---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1018"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1018"
heading: "Official certificates or writings"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1018"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 47 — Fraud and False Statements"
---

# §1018. Official certificates or writings


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), being a public [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) or other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) authorized by any law of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) to make or give a certificate or other writing, knowingly makes and delivers as true such a certificate or writing, containing any statement which he knows to be false, in a case where the punishment thereof is not elsewhere expressly provided by law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 753; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 195 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 106, 35 Stat. 1107).

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.