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Procedure in General

§ 301.6401–1 - Amounts treated as overpayments.

(a) The term “overpayment” includes:

(1) Any payment of any internal revenue tax which is assessed or collected after the expiration of the period of limitation applicable thereto.

(2) Any amount allowable for a taxable year as credits under sections 31 (relating to tax withheld on wages), 39 (relating to certain uses of gasoline, special fuels, and, lubricating oil), 43 (relating to earned income credit), and 667(b) (relating to taxes paid by certain trusts) which exceeds the tax imposed by subtitle A of the Code (reduced by the credits allowable under subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Code, other than the credits allowable under sections 31, 39, and 43) for such year.

(b) An amount paid as tax shall not be considered not to constitute an overpayment solely by reason of the fact that there was no tax liability in respect of which such amount was paid.

[T.D. 7204, 37 FR 17158, Aug. 25, 1972, as amended by T.D. 7537, 43 FR 13878, Apr. 3, 1978]

§ 301.6402–1 - Authority to make credits or refunds.

The Commissioner, within the applicable period of limitations, may credit any overpayment of tax, including interest thereon, against any outstanding liability for any tax (or for any interest, additional amount, addition to the tax, or assessable penalty) owed by the person making the overpayment and the balance, if any, shall be refunded, subject to sections 6402 (c) and (d) and the regulations thereunder, to that person by the Commissioner.

[T.D. 8053, 50 FR 39662, Sept. 30, 1985]

§ 301.6402–2 - Claims for credit or refund.

(a) Requirement that claim be filed. (1) Credits or refunds of overpayments may not be allowed or made after the expiration of the statutory period of limitation properly applicable unless, before the expiration of such period, a claim therefor has been filed by the taxpayer. Furthermore, under section 7422, a civil action for refund may not be instituted unless a claim has been filed within the properly applicable period of limitation.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of § 301.6091–1 (relating to hand-carried documents), if a taxpayer is required to file a claim for credit or refund using a particular form, then the claim, together with appropriate supporting evidence, shall be filed in a manner consistent with such form, form instructions, publications, or other guidance found on the IRS.gov Web site. If a taxpayer is filing a claim in response to an IRS notice or correspondence, then the claim must be filed in accordance with the specific instructions contained in the notice or correspondence regarding the manner of filing. Any other claim not described in the preceding sentences generally must be filed with the service center at which the taxpayer currently would be required to file a tax return for the type of tax to which the claim relates or via the appropriate electronic portal. For rules relating to interest in the case of credits or refunds, see section 6611. For rules treating timely mailing as timely filing, see section 7502. For rules relating to the time for filing a claim when the last day falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, see section 7503.

(b) Grounds set forth in claim. (1) No refund or credit will be allowed after the expiration of the statutory period of limitation applicable to the filing of a claim therefor except upon one or more of the grounds set forth in a claim filed before the expiration of such period. The claim must set forth in detail each ground upon which a credit or refund is claimed and facts sufficient to apprise the Commissioner of the exact basis thereof. The statement of the grounds and facts must be verified by a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury. A claim which does not comply with this paragraph will not be considered for any purpose as a claim for refund or credit.

(2) The IRS does not have the authority to refund on equitable grounds penalties or other amounts legally collected.

(c) Form for filing claim. If a particular form is prescribed on which the claim must be made, then the claim must be made on the form so prescribed. For special rules applicable to refunds of income taxes, see § 301.6402–3. For provisions relating to credits and refunds of taxes other than income tax, see the regulations relating to the particular tax. All claims by taxpayers for the refund of taxes, interest, penalties, and additions to tax that are not otherwise provided for must be made on Form 843, “Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement.”

(d) Separate claims for separate taxable periods. In the case of income and gift taxes, income tax withheld, taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, taxes under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, and taxes under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, a separate claim must be made for each return for each taxable period.

(e) Proof of representative capacity. If a return is filed by an individual and, after his death, a refund claim is filed by his legal representative, certified copies of the letters testamentary, letters of administration, or other similar evidence must be annexed to the claim, to show the authority of the legal representative to file the claim. If an executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, receiver, or other fiduciary files a return and thereafter a refund claim is filed by the same fiduciary, documentary evidence to establish the legal authority of the fiduciary need not accompany the claim, provided a statement is made in the claim showing that the return was filed by the fiduciary and that the latter is still acting. In such cases, if a refund is to be paid, letters testamentary, letters of administration, or other evidence may be required, but should be submitted only upon the receipt of a specific request therefor. If a claim is filed by a fiduciary other than the one by whom the return was filed, the necessary documentary evidence should accompany the claim. A claim may be executed by an agent of the person assessed, but in such case a power of attorney must accompany the claim.

(f) Mailing of refund check. (1) Checks in payment of claims allowed will be drawn in the names of the persons entitled to the money and, except as provided in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph (f), the checks may be sent direct to the claimant or to such person in care of an attorney or agent who has filed a power of attorney specifically authorizing him to receive such checks.

(2) Checks in payment of claims which have either been reduced to judgment or settled in the course or as a result of litigation will be drawn in the name of the person or persons entitled to the money and will be sent to the Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division, Department of Justice, for delivery to the taxpayer or the counsel of record in the court proceeding.

(3) For restrictions on the assignment of claims, see section 3477 of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 203).

(g) Misdirected direct deposit refund—(1) Definition. The term misdirected direct deposit refund includes any refund of an overpayment of tax that is disbursed as a direct deposit but is not deposited into the account designated on the claim for refund to receive the direct deposit refund.

(2) Procedures for reporting a misdirected direct deposit refund—(i) In general. A taxpayer or a taxpayer's authorized representative may report to the IRS that the taxpayer never received a direct deposit refund and request a replacement refund. The report must include the name of the taxpayer who requested the refund, the taxpayer identification number of the taxpayer, the taxpayer's mailing address, the type of return to which the refund is related, the account number and routing number that the taxpayer requested the refund be directly deposited into, and any other information necessary to locate the misdirected direct deposit refund.

(ii) How to report a misdirected direct deposit refund. A reporting described in paragraph (g)(2)(i) of this section may be made in the following ways:

(A) By calling the IRS;

(B) On the form prescribed by the IRS and in accordance with the applicable publications, instructions, or other appropriate guidance;

(C) By contacting the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate by telephone, by mail, facsimile, or in person; or

(D) By submitting the appropriate form in person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center.

(3) Procedures for coordination with financial institutions—(i) Identification of the account that received the misdirected direct deposit refund. If the IRS receives a report described in paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this section, the IRS will confirm that the overpayment was issued as a direct deposit. The IRS will confirm that the overpayment was not credited or offset pursuant to the law in effect immediately prior to the direct deposit being disbursed. If the direct deposit described in the report was issued, the IRS will initiate a refund trace to request the assistance of the Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. In accordance with its own procedures, the Bureau of the Fiscal Service coordinates with the financial institution that holds directly or indirectly the deposit account into which the refund was made, requesting from the financial institution such information as is necessary to identify whether the financial institution received the refund; whether the financial institution returned, or will return, the refund to the IRS, or if no funds are available for return; whether a deposit was made into the account designated on the claim for refund; and the identity of the deposit account owner to whom the deposit was disbursed.

(ii) Coordination to recover the amounts transferred. Recovery of the misdirected direct deposit refund from a financial institution shall follow the procedures established by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service shall request the return of the misdirected direct deposit refund from the financial institution that received it. The IRS may contact the financial institution directly to recover the misdirected direct deposit refund.

(4) Issuance of replacement refund. When the IRS has determined that a misdirected direct deposit refund has occurred, the IRS will issue a replacement refund in the full amount of the refund that was misdirected. The replacement refund may be issued as a direct deposit or as a paper check sent to the taxpayer's last known address.

(5) Applicability of this paragraph (g) to missing refunds. The provisions of paragraphs (g)(2) through (g)(3)(i) of this section should be used for any refund that was disbursed as a direct deposit and that the taxpayer reports as missing. For example, although a refund that was deposited into an incorrect bank account because the taxpayer transposed two digits in their bank account number is not considered to be a misdirected direct deposit refund, the provisions of paragraphs (g)(2) through (g)(3)(i) of this section should be used. If the application of these procedures results in an amount recovered by the IRS, the recovered amount will be refunded or credited as allowed by law.

(h) Applicability dates. Paragraphs (a)(2), (b)(2), (c), and (d) of this section apply to claims for credit or refund filed on or after July 24, 2015. Paragraphs (a)(1), (b)(1), (e), and (f) of this section apply to claims for credit or refund filed before, on or after July 24, 2015. Paragraph (g) of this section applies to reports described in paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this section made after December 22, 2020.

[32 FR 15241, Nov. 3, 1967, as amended by T.D. 7008, 34 FR 3673, Mar. 1, 1969; T.D. 7188, 37 FR 12794, June 29, 1972; T.D. 7410, 41 FR 11020, Mar. 16, 1976; T.D. ATF–33, 41 FR 44038, Oct. 6, 1976; T.D. 7484, 42 FR 22143, May 2, 1977; T.D. 9727, 80 FR 43951, July 24, 2015; T.D. 9940, 85 FR 83447, Dec. 22, 2020]

§ 301.6402–3 - Special rules applicable to income tax.

(a) The following rules apply to a claim for credit or refund of income tax:—

(1) In general, in the case of an overpayment of income taxes, a claim for credit or refund of such overpayment shall be made on the appropriate income tax return.

(2) In the case of an overpayment of income taxes for a taxable year of an individual for which a Form 1040 or 1040A has been filed, a claim for refund shall be made on Form 1040X (“Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return”).

(3) In the case of an overpayment of income taxes for a taxable year of a corporation for which a Form 1120 has been filed, a claim for refund shall be made on Form 1120X (“Amended U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return”).

(4) In the case of an overpayment of income taxes for a taxable year for which a form other than Form 1040, 1040A, or 1120 was filed (such as Form 1041 (U.S. Fiduciary Income Tax Return) or Form 990T (Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return)), a claim for credit or refund shall be made on the appropriate amended income tax return.

(5) A properly executed individual, fiduciary, or corporation original income tax return or an amended return (on 1040X or 1120X if applicable) shall constitute a claim for refund or credit within the meaning of section 6402 and section 6511 for the amount of the overpayment disclosed by such return (or amended return). For purposes of section 6511, such claim shall be considered as filed on the date on which such return (or amended return) is considered as filed, except that if the requirements of § 301.7502–1, relating to timely mailing treated as timely filing are met, the claim shall be considered to be filed on the date of the postmark stamped on the cover in which the return (or amended return) was mailed. A return or amended return shall constitute a claim for refund or credit if it contains a statement setting forth the amount determined as an overpayment and advising whether such amount shall be refunded to the taxpayer or shall be applied as a credit against the taxpayer's estimated income tax for the taxable year immediately succeeding the taxable year for which such return (or amended return) is filed. If the taxpayer indicates on its return (or amended return) that all or part of the overpayment shown by its return (or amended return) is to be applied to its estimated income tax for its succeeding taxable year, such indication shall constitute an election to so apply such overpayment, and no interest shall be allowed on such portion of the overpayment credited and such amount shall be applied as a payment on account of the estimated income tax for such year or the installments thereof.

(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the Internal Revenue Service, within the applicable period of limitations, may credit any overpayment of individual, fiduciary, or corporation income tax, including interest thereon, against—

(i) First, any outstanding liability for any tax (or for any interest, additional amount, additions to the tax, or assessable penalty) owed by the taxpayer making the overpayment;

(ii) Second, in the case of an individual taxpayer, amounts of past-due support assigned to a State under section 402(a)(26) or 471(a)(17) of the Social Security Act under procedures set forth in the regulations under section 6402(c);

(iii) Third, past-due and legally enforceable debt under procedures set forth in the regulations under section 6402(d); and

(iv) Fourth, qualifying amounts of past-due support not assigned to a State under procedures set forth in the regulations under section 6402 (c).

