18 USC § 1915 - Compromise of customs liabilities

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1915"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1915 - Compromise of customs liabilities"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1915"
section_name: "Compromise of customs liabilities"
chapter_number: 93
chapter_name: "PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 793; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 1915. Compromise of customs liabilities

Whoever, being an officer of the United States, without lawful authority compromises or abates or attempts to compromise or abate any claim of the United States arising under the customs laws for any fine, penalty or forfeiture, or in any manner relieves or attempts to relieve any person, vessel, vehicle, merchandise or baggage therefrom, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 793; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Customs Duties (, title IV, § 616, ).

Designation of the offense as a felony was omitted as unnecessary in view of definitive . (See reviser’s note under .)

Words “and upon conviction thereof” were also omitted as unnecessary, since punishment could not be imposed until after conviction.

Changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.