Cite as: 513 U. S. 123 (1994)
Opinion of the Court
Justice Thomas delivered the opinion of the Court.
We took this case to decide whether States may tax interest income derived from repurchase agreements involving federal securities. If the income that taxpayers earn by participating in such agreements constitutes interest on federal securities, then the taxation violates 31 U. S. C. § 3124(a), which exempts interest on "obligations of the United States Government" from taxation by States. On the other hand, if that income constitutes interest on loans to a private party, the taxation is not prohibited by the statute. With respect to the repurchase agreements at issue in this case, we conclude that for purposes of § 3124(a), the interest earned by taxpayers is interest on loans to a private party, not interest on federal securities. Accordingly, we hold that § 3124(a) does not prohibit States from taxing such income.
I
Respondent is a Nebraska resident who owns shares in two mutual funds, the Trust for Short-Term U. S. Government Securities and the Trust for U. S. Treasury Obligations (Trusts). The Trusts earn a portion of their income by participating in "repurchase agreements" that involve debt securities issued by the United States Government and its agenof Illinois, Pamela Carter of Indiana, Chris Gorman of Kentucky, Richard P. Ieyoub of Louisiana, J. Joseph Curran, Jr., of Maryland, Scott Harsh-barger of Massachusetts, Frank J. Kelley of Michigan, Jeffrey R. Howard of New Hampshire, Deborah T. Poritz of New Jersey, Tom Udall of New Mexico, G. Oliver Koppell of New York, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Susan Brimer Loving of Oklahoma, Theodore R. Kulongoski of Oregon, Jan Graham of Utah, Jeffrey L. Amestoy of Vermont, James S. Gilmore III of Virginia, and James E. Doyle of Wisconsin; and for the Council of State Governments et al. by Richard Ruda and Lee Fennell.
Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for The Dreyfus Corporation by Jeffrey S. Sion; and for the Investment Company Institute by Albert G. Lauber, Jr., Paul Schott Stevens, and Catherine Heron.
Thomas C. Baxter, Jr., filed a brief for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as amicus curiae.
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