Only the balance, if any, of the overpayment remaining after credits described in this paragraph (a)(6) shall be treated in the manner so elected.

(b) [Reserved]

(c) If the taxpayer is not required to show the tax on the form (see section 6014 and the accompanying regulations), the IRS will treat a properly filed income tax return as a claim for refund and such return will constitute a claim for refund within the meaning of section 6402 and section 6511 for the amount of the overpayment shown by the computation of the tax made by the IRS on the basis of the return. For purposes of the limitations period of section 6511, such claim will be treated as filed on the date the return is treated as filed.

(d) In any case in which a taxpayer elects to have an overpayment refunded to him he may not thereafter change his election to have the overpayment applied as a payment on account of his estimated income tax.

(e) In the case of a nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation, the appropriate income tax return on which the claim for refund or credit is made must contain the tax identification number of the taxpayer required pursuant to section 6109 and the entire amount of income of the taxpayer subject to tax, even if the tax liability for that income was fully satisfied at source through withholding under chapters 3 or 4 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Also, if the overpayment of tax resulted from the withholding of tax at source under chapter 3 or 4 of the Code, a copy of the Form 1042–S, “Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income subject to Withholding,” Form 8805, “Foreign Partner's Information Statement of Section 1446 Withholding Tax,” or other statement (required under § 1.1446–3(d)(2) of this chapter) required to be provided to the beneficial owner or partner pursuant to § 1.1461–1(c)(1)(i), § 1.1474–1(d)(1)(i), or § 1.1446–3(d) of this chapter must be attached to the return. For purposes of claiming a refund, the Form 8805 or other statement must include the taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner or partner even if not otherwise required. No claim for refund or credit under chapter 65 of the Code may be made by the taxpayer for any amount that the payor has repaid to the taxpayer pursuant to reimbursement or set-off procedures (described in § 1.1461–2(a)(2),(3) or § 1.1474–2(a)(3), (4) of this chapter). In addition, no claim for refund or credit may be made by a taxpayer for any amount that has been repaid to a qualified intermediary (as described in § 1.1441–1(e)(5)(ii)) or a participating FFI (as described in § 1.1471–1(b)(91)) pursuant to a collective refund filed by such entity on behalf of the taxpayer. See § 1.1441–1(e)(5)(iii) (describing a qualified intermediary agreement) and § 1.1471–4(h) (describing a collective refund). Upon request, a taxpayer must also submit such documentation as the IRS, may require establishing that the taxpayer is the beneficial owner of the income for which a claim for refund or credit is being made and verifying the grounds and facts set forth in taxpayer's claim as required by § 301.6402–2(b)(1). See § 1.1474–5 for additional requirements that may apply in the case of a refund of tax withheld under chapter 4.

(f) Effective/applicability date—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(2) of this section, this section applies on or after January 6, 2017. (For payments made after June 30, 2014, and before January 6, 2017, see this section as in effect and contained in 26 CFR part 1, revised April 1, 2016.)

(2) References in paragraph (e) of this section to Form 8805 or other statements required under § 1.1446–3(d)(2) shall apply to partnership taxable years beginning after April 29, 2008. References in paragraph (e) of this section to amounts withheld under chapter 4 of the Code and claims made with respect to amounts withheld under chapter 4 of the Code shall apply to withholdable payments made after June 30, 2014.

[32 FR 15241, Nov. 3, 1967, as amended by T.D. 7102, 36 FR 5498, Mar. 24, 1971; T.D. 7234, 37 FR 28163, Dec. 21, 1972; T.D. 7293, 38 FR 32804, Nov. 28, 1973; T.D. 7298, 38 FR 35234, Dec. 26, 1973; T.D. 7410, 41 FR 11020, Mar. 16, 1976; T.D. 7808, 47 FR 5714, Feb. 8, 1982; T.D. 8053, 50 FR 39662, Sept. 30, 1985; T.D. 8734, 62 FR 53495, Oct. 14, 1997; T.D. 9394, 73 FR 23086, Apr. 29, 2008; T.D. 9658, 79 FR 12809, Mar. 6, 2014; T.D. 9727, 80 FR 43951, July 24, 2015; T.D. 9808, 82 FR 2121, Jan. 6, 2017]

§ 301.6402–4 - Payments in excess of amounts shown on return.

(a) If the IRS determines that the payments by the taxpayer that are made within the period prescribed for payment and before the filing of the return exceed the amount of tax shown on the return (for example, excessive estimated income tax payments or excessive withholding), the IRS may credit or refund such overpayment without awaiting examination of the completed return and without awaiting the filing of a claim for refund. The provisions of §§ 301.6402–2 and 301.6402–3 are applicable to such overpayment, and taxpayers should submit claims for refund (if the income tax return is not itself a claim for refund, as provided in § 301.6402–3) to protect themselves in the event the IRS fails to make such determination and credit or refund. The provisions of section 6405 (relating to reports of refunds in excess of the statutorily prescribed threshold referral amount to the Joint Committee on Taxation) do not apply to the overpayments described in this section.

(b) Effective/applicability date. The rules of this section apply to payments made on or after July 24, 2015.

[T.D. 9727, 80 FR 43951, July 24, 2015]

§ 301.6402–5 - Offset of past-due support against overpayment.

(a) Introduction—(1) Scope. Section 6402(c) requires the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate to reduce the amount of any overpayment to be refunded to a person making an overpayment by the amount of past-due support owed by that person of which the Secretary has been notified in accordance with section 464 of the Social Security Act. Past-due support shall be collected by offset under section 6402(c) and this section in the same manner as if it were a liability for tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (except that a liability for tax shall be given priority with respect to offset arising under section 6402(a)). Collection by offset under section 6402(c) of this section is a collection procedure separate from the collection procedures provided by section 6305 and § 301.6305–1, relating to assessment and collection of certain child and spousal support liabilities. The sole collection procedure provided by section 6402(c) and this section is that of offset against overpayment. Section 6305 and § 301.6305–1, by contrast, provide for other collection procedures in addition to collection by offset against overpayment. Sections 6305 and 6402(c) have differing procedural requirements and may be used separately or in conjunction with each other.

(2) General rule. An amount of past-due support qualifies for offset under this section if it satisfies the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section. A State shall submit to the Department of Health and Human Services a notification of liability for qualifying past-due support containing the information described in paragraph (c) of this section. A qualifying amount of past-due support owed by a taxpayer who has made an overpayment shall be collected in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraph (d) of this section. Under paragraph (d), the balance of any overpayment remaining after crediting of the overpayment under section 6402(a) to any liability for an internal revenue tax on the part of the taxpayer shall be offset by the amount of past-due support of which the Internal Revenue Service has been notified. The amount of the overpayment not subject to offset for any liability for an internal revenue tax or for past-due support shall be promptly refunded to the taxpayer. Paragraph (e) of this section requires that the Internal Revenue Service notify the taxpayer of the amount of the offset and of the State to which it has been paid. Under procedures set forth in paragraph (f) of this section, amounts collected by offset shall be transferred to a special account maintained by the Bureau of Government Financial Operations for distribution to the States. The Internal Revenue Service shall make monthly collection reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his delegate. The States shall reimburse the Secretary of the Treasury for the full cost of the refund offset under paragraph (g) of this section.

(b) Past-due support—(1) Definition. For purposes of this section, the term “past-due support” means the amount of a delinquent obligation, which amount was determined under a court order, or an order pursuant to an administrative process established under State law, for support and maintenance of a child or of a child and the parent with whom the child is living.

(2) Past-due support qualifying for offset. Past-due support qualifies for offset under section 6402(c) and this section if—

(i) There has been as assignment of the support obligation to a State pursuant to section 402(a)(26) of the Social Security Act (relating to aid and service to needy families with children) and that State has made reasonable efforts to collect the amount of the obligation;

(ii) The amount of past-due support is not less than $150.00;

(iii) The past-due support has been delinquent for three months or longer; and

(iv) A notification of liability for past-due support has been received by the Secretary of the Treasury as prescribed by paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Notification of liability for past-due support—(1) Form. A State shall, by October 1 of each year, submit a notification (or notifications) of liability for past-due support on magnetic tape to the Special Collection Activities Unit.

Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Health and Human Services, 6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 900, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Attention: Tax Refund Offset—Tape Processing.

(2) Content. The notification of liability for past-due support shall contain with respect to each taxpayer—

(i) The name of the taxpayer who owes the past-due support;

(ii) The social security number of that taxpayer;

(iii) The amount of past-due support owed; and

(iv) The alphabetical designation of the State submitting the notification of liability for past-due support.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services may also require such other information from the State submitting the notification as is necessary for his orderly consolidation of data for transmittal to the Internal Revenue Service.

(3) Transmittal of notification to Internal Revenue Service. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, by December 1 of each year, consolidate and transmit to the Internal Revenue Service on magnetic tape the data contained in the notifications of liability for past-due support submitted by the participating States.

(4) Correction of notification. If, after submitting a notification of liability for past-due support, a State determines that an error has been made with respect to the information contained in the notification, or if a State receives a payment or credits a payment to the account of a taxpayer named in this notification, the State shall promptly notify the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Department of Health and Human Services of these corrections in accordance with any time limitations specified by the Office of Child Support Enforcement. That Office shall promptly transmit these corrections to the Internal Revenue Service and the Internal Revenue Service shall make the appropriate correction of the notification of liability for past-due support. However, in no case shall a State notify the Internal Revenue Service under this paragraph (c)(4) of an increased amount of past-due support owed by a taxpayer named in its notification of liability for past-due support. The correction notification described in this paragraph (c)(4) is to be submitted only for the purpose of completing or correcting the information contained in the notification of liability for past-due support.

(d) Collection—(1) Priority of offset for outstanding tax liability. Under section 6402(a) and § 301.6402–1, the Commissioner may credit any overpayment of tax against any outstanding liability for any tax owed by the person making the overpayment. Only the balance remaining after such crediting is available for offset under section 6402(c) of this section. Thus, if a taxpayer making an overpayment has both an outstanding tax liability and a liability for past-due support subject to this section, then the entire amount of the overpayment shall be credited first against the outstanding tax liability under section 6402(a) and § 301.6402–1 and only the remainder, if any, of the overpayment will be offset by the amount of past-due support. However, an overpayment shall be offset by an amount of past-due support under section 6402(c) before any crediting of the overpayment to any future liability for an internal revenue tax. Thus, for example, if no outstanding tax liability is owed and the amount of an overpayment is equal to or less than the amount of past-due support, the Internal Revenue Service shall offset the overpayment by the amount of past-due support before crediting the overpayment against the taxpayer's estimated income tax for the succeeding taxable year under section 6402(b).

(2) Amounts subject to offset. The balance of any overpayment remaining after a crediting of the overpayment under section 6402(a) to any outstanding liability for tax on the part of the taxpayer shall be offset by the amount of past-due support of which the Internal Revenue Service has been notified under this section.

(3) Amounts not subject to offset. The amount of an overpayment not subject to offset for any liability for tax or for past-due support shall be promptly refunded to the taxpayer.

(e) Notice of offset. The Internal Revenue Service shall notify the taxpayer in writing of the amount and date of the offset for past-due support and of the State to which this amount of past-due support has been paid.

