18 USC § 3573 - Petition of the Government for modification or remission

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s3573"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 3573 - Petition of the Government for modification or remission"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "3573"
section_name: "Petition of the Government for modification or remission"
chapter_number: 227
chapter_name: "SENTENCES"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "FINES"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 212(a)(2), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1997; amended Pub. L. 100–185, § 8(a), Dec. 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 1282; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7082(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4407.)"
---


# § 3573. Petition of the Government for modification or remission

Upon petition of the Government showing that reasonable efforts to collect a fine or assessment are not likely to be effective, the court may, in the interest of justice—

**(1)** remit all or part of the unpaid portion of the fine or special assessment, including interest and penalties;

**(2)** defer payment of the fine or special assessment to a date certain or pursuant to an installment schedule; or

**(3)** extend a date certain or an installment schedule previously ordered.

A petition under this subsection shall be filed in the court in which sentence was originally imposed, unless the court transfers jurisdiction to another court. This section shall apply to all fines and assessments irrespective of the date of imposition.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 212(a)(2), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1997; amended Pub. L. 100–185, § 8(a), Dec. 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 1282; Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7082(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4407.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

For a prior section 3573, applicable to offenses committed prior to , see note set out preceding .

### Amendments

1988— inserted at end “This section shall apply to all fines and assessments irrespective of the date of imposition.”

1987— substituted “Petition of the Government for modification or remission” for “Modification or remission of fine” in section catchline and amended text generally, revising and restating as a single paragraph with three numbered clauses provisions formerly contained in subsecs. (a) and (b).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of this section, see , set out as a note under .