault system for people injured by covered vaccines.
Count each taxable component separately. DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) is three components = $2.25; MMR is three = $2.25. EasyFile720 multiplies the components out so you don't undercount.
The $0.75-per-dose tax applies to each taxable vaccine listed in IRC § 4132. A dose with multiple taxable components is taxed per component. This is the full statutory list:
Congress periodically adds vaccines to the taxable list (IRC § 4132); a vaccine is taxable only once it is listed. EasyFile720 reflects the current list. Source: IRS Publication 510 (Vaccines), IRC §§ 4131–4132.
The trap is counting doses instead of components. The tax is always $0.75 × the number of taxable vaccines in each dose.
A producer sells, in Q2 2026: 10,000 doses of DTaP (3 components), 8,000 doses of MMR (3 components), and 5,000 doses of hepatitis B (1 component).
DTaP: 10,000 × $2.25 = $22,500 · MMR: 8,000 × $2.25 = $18,000 · Hep B: 5,000 × $0.75 = $3,750.
Quarterly tax: $22,500 + $18,000 + $3,750 = $44,250 — reported under IRS No. 97.
If vaccine you already paid tax on is later returned to you or destroyed before use, you don't eat the tax. A credit or refund is available.
The credit is claimed on Form 720, Schedule C, which offsets your net IRS No. 97 liability. EasyFile720 carries eligible amounts through automatically.
Count taxable doses and components, subtract any credits, then report under IRS No. 97 — EasyFile720 does the math.
Count taxable doses sold or used this quarter
For each taxable vaccine manufactured, produced, or imported, count the doses sold or used. For combination vaccines, count each taxable component separately.
Apply $0.75 per taxable component
The tax is $0.75 per dose times the number of taxable vaccines in the dose. EasyFile720 multiplies it out for you (e.g., MMR or DTaP = $2.25 per dose).
Subtract credits for returned or destroyed vaccines
If taxed vaccine was later returned to you or destroyed, a credit or refund is available. EasyFile720 carries eligible amounts to Form 720, Schedule C.
Enter the total under IRS No. 97
EasyFile720 populates Form 720, Part I, IRS No. 97 with your net vaccine tax for the quarter.
E-file to the IRS
Review, sign electronically, and submit directly to the IRS by the quarterly deadline. Part I taxes may require semimonthly EFTPS deposits if liability exceeds $2,500 for the quarter.
The manufacturer, producer, or importer of a taxable vaccine pays the tax on the first sale or use, under IRC § 4131. It is reported on Form 720, Part I, as IRS No. 97. Clinics, pharmacies, and patients do not file this tax.
$0.75 per dose of each taxable vaccine. If a single dose contains more than one taxable vaccine, the tax is $0.75 multiplied by the number of taxable vaccines — for example, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) are each taxed at $2.25 per dose.
The full statutory list (IRC § 4132) covers vaccines containing diphtheria, tetanus, or pertussis; polio; measles, mumps, or rubella; hepatitis A and B; chicken pox (varicella); rotavirus; HIB; pneumococcal conjugate (streptococcus pneumoniae); influenza; meningococcal; and human papillomavirus (HPV). Congress adds vaccines to this list over time.
By component. The tax is $0.75 times the number of taxable vaccines in the dose. A combination shot with three taxable components is taxed $2.25 per dose; a four-component combination is $3.00. Counting components — not just doses — is the most common place filers undercount.
No. The COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccine is not on the taxable-vaccine list in IRC § 4132, so it is not currently subject to the vaccine excise tax. Only the vaccines named in the statute are taxable; the list can change only if Congress amends it.
Yes. A credit or refund is available for taxable vaccine that is returned to you (the manufacturer/producer) or destroyed before use. The credit is claimed on Form 720, Schedule C, which reduces your net IRS No. 97 liability for the quarter.
Net revenues are deposited into the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund, which funds the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) — a no-fault program that compensates individuals injured by certain vaccines.
Every rate and rule on this page comes straight from IRS guidance. Confirm the details yourself:
This page is general information, not tax advice. The taxable-vaccine list and rate are set by IRC §§ 4131–4132; confirm the current list against the IRS sources above before filing.
IRS No. 97 on Form 720 — per-component math handled for you. Free to get started, pay only when you file.