(f) Disposition of amounts collected. Amounts collected under this section shall be transferred to a special account maintained by the Bureau of Government Financial Operations. The Internal Revenue Service shall advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his delegate on a monthly basis of the names and social security numbers of the taxpayers from whom the amounts of past-due support were collected, of the amounts collected from each taxpayer, and of the State on whose behalf each collection was made. After authorization by the Division of Finance of the Social Security Administration, the Bureau of Government Financial Operations of the Department of the Treasury shall pay to the participating States amounts equal to the amounts collected under this section.

(g) Fee. A refund offset fee in the amount of $17.00 per offset for taxable year 1981, or such greater or smaller amount as the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Health and Human Services have agreed to be sufficient to reimburse the Internal Revenue Service for the full cost of the offset procedure, shall be billed and collected from the participating States by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his delegate and deposited in the United States Treasury and credited to the appropriation accounts of the Internal Revenue Service which bore all or part of the costs involved in making the collection.

(h) Effective dates. This section applies to refunds payable on or before January 1, 1999. For the rules applicable after January 1, 1999, see 31 CFR part 285.

[T.D. 7895, 48 FR 22709, May 20, 1983, as amended by T.D. 8837, 64 FR 48548, Sept. 7, 1999]

§ 301.6402–6 - Offset of past-due, legally enforceable debt against overpayment.

(a) General rule. (1) A Federal agency (as defined in section 6402(f)) that has entered into an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service with regard to its participation in the tax refund offset program and that is owed a past-due, legally enforceable debt may refer the past-due, legally enforceable debt to the Internal Revenue Service to be collected by Federal tax refund offset. The Service shall, after making appropriate credits as provided by § 301.6402–3(a)(6) (i) and (ii), reduce the amount of any overpayment payable to a taxpayer by the amount of any past-due, legally enforceable debt owed to the agency and properly referred to the Service. This section does not apply to any debt subject to section 464 of the Social Security Act (past-due support).

(2)(i) This section applies to OASDI overpayments provided the requirements of 31 U.S.C. 3720A(f)(1) and (2) are met with respect to such overpayments.

(ii) For purposes of this section, “OASDI overpayment” means any overpayment of benefits made to an individual under title II of the Social Security Act.

(b) Eligible Federal agencies. (1) A Federal agency is eligible to participate in the tax refund offset program if the agency—

(i) Has promulgated temporary of final regulations under 31 U.S.C. 3720A, governing the operation of the Federal tax refund offset program in the agency;

(ii) Has promulgated temporary or final regulations under 31 U.S.C. 3716, governing the operation of the administrative offset program in the agency; and

(iii) Has promulgated temporary or final regulations under 5 U.S.C. 5514(a), governing the operation of the salary offset program in the agency (unless the agency has certified that, relying on the most current information reasonably available, it will not refer to the Service any names of present or former Federal employees or other persons whose debts are subject to offset under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5514(a)(1)).

(2) An agency prohibited by Federal law from meeting any of the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) or (c) of this section shall notify the Service in writing of the specific legal impediment to meeting these requirements. This notification shall be made prior to entering into an agreement with the Service to participate in the tax refund offset program. The Service will determine in writing whether the agency is prohibited by Federal law from meeting any of the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) or (c) of this section. The Service will waive in writing any requirement that it determines the agency is prohibited by Federal law from meeting.

(c) Past-due, legally enforceable debt eligible for refund offset. For purposes of this section, a Federal agency may refer a past-due, legally enforceable debt to the Service for offset if—

(1) Except in the case of a judgment debt or any debts specifically exempt from this requirement (for example, debts referred by the Department of Education that were pending on or after April 9, 1991, and referred to the Service for offset before November 15, 1992), the debt is referred for offset within ten years after the agency's right of action accrues;

(2) The debt cannot be currently collected pursuant to the salary offset provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5514(a)(1);

(3) The debt is ineligible for administrative offset under 31 U.S.C. 3716(a) by reason of 31 U.S.C. 3716(c)(2), or cannot be currently collected by administrative offset under 31 U.S.C. 3716(a) by the referring agency against amounts payable to the taxpayer by the referring agency;

(4) The agency has notified, or has made a reasonable attempt to notify, the taxpayer that the debt is past-due, and unless repaid within 60 days thereafter, will be referred to the Service for offset against an overpayment of tax;

(5) The agency has given the taxpayer at least 60 days to present evidence that all or part of the debt is not past-due or legally enforceable, has considered any evidence presented by the taxpayer, and has determined that the debt is past-due and legally enforceable;

(6) The debt has been disclosed by the agency to a consumer reporting agency as authorized by 31 U.S.C. 3711(f), unless the consumer reporting agency would be prohibited from reporting information concerning the debt by reason of 15 U.S.C. 1681c, or unless the amount of the debt does not exceed $100;

(7) The debt is at least $25; and

(8) In the case of an OASDI overpayment—

(i) The individual is not currently entitled to monthly insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act;

(ii) The notice describes conditions under which the Department of Health and Human Services is required to waive recovery of the overpayment, as provided under section 204(b) of the Social Security Act; and

(iii) If the taxpayer files for a waiver under section 204(b) of the Social Security Act within the 60-day notice period, the agency has considered the taxpayer's request.

(d) Pre-offset notice and consideration of evidence. (1) For purposes of paragraph (c)(4) of this section, an agency has made a reasonable attempt to notify the taxpayer if the agency uses the most recent address information obtained from the Service pursuant to section 6103(m) (2), (4), or (5) of the Code, unless the agency receives clear and concise notification from the taxpayer that notices from the agency are to be sent to an address different from the address obtained from the Service. Clear and concise notification means that the taxpayer has provided the agency with written notification including the taxpayer's name and identifying number (as defined in section 6109), the taxpayer's new address, and the taxpayer's intent to have agency notices sent to the new address.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (c)(5) of this section, if the evidence presented by the taxpayer is considered by an agent of the agency, or other entities or persons acting on the agency's behalf, the taxpayer must be accorded at least 30 days from the date the agent or other entity or person determines that all or part of the debt is past-due and legally enforceable to request review by an officer or employee of the agency of any unresolved dispute. The agency must then notify the taxpayer of its decision.

(e) Referral of past-due, legally enforceable debt. A Federal agency must refer a past-due, legally enforceable debt to the Service in the time and manner prescribed by the Service. The referral must contain—

(1) The name and identifying number (as defined in section 6109) of the taxpayer who is responsible for the debt;

(2) The amount of such past-due and legally enforceable debt;

(3) The date on which the debt became past-due;

(4) The designation of the Federal agency or subagency referring the debt; and

(5) In the case of an OASDI overpayment, a certification by the Secretary of Health and Human Services designating whether the amount payable to the agency is to be deposited in either the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, but not both.

(f) Correction of referral. If, after referring a past-due, legally enforceable debt to the Service as provided by paragraph (e) of this section, an agency determines that an error has been made with respect to the information transmitted to the Service, or if an agency receives a payment or credits a payment to the account of a taxpayer referred to the Service for offset, the agency shall promptly notify the Service. The Service shall make the appropriate correction of its records. However, this paragraph (f) does not permit an agency to increase the amount of a past-due, legally enforceable debt or refer additional debtors to the Service for offset after an agency makes its original referral of debts for tax refund offset. The agency may refer additional debts to the Service for refund offset in subsequent tax refund offset years.

(g) Priorities for offset. (1) An overpayment shall be reduced first by the amount of an outstanding liability for any tax under section 6402(a); second, by the amount of any past-due support assigned to a State under section 402(a)(26) or section 471(a)(17) of the Social Security Act which is to be offset under section 6402(c) and the regulations thereunder; third, by the amount of any past-due, legally enforceable debt owed to a Federal agency under section 6402(d) and this section; and fourth, by the amount of any qualifying past-due support not assigned to a State which is to be offset under section 6402(c) and the regulations thereunder.

(2) If a taxpayer owes more than one past-due, legally enforceable debt to a Federal agency or agencies, the overpayment shall be credited against the debts in the order in which the debts accrued. A debt shall be considered to have accrued at the time at which the agency determines that the debt became past due.

(3) Reduction of the overpayment pursuant to section 6402 (a), (c), and (d) shall occur prior to crediting the overpayment to any future liability for an internal revenue tax. Any amount remaining after offset under section 6402 (a), (c), and (d) shall be refunded to the taxpayer, or applied to estimated tax, if elected by the taxpayer.

(h) Post-offset notice to the taxpayer and the agency. (1) The Service shall notify the taxpayer in writing of the amount and date of the offset for a past-due, legally enforceable debt and of the Federal agency to which this amount has been paid or credited. For joint returns, see paragraph (i) of this section.

(2) The Service shall advise each agency of the names, mailing addresses, and identifying numbers of the taxpayers from whom amounts of past-due, legally enforceable debt were collected and of the amounts collected from each taxpayer. If the refund from which an amount of past-due, legally enforceable debt is to be withheld is based upon a joint return, the Service shall notify the agency and furnish the names and addresses of each taxpayer filing the joint return.

(i) Offset made with regard to refund based upon joint return. (1) In the case of an offset from a refund based on a joint return, the Service shall issue a notice in writing to any person who may have filed a joint return with the taxpayer, including the amount and date of any offset and the steps which the non-debtor spouse may take in order to secure his or her proper share of the refund (unless the non-debtor spouse has already taken these steps prior to offset).

(2) If the person filing the joint return with the taxpayer owing the past-due, legally enforceable debt takes appropriate action to secure his or her proper share of a refund from which an offset was made, the Service shall pay the person his or her share of the refund and shall deduct that amount from amounts payable to the agency.

(j) Disposition of amounts collected. Amounts collected under this section shall be transferred to a special account maintained by the Financial Management Service (FMS) for each Federal agency. If an erroneous payment is made to any agency, the Service shall deduct the amount of such payment from amounts payable to the agency.

(k) Fees. The agency shall enter into a separate agreement with the Service and FMS to reimburse the Service and FMS for the full cost of administering the tax refund offset program. The fees shall be deducted from amounts collected prior to disposition. The fees shall be deposited in the United States Treasury and credited to the appropriation accounts which bore all or part of the costs involved in administering the refund offset procedures.

(l) Review of offset of refunds. Any reduction of a taxpayer's refund made pursuant to section 6402(c) or (d) shall not be subject to review by any court of the United States or by the Service in an administrative proceeding. No action brought against the United States to recover the amount of this reduction shall be considered to be a suit for refund of tax. Any legal, equitable, or administrative action by any person seeking to recover the amount of the reduction of the overpayment must be taken against the Federal agency to which the amount of the reduction was paid. Any action which is otherwise available with respect to recoveries of overpayments of benefits under section 204 of the Social Security Act must be taken against the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(m) Access to and use of confidential tax information. Access to and use of confidential tax information in connection with the tax refund offset program are restricted by section 6103 of the Code. However, section 6103(l)(10) permits Federal officers and employees of agencies participating in the tax refund offset program to have access to and use of confidential tax information. Agencies receiving such information are subject to the safeguard, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements of section 6103(p)(4) and the regulations thereunder. The agency shall inform its officers and employees who access or use confidential tax information of the restrictions and penalties under the Internal Revenue Code for misuse of confidential tax information.

(n) Effective dates. This section applies to refunds payable under section 6402 after April 15, 1992, and on or before January 1, 1998. For the rules applicable after January 1, 1998, see 31 CFR part 285.

[T.D. 8413, 57 FR 13038, Apr. 15, 1992; 57 FR 36691, Aug. 14, 1992, as amended by T.D. 8837, 64 FR 48548, Sept. 7, 1999]

§ 301.6402–7 - Claims for refund and applications for tentative carryback adjustments involving consolidated groups that include insolvent financial institutions.

(a) In general—(1) Overview. Section 6402(i) authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations providing for the payment of a refund directly to the statutory or court-appointed fiduciary of an insolvent corporation that was a subsidiary in a consolidated group, to the extent the Secretary determines that the refund is attributable to losses or credits of the insolvent corporation. This section provides rules for the payment of refunds and tentative carryback adjustments to the fiduciary of an insolvent financial institution that was a subsidiary in a consolidated group.

(2) Notice. This section provides notice to the common parent of a consolidated group of which an insolvent financial institution is or was a member that—

(i) The fiduciary for the institution may, in addition to the common parent, act as agent for the group in certain matters relating to the tax liability of the group in the year in which a loss arose and for the year to which a claim for refund or application for tentative carryback adjustment relates; and

(ii) The Internal Revenue Service may deal directly with the common parent or the fiduciary (or both) as agent for the group to the extent provided in this section.

(b) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

(1) Carryback year group. A carryback year group is a consolidated group of which a corporation that is or becomes an insolvent financial institution is a member during a consolidated carryback year.

(2) Consolidated carryback year. A consolidated carryback year is a consolidated return year to which a loss arising in a loss year is carried back.

(3) Fiduciary. A fiduciary is—

(i) The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;

(ii) The Resolution Trust Corporation; or

(iii) Any other entity established by federal law, or a federal agency, that is identified by the Commissioner in a revenue ruling or revenue procedure as a fiduciary for purposes of this section;

in its capacity as an authorized receiver or conservator of an insolvent financial institution.

(4) Insolvent financial institution. An insolvent financial institution (an institution) is a bank or domestic building and loan association for which the fiduciary is authorized to act as a receiver or conservator—

(i) On the ground that the institution is insolvent within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 191, 12 U.S.C. 1821(c)(5)(A), 12 U.S.C. 1464(d)(2)(A)(i), or 12 U.S.C. 1464(d)(2)(C)(i) or any applicable state law (or any successor statute which adopts a substantially similar standard); or

(ii) On grounds other than insolvency, provided that the institution is insolvent within the meaning of paragraph (b)(4)(i) of this section at any time after commencement of the conservatorship or receivership.

A reference to an institution under these regulations includes, as the context requires, a reference to predecessors and successors of the institution.

(5) Loss year. A loss year is a taxable year for which any member or former member of the carryback year group claims a loss that may be carried back.

(6) Loss year group. A loss year group is a consolidated group of which a corporation that is or becomes an insolvent financial institution is a member during a loss year.

(7) Procedure effective date. The procedure effective date is the day on which the Internal Revenue Service has processed the notice described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section to the extent necessary for all Internal Revenue Service Centers to have access to information indicating that—

(i) Appropriate notice to the Internal Revenue Service has been filed; and

(ii) Payments with respect to losses of an institution are to be paid in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section.

(8) Definitions in § 1.1502–1. Unless otherwise provided, the definitions contained in § 1.1502–1 of this chapter apply in this section.

(c) Deemed agency status of fiduciary—(1) In general. Notwithstanding the general treatment of a common parent as the agent of a group under §§ 1.1502–77 and 1.1502–78 of this chapter, if the fiduciary satisfies the notice requirements of paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the fiduciary may also be deemed to be an agent under §§ 1.1502–77 and 1.1502–78 of this chapter—

(i) Of the loss year group (if any) for purposes of filing a consolidated return for the loss year;

(ii) Of the carryback year group for purposes of filing a claim for refund or an application for a tentative carryback adjustment for the consolidated carryback year under paragraph (e) of this section and receiving payments of any refund or tentative carryback adjustment under paragraph (g) of this section; and

(iii) Of the carryback year group, the loss year group or any other group of which the institution is a member for any matter pertaining to the determination of the refund or tentative carryback adjustment, but only to the extent provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(2) Limitation. The fiduciary may act as an agent for matters described in paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section only to the extent—

(i) Authorized by the district director, in his/her sole discretion, after receiving a written request from the fiduciary; or

(ii) Requested by the Internal Revenue Service under paragraph (f)(3) of this section.

(d) Notice requirements—(1) Notice to the Internal Revenue Service. To satisfy the notice requirement of this paragraph (d)(1), the fiduciary must file Form 56–F, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship of Financial Institution, with the Internal Revenue Service Center indicated on the form. However, in its sole discretion, the Internal Revenue Service may treat notice to it in any other manner as satisfying the notice requirement under this paragraph (d)(1).

(2) Notice to the common parent—(i) Form 56-F. The fiduciary must send a copy of the form 56–F filed with the Internal Revenue Service Center or any other notice provided to the Service under paragraph (d)(1) of this section to the common parent of the loss year group (if any) and the common parent of all carryback year groups (if different from the loss year group).

(ii) Claim for refund and loss year return. If a claim for refund is filed by the fiduciary in accordance with paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the fiduciary must provide a copy of the claim for refund to the common parent of the carryback year group. If a loss year return is filed by the fiduciary in accordance with paragraph (e)(3) of this section, the fiduciary must provide a copy of the loss year return to the common parent of the loss year group (if any).

(iii) Additional information. The fiduciary must provide to the affected common parent a copy of the request for agency status referred to in paragraphs (c)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section, and a copy of any additional information submitted to the Internal Revenue Service as agent under paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section.

(e) Filing requirements of the fiduciary—(1) Claim for refund by the fiduciary. If the fiduciary accepts a claim for refund filed by the common parent, the fiduciary may claim a refund under this section by filing a copy of the common parent's claim for refund. If no claim for refund is filed by the common parent for the consolidated carryback year or the fiduciary does not accept a claim for refund filed by the common parent, the fiduciary may claim a refund under this section by filing its own claim for refund under section 6402, based on all information pertaining to the institution and all information pertaining to other members of the carryback year group and the loss year group to which the fiduciary has reasonable access. Any claim for refund filed by the fiduciary under this paragraph (e)(1) must contain the title “Claim for refund under section 6402(i) of the Code” at the top of the first page of the claim, and the following must be attached to the claim:

(i) The name and employer identification number of the institution that was a member of the carryback year group;

(ii) The name of the fiduciary;

(iii) A schedule demonstrating that the amount of the refund claimed by the fiduciary is determined in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section;

(iv) A representation that the institution is an insolvent financial institution as defined in paragraph (b)(4) of this section;

(v) A representation that the fiduciary has satisfied the requirements set forth in paragraphs (d)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section; and

(vi) A statement executed by an authorized representative of the fiduciary and any paid preparer utilized by the fiduciary that provides “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined the items listed in § 301.6402–7T(e)(1)(i) through (v), including accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer (other than fiduciary) is based on all information of which the preparer has any knowledge.”

(2) Application for tentative carryback adjustment pursuant to section 6411. Notwithstanding section 6411 and § 1.1502–78 of this chapter, an application for a tentative carryback adjustment must be signed by both the common parent of the carryback year group and the fiduciary if the payment with respect to the tentative carryback adjustment is not made before the procedure effective date (whether or not the application was filed before the procedure effective date). Any application for a tentative carryback adjustment filed under this paragraph (e)(2) must contain the title “Application for tentative carryback adjustment under section 6402(i) of the Code” at the top of the first page of the application. In addition, the following must be attached to the application:

(i) The name and employer identification number of the institution that was a member of the carryback year group;

(ii) The name of the fiduciary;

(iii) A schedule demonstrating that the amount claimed by the fiduciary is determined in accordance with paragraph (g) of this section;

(iv) A representation that the institution is an insolvent financial institution as defined in paragraph (b)(4) of this section; and

(v) A representation that the fiduciary has satisfied the requirements set forth in paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section.

(3) Loss year return by the fiduciary. If the institution is a member of a loss year group, and either the common parent does not file a loss year return or the fiduciary does not accept the loss year return filed by the common parent, the fiduciary may file a loss year return with respect to the loss year group. A loss year return can only be filed by the fiduciary in conjunction with the filing of a claim for refund under paragraph (e)(1).The return must be based on all information pertaining to the institution and all information pertaining to other members to which the fiduciary has reasonable access. Any return filed by the fiduciary under this paragraph (e)(3) must contain the title “Loss year return under section 6402(i) of the Code” at the top of the first page of the return, and the following must be attached to the return:

(i) The name and employer identification number of the institution that is a member of the loss year group;

(ii) The name of the fiduciary;

(iii) A representation that the institution is an insolvent financial institution as defined in paragraph (b)(4) of this section; and

(iv) A representation that the fiduciary has satisfied the requirements set forth in paragraphs (d)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section.

(4) Additional information. If the fiduciary files additional information under paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section, the fiduciary must attach a representation that it has satisfied the requirements set forth in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section.

(5) Election to waiver carryback. Any election filed after December 30, 1991, by the common parent of a loss year group under section 172(b)(3) to relinquish the entire carryback period with respect to a consolidated net operating loss arising in a loss year is not effective with respect to the portion of the consolidated net operating loss attributable to a subsidiary that is an institution. Instead, the fiduciary may make the election under section 172(b)(3) with respect to the portion attributable to the institution after the notice described in paragraph (d)(1) of this section is filed. For purposes of this paragraph (e)(5), the portion attributable to an institution is determined under the principles of paragraph (g)(2)(ii) of this section.

(f) Processing and reconciliation of information by the Internal Revenue Service—(1) Loss year return if the insolvent financial institution is a member of a loss year group. The Internal Revenue Service may, in its sole discretion, adjust a loss year return filed by the common parent of a loss year group to take into account information filed by the fiduciary in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, or accept or adjust a loss year return for the loss year group filed by the fiduciary. Nothing in this section relieves the common parent of a loss year group of its duty to file a consolidated return taking into account an institution's items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit for any taxable year, or obligates the Internal Revenue Service to accept a return filed by the fiduciary as the return of the loss year group.

(2) Claim for refund with respect to consolidated carryback year. The Internal Revenue Service may, in its sole discretion, adjust a claim for refund filed by the common parent of a carryback year group to take into account information filed by the fiduciary in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, or accept or adjust a claim for refund for the carryback year group filed by the fiduciary. Nothing in this section obligates the Internal Revenue Service to pay a claim for refund, or to accept a claim for refund, filed by the fiduciary as a claim for refund for the carryback year group.

(3) Additional information. In determining the amount of any refund that may be paid to the fiduciary under paragraph (g) of this section, the Internal Revenue Service may, in its sole discretion, take into account any information that the Internal Revenue Service deems relevant and may require the fiduciary to file any additional information the Internal Revenue Service deems appropriate.

(g) Payment of a refund or a tentative carryback adjustment to fiduciary—(1) In general. If a claim for refund or an application for a tentative carryback adjustment is filed for the consolidated carryback year in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, the Internal Revenue Service may, in its sole discretion, pay to the fiduciary all or any portion of the refund or tentative carryback adjustment that the Internal Revenue Service determines under this section to be attributable to the net operating losses of the institution. Nothing in this section obligates the Internal Revenue Service to pay to the fiduciary all or any portion of a claim for refund or application for tentative carryback adjustment.

(2) Portion of refund or tentative carryback adjustment attributable to the net operating loss of an insolvent financial institution—(i) In general. The portion of a refund or tentative carryback adjustment attributable to a net operating loss of an institution that is carried to a consolidated carryback year is determined based on the absorption, as described in paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of this section, of the institution's net operating loss carried to the consolidated carryback year.

(ii) Member's net operating loss. If the loss year is a consolidated return year, references in this section to the net operating loss of a member of the loss year group is a reference to the portion of the loss year group's consolidated net operating loss attributable to the member. The consolidated net operating loss for a taxable year that is attributable to a member is determined by a fraction, the numerator of which is the separate net operating loss of the member for the year of the loss and the denominator of which is the sum of the separate net operating losses for that year of all members having such losses. For this purpose, the separate net operating loss of a member is determined by computing the consolidated net operating loss by taking into account only the member's items of income, gain, deduction, and loss, including the member's losses and deductions actually absorbed by the group in the taxable year (whether or not absorbed by the member).

(iii) Absorption of net operating losses. The absorption of net operating losses generally is determined under applicable principles of the Code and regulations, including the principles of section 172 and §§ 1.1502–21(b) or 1.1502–21A(b) (as appropriate) of this chapter. Notwithstanding any contrary rule or principle of the Code or regulations, if an institution and another member of the carryback year group have net operating losses that arise in taxable years ending on the same date and are carried to the same consolidated carryback year, the carryback year group's consolidated taxable income for that year is treated as offset first by the loss attributable to the institution to the extent thereof.

(3) Examples. For purposes of the examples in this section, all groups file consolidated returns, all corporations have calendar taxable years, the facts set forth the only corporate activity, the fiduciary has met the notice and filing requirements of this section, and the common parent has filed a return for the loss year and a claim for refund. The principles of this paragraph (g) are illustrated by the following examples.

Example 1. Absorption of net operating losses,(a) P owns all the stock of S1, an insolvent financial institution, and S2, a corporation that is not a financial institution. For Year 1, P, S1, and S2 each have $50 of income, and the P group's consolidated taxable income is $150. On May 31 of Year 2, S1 becomes insolvent and is placed in receivership under the supervision of a fiduciary. For Year 2, the P group has a consolidated net operating loss of $200, of which $100 is attributable to S1 and $100 is attributable to S2.

(b) Under paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of this section, the $150 of consolidated taxable income for Year 1 is offset first by the $100 portion of the consolidated net operating loss for Year 2 attributable to S1. The remaining $50 is treated as offset by $50 of the $100 of consolidated net operating loss attributable to S2. Thus, the refund attributable to $100 of the loss may be payable to the fiduciary and the refund attributable to $50 of the loss may be payable to P. The remaining $50 consolidated net operating loss, available to be carried forward, is entirely attributable to S2.

Example 2. Separate return net operating loss,The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that S1 left the P group at the end of Year 1 and its $100 of loss in Year 2 is incurred in a separate return limitation year. Under paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of this section, the generally applicable absorption principles of section 172 and § 1.1502–21 of this chapter apply. Although S1 and S2 are carrying back losses to Year 1 from taxable years ending on the same date (Year 2), S1's loss is subject to a $50 limitation under § 1.1502–21(c) of this chapter and only $50 of S1's loss is absorbed before S2's net operating loss. Therefore, the refund attributable to $50 of the net operating loss of S1 may be payable to the fiduciary, and the refund attributable to $100 of the net operating loss of S2 may be payable to P. The remaining $50 net operating loss of S1 is available to be carried forward.

(4) Refund or tentative carryback adjustment allocation agreement. The determination of the portion of any refund or tentative carryback adjustment payable to the fiduciary under this paragraph (g) shall be made without regard to—

(i) Any agreement among the members of the consolidated group; or

(ii) Whether the fiduciary is otherwise entitled to any portion of the refund or tentative carryback adjustment under applicable law.

(h) Credits, net capital losses, and subgroups—(1) Credits and net capital losses—(i) In general. The principles of this section also apply to credits and net capital losses, with appropriate adjustments to reflect differences between the rules applicable to net operating losses and those applicable to credits and net capital losses.

(ii) Example. The principles of this paragraph (h)(1) are illustrated by the following example.

Example.Net capital loss. (a) P owns all the stock of S1, an insolvent financial institution, and S2, a corporation that is not a financial institution. For Year 1, P, S1, and S2 each have $50 of capital gain, and the P group's consolidated capital gain net income is $150. On May 31 of Year 2, S1 becomes insolvent and is placed in receivership under the supervision of a fiduciary. For Year 2, the P group has a consolidated net operating loss of $100 that is attributable to S1, and a consolidated net capital loss of $100 that is attributable to S2.

(b) Under paragraphs (g)(2)(iii) and (h)(1) of this section, the generally applicable absorption principles of sections 172 and 1212 and §§ 1.1502–21(b) and 1.1502–22(b) of this chapter apply. Consequently, S2's capital loss is absorbed before S1's net operating loss. Therefore, the $150 of consolidated capital gain net income is offset first by S2's $100 capital loss and the remaining $50 by S1's net operating loss. The refund attributable to $50 of the net operating loss may be payable to the fiduciary, and the refund attributable to the $100 of capital loss may be payable to P. The remaining $50 consolidated net operating loss available to be carried forward is entirely attributable to S1.

(2) Insolvent financial institution subgroup—(i) In general. The principles of this section apply to all members included in an insolvent financial institution subgroup with appropriate adjustments to reflect differences resulting from the application to more than one corporation in a group. Unless otherwise determined by the Internal Revenue Service in its sole discretion, an insolvent financial institution subgroup is composed of an insolvent financial institution and those other members of a loss year group that, at any time during the conservatorship or receivership of the institution, bear the same relationship to the institution that the members of a group bear to their common parent under section 1504(a)(1).

(ii) Examples. The principles of this paragraph (h)(2) are illustrated by the following examples.

Example 1.Loss of other subgroup members. (a) S1 is a financial institution, and P, S2, and S3 are not financial institutions. P owns all the stock of S1, S1 owns all the stock of S2, and the stock of S3 is owned 20 percent by S2 and 80 percent by P. For Year 1, P, S1, and S2 each have $100 of income, S3 has no income or loss, and the P group's consolidated taxable income is $300. On May 31 of Year 2, S1 becomes insolvent and is placed in receivership under the supervision of a fiduciary. For Year 2, the P group has a consolidated net operating loss of $300, of which $200 is attributable to S1 and $100 is attributable to S2.

(b) S1 and S2 compose a subgroup because S2 bears the same relationship to S1 that the member of a group bears to its common parent under section 1504(a). S3 is not included in the subgroup because it is not connected to S1 through 80 percent stock ownership as described in section 1504(a).

(c) Because S1 and S2 are members of a subgroup, a claim for refund under paragraph (e) of this section must be based on the aggregate consolidated net operating loss of both S1 and S2. Under paragraph (e)(5) of this section, P may not elect under section 172(b)(3) to relinquish the entire carryback period with respect to the $300 of consolidated net operating loss arising in Year 2 that is attributable to S1 and S2. Any refund payable under paragraph (g)(1) of this section with respect to the $300 loss of S1 and S2 may be paid by the Internal Revenue Service directly to the fiduciary.

Example 2. Income of other subgroup members,(a) The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that S2 has $100 of income in Year 2 rather than $100 of loss. Any refund payable under paragraph (g) of this section with respect to the loss of S1 in Year 2 must take into account the income of S2, and therefore the refund will be based on a $100 loss of the subgroup.

(b) Although P and S3 are not members included in the subgroup, the loss year return and the claim for refund filed by the fiduciary under paragraph (e) of this section must be completed based on all information to which the fiduciary has reasonable access. Under paragraph (e)(3) of this section, if P does not file a loss year return that is accepted by S1, and S1 has reasonable access to information indicating that P and S3 have income in Year 2, S1 must take that income into account in filing the P group's return for Year 2 and reduce the amount of S1's loss that may be carried to Year 1 accordingly. However, if P or S3 has a loss in Year 2, any refund attributable to that loss will not be paid to the fiduciary.

(i) [Reserved]

(j) Determination of ownership. This section determines the party to whom a refund or tentative carryback adjustment will be paid but is not determinative of ownership of any such amount among current or former members of a consolidated group (including the institution).

(k) Liability of the Government. Any refund or tentative carryback adjustment paid to the fiduciary discharges any liability of the Government to the same extent as payment to the common parent under § 1.1502–77 or § 1.1502–78 of this chapter. Furthermore, any refund or tentative carryback adjustment paid to the fiduciary is considered a payment to all members of the carryback year group. Any determination made by the Internal Revenue Service under this section to pay a refund or tentative carryback adjustment to a fiduciary or the common parent may not be challenged by the common parent, any member of the group, or the fiduciary.

(l) Effective dates. This section applies to refunds and tentative carryback adjustments paid after December 30, 1991.

[T.D. 8387, 56 FR 67487, Dec. 31, 1991; 57 FR 6073, Feb. 20, 1992. Redesignated and amended by T.D. 8446, 57 FR 53034, Nov. 6, 1992; T.D. 8677, 61 FR 33325, June 27, 1996; T.D. 8823, 64 FR 36101, July 2, 1999]

§ 301.6403–1 - Overpayment of installment.

If any installment of tax is overpaid, the overpayment shall first be applied against any outstanding installments of such tax. If the overpayment exceeds the correct amount of tax due, the overpayment shall be credited or refunded as provided in section 6402 and §§ 301.6402–1 to 301.6402–4, inclusive.

§ 301.6404–0 -

This section lists the paragraphs contained in §§ 301.6404–1 through 301.6404–4.

§ 301.6404–1 Abatements. § 301.6404–2T Definition of ministerial act (temporary).

(a) In general.

(b) Ministerial act.

(1) Definition.

(2) Examples.

(c) Effective date.

§ 301.6404–3 Abatement of penalty or addition to tax attributable to erroneous written advice of the Internal Revenue Service.

(a) General rule.

(b) Requirements.

(1) In general.

(2) Advice was reasonably relied upon.

(i) In general.

(ii) Advice relating to a tax return.

(iii) Amended returns.

(iv) Advice not related to a tax return.

(v) Period of reliance.

(3) Advice was in response to written request.

(4) Taxpayer's information must be adequate and accurate.

(c) Definitions.

(1) Advice.

(2) Penalty and addition to tax.

(d) Procedures for abatement.

(e) Period for requesting abatement.

(f) Examples.

(g) Effective date.

§ 301.6404–4 Suspension of interest and certain penalties when the Internal Revenue Service does not timely contact the taxpayer.

(a) Suspension.

(1) In general.

(2) Treatment of amended returns and other documents.

(i) Amended returns filed on or after December 21, 2005, that show an increase in tax liability.

(ii) Amended returns that show a decrease in tax liability.

(iii) Amended returns and other documents as notice.

(iv) Joint return after filing separate return.

(3) Separate application.

(4) Duration of suspension period.

(5) Certain notices provided on or after November 26, 2007.

(i) Eighteen-month period has closed.

(ii) All other cases.

(6) Examples.

(7) Notice of liability and the basis for the liability.

(i) In general.

(ii) Tax attributable to TEFRA partnership items.

(iii) Examples.

(8) Providing notice.

(i) In general.

(ii) Providing notice in TEFRA partnership proceedings.

(b) Exceptions.

(1) Failure to file tax return or to pay tax.

(2) Fraud.

(3) Tax shown on return.

(4) Gross misstatement.

(i) Description.

(ii) Effect of gross misstatement.

(5) Listed transactions and undisclosed reportable transactions.

(i) In general.

(ii) Special rule for certain listed or undisclosed reportable transactions.

(A) Participant in a settlement initiative.

(1) Participant in a settlement initiative who as of January 23, 2006, had not reached agreement with the IRS.

(2) Participant in a settlement initiative who, as of January 23, 2006, had reached agreement with the IRS.

(B) Taxpayer acting in good faith.

(1) In general.

(2) Presumption.

(3) Examples.

(C) Closed transactions.

(c) Special rules.

(1) Tentative carryback and refund adjustments.

(2) Election under section 183(e).

(i) In general.

(ii) Example.

(d) Effective/applicability date.

[T.D. 8299, 55 FR 14245, Apr. 17, 1990, as amended by T.D. 9488, 75 FR 33993, June 16, 2010; T.D. 9545, 76 FR 52261, Aug. 22, 2011]

§ 301.6404–1 - Abatements.

(a) The district director or the director of the regional service center may abate any assessment, or unpaid portion thereof, if the assessment is in excess of the correct tax liability, if the assessment is made subsequent to the expiration of the period of limitations applicable thereto, or if the assessment has been erroneously or illegally made.

(b) No claim for abatement may be filed with respect to income, estate, or gift tax.

(c) Except in case of income, estate, or gift tax, if more than the correct amount of tax, interest, additional amount, addition to the tax, or assessable penalty is assessed but not paid to the district director, the person against whom the assessment is made may file a claim for abatement of such overassessment. Each claim for abatement under this section shall be made on Form 843. In the case of a claim filed prior to April 15, 1968, the claim shall be filed in the office of the internal revenue officer by whom the tax was assessed or with the assistant regional Commissioner (alcohol, tobacco, and firearms) where the regulations respecting the particular tax to which the claim relates specifically require the claim to be filed with that officer. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of § 301.6091–1 (relating to hand-carried documents), in the case of a claim filed after April 14, 1968, the claim shall be filed (1) with the Director of International Operations if the tax was assessed by him, or (2) with the assistant regional Commissioner (alcohol, tobacco, and firearms) where the regulations respecting the particular tax to which the claim relates specifically require the claim to be filed with that officer; otherwise, the claim shall be filed with the service center serving the internal revenue district in which the tax was assessed. Form 843 shall be made in accordance with the instructions relating to such form.

(d) The Commissioner may issue uniform instructions to district directors authorizing them, to the extent permitted in such instructions, to abate amounts the collection of which is not warranted because of the administration and collection costs.

[32 FR 15241, Nov. 3, 1967, as amended by T.D. 7008, 34 FR 3673, Mar. 1, 1969; T.D. 7188, 37 FR 12794, June 29, 1972; T.D. ATF–33, 41 FR 44038, Oct. 6, 1976]

§ 301.6404–2 - Abatement of interest.

(a) In general. (1) Section 6404(e)(1) provides that the Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate the assessment of all or any part of interest on any—

(i) Deficiency (as defined in section 6211(a), relating to income, estate, gift, generation-skipping, and certain excise taxes) attributable in whole or in part to any unreasonable error or delay by an officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (acting in an official capacity) in performing a ministerial or managerial act; or

(ii) Payment of any tax described in section 6212(a) (relating to income, estate, gift, generation-skipping, and certain excise taxes) to the extent that any unreasonable error or delay in payment is attributable to an officer or employee of the IRS (acting in an official capacity) being erroneous or dilatory in performing a ministerial or managerial act.

(2) An error or delay in performing a ministerial or managerial act will be taken into account only if no significant aspect of the error or delay is attributable to the taxpayer involved or to a person related to the taxpayer within the meaning of section 267(b) or section 707(b)(1). Moreover, an error or delay in performing a ministerial or managerial act will be taken into account only if it occurs after the IRS has contacted the taxpayer in writing with respect to the deficiency or payment. For purposes of this paragraph (a)(2), no significant aspect of the error or delay is attributable to the taxpayer merely because the taxpayer consents to extend the period of limitations.

(b) Definitions—(1) Managerial act means an administrative act that occurs during the processing of a taxpayer's case involving the temporary or permanent loss of records or the exercise of judgment or discretion relating to management of personnel. A decision concerning the proper application of federal tax law (or other federal or state law) is not a managerial act. Further, a general administrative decision, such as the IRS's decision on how to organize the processing of tax returns or its delay in implementing an improved computer system, is not a managerial act for which interest can be abated under paragraph (a) of this section.

(2) Ministerial act means a procedural or mechanical act that does not involve the exercise of judgment or discretion, and that occurs during the processing of a taxpayer's case after all prerequisites to the act, such as conferences and review by supervisors, have taken place. A decision concerning the proper application of federal tax law (or other federal or state law) is not a ministerial act.

(c) Examples. The following examples illustrate the provisions of paragraphs (b) (1) and (2) of this section. Unless otherwise stated, for purposes of the examples, no significant aspect of any error or delay is attributable to the taxpayer, and the IRS has contacted the taxpayer in writing with respect to the deficiency or payment. The examples are as follows:

Example 1.A taxpayer moves from one state to another before the IRS selects the taxpayer's income tax return for examination. A letter explaining that the return has been selected for examination is sent to the taxpayer's old address and then forwarded to the new address. The taxpayer timely responds, asking that the audit be transferred to the IRS's district office that is nearest the new address. The group manager timely approves the request. After the request for transfer has been approved, the transfer of the case is a ministerial act. The Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable delay in transferring the case. Example 2.An examination of a taxpayer's income tax return reveals a deficiency with respect to which a notice of deficiency will be issued. The taxpayer and the IRS identify all agreed and unagreed issues, the notice is prepared and reviewed (including review by District Counsel, if necessary), and any other relevant prerequisites are completed. The issuance of the notice of deficiency is a ministerial act. The Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable delay in issuing the notice. Example 3.A revenue agent is sent to a training course for an extended period of time, and the agent's supervisor decides not to reassign the agent's cases. During the training course, no work is done on the cases assigned to the agent. The decision to send the revenue agent to the training course and the decision not to reassign the agent's cases are not ministerial acts; however, both decisions are managerial acts. The Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable delay resulting from these decisions. Example 4.A taxpayer appears for an office audit and submits all necessary documentation and information. The auditor tells the taxpayer that the taxpayer will receive a copy of the audit report. However, before the report is prepared, the auditor is permanently reassigned to another group. An extended period of time passes before the auditor's cases are reassigned. The decision to reassign the auditor and the decision not to reassign the auditor's cases are not ministerial acts; however, they are managerial acts. The Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable delay resulting from these decisions. Example 5.A taxpayer is notified that the IRS intends to audit the taxpayer's income tax return. The agent assigned to the case is granted sick leave for an extended period of time, and the taxpayer's case is not reassigned. The decision to grant sick leave and the decision not to reassign the taxpayer's case to another agent are not ministerial acts; however, they are managerial acts. The Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable delay caused by these decisions. Example 6.A revenue agent has completed an examination of the income tax return of a taxpayer. There are issues that are not agreed upon between the taxpayer and the IRS. Before the notice of deficiency is prepared and reviewed, a clerical employee misplaces the taxpayer's case file. The act of misplacing the case file is a managerial act. The Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable delay resulting from the file being misplaced. Example 7.A taxpayer invests in a tax shelter and reports a loss from the tax shelter on the taxpayer's income tax return. IRS personnel conduct an extensive examination of the tax shelter, and the processing of the taxpayer's case is delayed because of that examination. The decision to delay the processing of the taxpayer's case until the completion of the examination of the tax shelter is a decision on how to organize the processing of tax returns. This is a general administrative decision. Consequently, interest attributable to a delay caused by this decision cannot be abated under paragraph (a) of this section. Example 8.A taxpayer claims a loss on the taxpayer's income tax return and is notified that the IRS intends to examine the return. However, a decision is made not to commence the examination of the taxpayer's return until the processing of another return, for which the statute of limitations is about to expire, is completed. The decision on how to prioritize the processing of returns based on the expiration of the statute of limitations is a general administrative decision. Consequently, interest attributable to a delay caused by this decision cannot be abated under paragraph (a) of this section. Example 9.During the examination of an income tax return, there is disagreement between the taxpayer and the revenue agent regarding certain itemized deductions claimed by the taxpayer on the return. To resolve the issue, advice is requested in a timely manner from the Office of Chief Counsel on a substantive issue of federal tax law. The decision to request advice is a decision concerning the proper application of federal tax law; it is neither a ministerial nor a managerial act. Consequently, interest attributable to a delay resulting from the decision to request advice cannot be abated under paragraph (a) of this section. Example 10.The facts are the same as in Example 9 except the attorney who is assigned to respond to the request for advice is granted leave for an extended period of time. The case is not reassigned during the attorney's absence. The decision to grant leave and the decision not to reassign the taxpayer's case to another attorney are not ministerial acts; however, they are managerial acts. The Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable delay caused by these decisions. Example 11.A taxpayer contacts an IRS employee and requests information with respect to the amount due to satisfy the taxpayer's income tax liability for a particular taxable year. Because the employee fails to access the most recent data, the employee gives the taxpayer an incorrect amount due. As a result, the taxpayer pays less than the amount required to satisfy the tax liability. Accessing the most recent data is a ministerial act. The Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable error or delay arising from giving the taxpayer an incorrect amount due to satisfy the taxpayer's income tax liability. Example 12.A taxpayer contacts an IRS employee and requests information with respect to the amount due to satisfy the taxpayer's income tax liability for a particular taxable year. To determine the current amount due, the employee must interpret complex provisions of federal tax law involving net operating loss carrybacks and foreign tax credits. Because the employee incorrectly interprets these provisions, the employee gives the taxpayer an incorrect amount due. As a result, the taxpayer pays less than the amount required to satisfy the tax liability. Interpreting complex provisions of federal tax law is neither a ministerial nor a managerial act. Consequently, interest attributable to an error or delay arising from giving the taxpayer an incorrect amount due to satisfy the taxpayer's income tax liability in this situation cannot be abated under paragraph (a) of this section. Example 13.A taxpayer moves from one state to another after the IRS has undertaken an examination of the taxpayer's income tax return. The taxpayer asks that the audit be transferred to the IRS's district office that is nearest the new address. The group manager approves the request, and the case is transferred. Thereafter, the taxpayer moves to yet another state, and once again asks that the audit be transferred to the IRS's district office that is nearest that new address. The group manager approves the request, and the case is again transferred. The agent then assigned to the case is granted sick leave for an extended period of time, and the taxpayer's case is not reassigned. The taxpayer's repeated moves result in a delay in the completion of the examination. Under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, interest attributable to this delay cannot be abated because a significant aspect of this delay is attributable to the taxpayer. However, as in Example 5, the Commissioner may (in the Commissioner's discretion) abate interest attributable to any unreasonable delay caused by the managerial decisions to grant sick leave and not to reassign the taxpayer's case to another agent.

(d) Effective dates—(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, the provisions of this section apply to interest accruing with respect to deficiencies or payments of any tax described in section 6212(a) for taxable years beginning after July 30, 1996.

(2) Special rules—(i) Estate tax. The provisions of this section apply to interest accruing with respect to deficiencies or payments of—

(A) Estate tax imposed under section 2001 on estates of decedents dying after July 30, 1996;

(B) The additional estate tax imposed under sections 2032A(c) and 2056A(b)(1)(B) in the case of taxable events occurring after July 30, 1996; and

(C) The additional estate tax imposed under section 2056A(b)(1)(A) in the case of taxable events occurring after December 31, 1996.

(ii) Gift tax. The provisions of this section apply to interest accruing with respect to deficiencies or payments of gift tax imposed under chapter 12 on gifts made after December 31, 1996.

(iii) Generation-skipping transfer tax. The provisions of this section apply to interest accruing with respect to deficiencies or payments of generation-skipping transfer tax imposed under chapter 13—

(A) On direct skips occurring at death, if the transferor dies after July 30, 1996; and

(B) On inter vivos direct skips, and all taxable terminations and taxable distributions occurring after December 31, 1996.

[T.D. 8789, 63 FR 70013, Dec. 18, 1998]

§ 301.6404–3 - Abatement of penalty or addition to tax attributable to erroneous written advice of the Internal Revenue Service.

(a) General rule. Any portion of any penalty or addition to tax that is attributable to erroneous advice furnished to the taxpayer in writing by an officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service (Service), acting in his or her official capacity, shall be abated, provided the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section are met.

(b) Requirements—(1) In general. Paragraph (a) of this section shall apply only if—

(i) The written advice was reasonably relied upon by the taxpayer;

(ii) The advice was issued in response to a specific written request for advice by the taxpayer; and

(iii) The taxpayer requesting advice provided adequate and accurate information.

(2) Advice was reasonably relied upon—(i) In general. The written advice from the Service must have been reasonably relied upon by the taxpayer in order for any penalty to be abated under paragraph (a) of this section.

(ii) Advice relating to a tax return. In the case of written advice from the Service that relates to an item included on a federal tax return of a taxpayer, if such advice is received by the taxpayer subsequent to the date on which the taxpayer filed such return, the taxpayer shall not be considered to have reasonably relied upon such written advice for purposes of this section, except as provided in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section.

(iii) Amended returns. If a taxpayer files an amended federal tax return that conforms with written advice received by the taxpayer from the Service, the taxpayer will be considered to have reasonably relied upon the advice for purposes of the position set forth in the amended return.

(iv) Advice not related to a tax return. In the case of written advice that does not relate to an item included on a federal tax return (for example, the payment of estimated taxes), if such written advice is received by the taxpayer subsequent to the act or omission of the taxpayer that is the basis for the penalty or addition of tax, then the taxpayer shall not be considered to have reasonably relied upon such written advice for purposes of this section.

(v) Period of reliance. If the written advice received by the taxpayer relates to a continuing action or series of actions, the taxpayer may rely on that advice until the taxpayer is put on notice that the advice is no longer consistent with Service position and, thus, no longer valid. For purposes of this section, the taxpayer will be put on notice that written advice is no longer valid if the taxpayer receives correspondence from the Service stating that the advice no longer represents Service position. Further, any of the following events, occurring subsequent to the issuance of the advice, that set forth a position that is inconsistent with the written advice received from the Service shall be deemed to put the taxpayer on notice that the advice is no longer valid—

(A) Enactment of legislation or ratification of a tax treaty;

(B) A decision of the United States Supreme Court;

(C) The issuance of temporary or final regulations; or

(D) The issuance of a revenue ruling, a revenue procedure, or other statement published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

(3) Advice was in response to written request. No abatement under paragraph (a) of this section shall be allowed unless the penalty or addition to tax is attributable to advice issued in response to a specific written request for advice by the taxpayer. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a written request from a representative of the taxpayer shall be considered a written request by the taxpayer only if—

(i) The taxpayer's representative is an attorney, a certified public accountant, an enrolled agent, an enrolled actuary, or any other person permitted to represent the taxpayer before the Service and who is not disbarred or suspended from practice before the Service; and

(ii) The written request for advice either is accompanied by a power of attorney that is signed by the taxpayer and that authorizes the representative to represent the taxpayer for purposes of the request, or such a power of attorney is currently on file with the Service.

(4) Taxpayer's information must be adequate and accurate. No abatement under paragraph (a) of this section shall be allowed with respect to any portion of any penalty or addition to tax that resulted because the taxpayer requesting the advice did not provide the Service with adequate and accurate information. The Service has no obligation to verify or correct the taxpayer's submitted information.

(c) Definitions—(1) Advice. For purposes of section 6404(f) and the regulations thereunder, a written response issued to a taxpayer by an officer or employee of the Service shall constitute “advice” if, and only if, the response applies the tax laws to the specific facts submitted in writing by the taxpayer and provides a conclusion regarding the tax treatment to be accorded the taxpayer upon the application of the tax law to those facts.

(2) Penalty and addition to tax. For purposes of section 6404(f) and the regulations thereunder, the terms “penalty” and “addition to tax” refer to any liability of a particular taxpayer imposed under subtitle F, chapter 68, subchapter A and subchapter B of the Internal Revenue Code, and the liabilities imposed by sections 6038(b), 6038(c), 6038A(d), 6038B(b), 6039E(c), and 6332(d)(2). In addition, the terms “penalty” and “addition to tax” shall include any liability resulting from the application of other provisions of the Code where the Commissioner of Internal Revenue has designated by regulation, revenue ruling, or other guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin that such provision shall be considered a penalty or addition to tax for purposes of section 6404(f). The terms “penalty” and “addition to tax” shall also include interest imposed with respect to any penalty or addition to tax.

(d) Procedures for abatement. Taxpayers entitled to an abatement of a penalty or addition to tax pursuant to section 6404(f) and this section should complete and file Form 843. If the erroneous advice received relates to an item on a federal tax return, taxpayers should submit Form 843 to the Internal Revenue Service Center where the return was filed. If the advice does not relate to an item on a federal tax return, the taxpayer should submit Form 843 to the Service Center where the taxpayer's return was filed for the taxable year in which the taxpayer relied on the erroneous advice. At the top of Form 843 taxpayers should write, “Abatement of penalty or addition to tax pursuant to section 6404(f).” Further, taxpayers must state on Form 843 whether the penalty or addition to tax has been paid. Taxpayers must submit, with Form 843, copies of the following—

(1) The taxpayer's written request for advice;

(2) The erroneous written advice furnished by the Service to the taxpayer and relied on by the taxpayer; and

(3) The report (if any) of tax adjustments that identifies the penalty or addition to tax and the item relating to the erroneous written advice.

(e) Period for requesting abatement. An abatement of any penalty or addition to tax pursuant to section 6404(f) and this section shall be allowed only if the request for abatement described in paragraph (d) of this section is submitted within the period allowed for collection of such penalty or addition to tax, or, if the penalty or addition to tax has been paid, the period allowed for claiming a credit or refund of such penalty or addition to tax.

(f) Examples. The following examples illustrate the application of section 6404(f) of the Code and the regulations thereunder:

Example 1.In February 1989, an individual submitted a written request for advice to an Internal Revenue Service Center and included adequate and accurate information to consider the request. The question posed by the taxpayer concerned whether a certain amount was includible in income on the taxpayer's 1989 federal income tax return. An employee of the Service Center issued the taxpayer a written response that concluded that based on the specific facts submitted by the taxpayer, the amount was not includible in income on the taxpayer's 1989 return. Since the response provided a conclusion regarding the tax treatment accorded the taxpayer on the basis of the facts submitted, the response constitutes “advice” for purposes of section 6404(f). The taxpayer filed his 1989 return and, relying on the Service's advice, did not include the item in income. Upon examination, it was determined that the item should have been included in income on the taxpayer's 1989 return. Because the taxpayer reasonably relied upon erroneous written advice from the Service, any penalty or addition to tax attributable to the erroneous advice will be abated by the Service. However, the erroneous advice will not affect the amount of any taxes and interest owed by the taxpayer (except to the extent interest relates to a penalty or addition to tax attributable to the erroneous advice) due to the fact that the item was not included in income. Example 2.In March 1989, an individual submitted a written request to the National Office of the Internal Revenue Service regarding whether a certain activity constitutes a passive activity within the meaning of section 469 of the Code. The request did not meet the procedural requirements set forth by the National Office for consideration of the submission as a private letter ruling request and, thus, was not treated as such by the Service. The Service furnished the taxpayer with a written response that transmitted various published provisions of section 469 and the regulations thereunder relevant to the determination of whether an activity is passive within the meaning of those provisions. The Service also included a Publication regarding the tax treatment of passive activities. However, the Service's response contained no opinion or determination regarding whether the taxpayer's described activity was or was not passive under section 469. The Service's response is not advice within the meaning of section 6404(f), and cannot be relied upon for purposes of an abatement of a portion of a penalty or addition to tax under that section. Example 3.On April 1, 1989, an individual submitted a written request for advice to an Internal Revenue Service Center. The advice related to an item included on a federal tax return. The individual filed a federal income tax return with the appropriate Service Center on April 15, 1989. Subsequently, on May 1, 1989, the individual received advice from the Service Center concerning the written request made on April 1. Because the individual filed his tax return prior to the date on which written advice from the Service was received, the individual did not rely on the Service's written advice for purposes of section 6404(f). If, however, the individual amends his tax return to conform with the written advice received from the Service, the individual will be considered to have reasonably relied upon the Service's advice. Example 4.Individual A, on May 1, 1989, received advice from the Service that concluded that interest paid by the taxpayer with respect to a specific loan was interest paid or accrued in connection with a trade or business, within the meaning of section 163(h)(2)(A) of the Code. The advice relates to a continuing action. Therefore, provided the facts submitted by the taxpayer to obtain the advice remain adequate and accurate (that is, the circumstances relating to the indebtedness do not change), Individual A may rely on the Service's advice for subsequent taxable years until the individual is put on notice that the advice no longer represents Service position and, thus, is no longer valid. Example 5.An individual, on June 1, 1989, received advice from the Service that concluded that no gain or loss would be recognized with respect to a transfer of property to his spouse under section 1041. The advice does not relate to a continuing action. Therefore, the taxpayer may not rely on the advice of the Service for transfers other than the transfer discussed in the taxpayer's written request for advice.

(g) Effective date. Section 6404(f) shall apply with respect to advice requested on or after January 1, 1989.

[T.D. 8254, 54 FR 21057, May 16, 1989. Redesignated at 55 FR 14245, Apr. 17, 1990]

§ 301.6404–4 - Suspension of interest and certain penalties when the Internal Revenue Service does not timely contact the taxpayer.

(a) Suspension—(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, if an individual taxpayer files a return of tax imposed by subtitle A on or before the due date for the return (including extensions) and the Internal Revenue Service does not timely provide the taxpayer with a notice specifically stating the amount of any increased liability and the basis for that liability, then the IRS must suspend the imposition of any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount, with respect to any failure relating to the return that is computed by reference to the period of time the failure continues to exist and that is properly allocable to the suspension period. The notice described in this paragraph (a) is timely if provided before the close of the 18-month period (36-month period in the case of notices provided after November 25, 2007, subject to the provisions of paragraph (a)(5)) beginning on the later of the date on which the return is filed or the due date of the return without regard to extensions.

(2) Treatment of amended returns and other documents—(i) Amended returns filed on or after December 21, 2005, that show an increase in tax liability. If a taxpayer, on or after December 21, 2005, provides to the IRS an amended return or one or more other signed written documents showing an increase in tax liability, the date on which the return was filed will, for purposes of this paragraph (a), be the date on which the last of the documents was provided. Documents described in this paragraph (a)(2)(i) are provided on the date that they are received by the IRS.

(ii) Amended returns that show a decrease in tax liability. If a taxpayer provides to the IRS an amended return or other signed written document that shows a decrease in tax liability, any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount will not be suspended if the IRS at any time proposes to adjust the changed item or items on the amended return or other signed written document.

(iii) Amended returns and other documents as notice. (A) As to the items reported, an amended return or one or more other signed written documents showing that the taxpayer owes an additional amount of tax for the taxable year serves as the notice described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section with respect to the items reported on the amended return.

(B) Example. An individual taxpayer timely files a Federal income tax return for taxable year 2008 on April 15, 2009. On January 19, 2010, the taxpayer mails to the IRS an amended return reporting an additional item of income and an increased tax liability for taxable year 2008. The IRS receives the amended return on January 21, 2010. The amended return will be treated for purposes of this paragraph (a) as filed on January 21, 2010, the date the IRS received it. Pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section, the amended return serves as the notice described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section with respect to the item reported on the amended return. Accordingly, because the filing of the amended return and the provision of notice occur simultaneously, no suspension of any interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional amount will occur under this paragraph (a) with respect to the item reported on the amended return.

(iv) Joint return after filing separate return. A joint return filed under section 6013(b) is subject to the rules for amended returns described in this paragraph (a)(2). The IRS will not suspend any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount on a joint return filed under section 6013(b) after the filing of a separate return unless each spouse's separate return, if required to be filed, was timely.

(3) Separate application. This paragraph (a) shall be applied separately with respect to each item or adjustment.

(4) Duration of suspension period. The suspension period described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section begins the day after the close of the 18-month period (36-month period, in the case of notices provided after November 25, 2007, subject to the provisions of paragraph (a)(5)) beginning on the later of the date on which the return is filed or the due date of the return without regard to extensions. The suspension period ends 21 days after the earlier of the date on which the IRS mails the required notice to the taxpayer's last known address, the date on which the required notice is hand-delivered to the taxpayer, or the date on which the IRS receives an amended return or other signed written document showing an increased tax liability.

(5) Certain notices provided on or after November 26, 2007. If the IRS provides the notice described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section to a taxpayer on or after November 26, 2007, and the notice relates to an individual Federal income tax return that was timely filed before that date, the following rules will apply:

(i) Eighteen-month period has closed. If, as of November 25, 2007, the 18-month period described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section has closed and the IRS has not provided the taxpayer with the notice described in that paragraph (a)(1), the suspension described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section will begin on the day after the close of the 18-month period. The suspension will end on the date that is 21 days after the notice is provided.

(ii) All other cases. In all other cases, the suspension described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section will begin on the day after the close of the 36-month period described in that paragraph (a)(1) and end on the date that is 21 days after the notice described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section is provided.

(6) Examples. The following examples, which assume that no exceptions in section 6404(g)(2) to the general rule of suspension apply, illustrate the rules of this paragraph (a).

Example 1.An individual taxpayer timely files a Federal income tax return for taxable year 2005 on April 17, 2006. On December 11, 2007, the taxpayer mails to the IRS an amended return reporting an additional item of income and an increased tax liability for taxable year 2005. The IRS receives the amended return on December 13, 2007. On January 16, 2008, the IRS provides the taxpayer with a notice stating that the taxpayer has an additional tax liability based on the disallowance of a deduction the taxpayer claimed on his original return and did not change on his amended return. The date the amended return was received substitutes for the date that the original return was filed with respect to the additional item of tax liability reported on the amended return. Thus, the IRS will not suspend any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount with respect to the additional item of income and the increased tax liability reported on the amended return. The suspension period for the additional tax liability based on the IRS's disallowance of the deduction begins on October 17, 2007, so the IRS will suspend any interest, penalty, addition to tax, and additional amount with respect to the disallowed deduction and additional tax liability from that date through February 6, 2008, which is 21 days after the IRS provided notice of the additional tax liability and the basis for that liability. The suspension period in this example begins 18 months after filing the return (not 36 months) because, as of November 25, 2007, the 18-month period beginning on the date the return was filed had closed without the IRS giving notice of the additional liability. Thus, under the rules in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, the suspension period begins 18 months from the April 17, 2006 return filing date. Example 2.An individual taxpayer files a Federal income tax return for taxable year 2008 on April 15, 2009. The taxpayer consents to extend the time within which the IRS may assess any tax due on the return until June 30, 2013. On December 20, 2012, the IRS provides a notice to the taxpayer specifically stating the taxpayer's liability and the basis for the liability. The suspension period for the liability identified by the IRS begins on April 15, 2012, so the IRS will suspend any interest, penalty, addition to tax, and additional amount with respect to that liability from that date through January 10, 2013, which is 21 days after the IRS provided notice of the additional tax liability and the basis for that liability.

(7) Notice of liability and the basis for the liability—(i) In general. Notice to the taxpayer must be in writing and specifically state the amount of the liability and the basis for the liability. The notice must provide the taxpayer with sufficient information to identify which items of income, deduction, loss, or credit the IRS has adjusted or proposes to adjust, and the reason for that adjustment. Notice of the reason for the adjustment does not require a detailed explanation or a citation to any Internal Revenue Code section or other legal authority. The IRS need not incorporate all of the information necessary to satisfy the notice requirement within a single document or provide all of the information at the same time. Documents that may contain information sufficient to constitute notice, either alone or in conjunction with other documents, include, but are not limited to, statutory notices of deficiency; examination reports (for example, Form 4549, Income Tax Examination Changes or Form 886–A, Explanation of Items); Form 870, Waiver of Restriction on Assessments and Collection of Deficiency in Tax and Acceptance of Overassessment; notices of proposed deficiency that allow the taxpayer an opportunity for review in the Office of Appeals (30-day letters); notices pursuant to section 6213(b) (mathematical or clerical errors); and notice and demand for payment of a jeopardy assessment under section 6861.

(ii) Tax attributable to TEFRA partnership items. Notice to the partner or the tax matters partner (TMP) of a partnership subject to the unified audit and litigation procedures of subchapter C of chapter 63 of subtitle F of the Internal Revenue Code (TEFRA partnership procedures) that provides specific information about the basis for the adjustments to partnership items is sufficient notice if a partner could reasonably compute the specific tax attributable to the partnership item based on the proposed adjustments as applied to the partner's individual tax situation. Documents provided by the IRS during a TEFRA partnership proceeding that may contain information sufficient to satisfy the notice requirements include, but are not limited to, a Notice of Final Partnership Administrative Adjustment (FPAA); examination reports (for example, Form 4605–A or Form 886–A); or a letter that allows the partners an opportunity for review in the Office of Appeals (60-day letter).

(iii) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of this paragraph (a)(7).

Example 1.During an audit of Taxpayer A's 2005 taxable year return, the IRS questions a charitable deduction claimed on the return. The IRS provides A with a 30-day letter that proposes to disallow the charitable contribution deduction resulting in a deficiency of $1,000 and informs A that A may file a written protest of the proposed disallowance with the Office of Appeals within 30 days. The letter includes as an attachment a copy of the revenue agent's report that states, “It has not been established that the amount shown on your return as a charitable contribution was paid during the tax year. Therefore, this deduction is not allowable.” The information in the 30-day letter and attachment provides A with notice of the specific amount of the liability and the basis for that liability as described in this paragraph (a)(7). Example 2.Taxpayer B is a partner in partnership P, a TEFRA partnership for taxable year 2005. B claims a distributive share of partnership income on B's Federal income tax return for 2005 timely filed on April 17, 2006. On October 1, 2007, during the course of a partnership audit of P for taxable year 2005, the IRS provides P's TMP with a 60-day letter proposing to adjust P's income by $10,000. The IRS previously had provided the TMP with a copy of the examination report explaining that the adjustment was based on $10,000 of unreported net income. On October 31, 2007, P's TMP informs B of the proposed adjustment as required by § 301.6223(g)–1(b). By accounting for B's distributive share of the $10,000 of unreported income from P with B's other income tax items, B can determine B's tax attributable to the $10,000 partnership adjustment. The information in the 60-day letter and the examination report allows B to compute the specific amount of the liability attributable to the adjustment to the partnership item and the basis for that adjustment and therefore satisfies the notice requirement of paragraph (a). Because the IRS provided that notice to the TMP, B's agent under the TEFRA partnership provisions, within 18 months of the April 17, 2006 filing date of B's return, any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount with respect to B's tax liability attributable to B's distributive share of the $10,000 of unreported partnership income will not be suspended under section 6404(g).

(8) Providing notice—(i) In general. The IRS may provide notice by mail or in person to the taxpayer or the taxpayer's representative. If the IRS mails the notice, it must be sent to the taxpayer's last known address under rules similar to section 6212(b), except that certified or registered mail is not required. Notice is considered provided as of the date of mailing or delivery in person.

(ii) Providing notice in TEFRA partnership proceedings. In the case of TEFRA partnership proceedings, the IRS must provide notice of final partnership administrative adjustments (FPAA) by mail to those partners specified in section 6223. Within 60 days of an FPAA being mailed, the TMP is required to forward notice of the FPAA to those partners not entitled to direct notice from the IRS under section 6223. Certain partners with small interests in partnerships with more than 100 partners may form a Notice Group and designate a partner to receive the FPAA on their behalf. The IRS may provide other information after the beginning of the partnership administrative proceeding to the TMP who, in turn, must provide that information to the partners specified in § 301.6223(g)–1 within 30 days of receipt. Pass-thru partners who receive notices and other information from the IRS or the TMP must forward that notice or information within 30 days to those holding an interest through the pass-thru partner. Information provided by the IRS to the TMP is deemed to be notice for purposes of this section to those partners specified in § 301.6223(g)–1 as of the date the IRS provides that notice to the TMP. A similar rule applies to notice provided to the designated partner of a Notice Group, and to notice provided to a pass-thru partner. In the foregoing situations, the TMP, designated partner, and pass-thru partner are agents for direct and indirect partners. Consequently, notice to these agents is deemed to be notice to the partners for whom they act.

(b) Exceptions—(1) Failure to file tax return or to pay tax. Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to any penalty imposed by section 6651.

(2) Fraud. Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount for a year involving a false or fraudulent return. If a taxpayer files a fraudulent return for a particular year, paragraph (a) of this section may apply to any other tax year of the taxpayer that does not involve fraud. Fraud affecting a particular item on a return precludes paragraph (a) of this section from applying to any other items on that return.

(3) Tax shown on return. Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount with respect to any tax liability shown on a return.

(4) Gross misstatement—(i) Description. Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount with respect to a gross misstatement. A gross misstatement for purposes of this paragraph (b) means:

(A) a substantial omission of income as described in section 6501(e)(1) or section 6229(c)(2);

(B) a gross valuation misstatement within the meaning of section 6662(h)(2)(A) and (B); or

(C) a misstatement to which the penalty under section 6702(a) applies.

(ii) Effect of gross misstatement. If a gross misstatement occurs, then paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount with respect to any items of income omitted from the return and with respect to overstated deductions, even though one or more of the omitted items would not constitute a substantial omission, gross valuation misstatement, or misstatement to which section 6702(a) applies.

(5) Listed transactions and undisclosed reportable transactions—(i) In general. The general rule of suspension under section 6404(g)(1) does not apply to any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount with respect to any listed transaction as defined in section 6707A(c) or any undisclosed reportable transaction. For purposes of this section, an undisclosed reportable transaction is a reportable transaction described in the regulations under section 6011 that is not adequately disclosed under those regulations and that is not a listed transaction. The date that the IRS provides notice to the taxpayer specifically stating the taxpayer's liability regarding a listed transaction or an undisclosed reportable transaction and the basis for that liability is the controlling date for determining whether the transaction is a listed transaction or an undisclosed reportable transaction for purposes of the suspension rules under section 6404(g).

(ii) Special rule for certain listed or undisclosed reportable transactions. With respect to interest relating to listed transactions and undisclosed reportable transactions accruing on or before October 3, 2004, the exception to the general rule of interest suspension will not apply to a taxpayer who is a participant in a settlement initiative with respect to that transaction, to any transaction in which the taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith, or to a closed transaction. For purposes of this special rule, a “participant in a settlement initiative,” a “taxpayer acting in good faith,” and a “closed transaction” have the following meanings:

(A) Participant in a settlement initiative—(1) Participant in a settlement initiative who, as of January 23, 2006, had not reached agreement with the IRS. A participant in a settlement initiative includes a taxpayer who, as of January 23, 2006, was participating in a settlement initiative described in Internal Revenue Service Announcement 2005–80, 2005–2 C.B. 967. See § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b) of this chapter. A taxpayer participates in the initiative by complying with Section 5 of the Announcement. A taxpayer is not a participant in a settlement initiative if, after January 23, 2006, the taxpayer withdraws from or terminates participation in the initiative, or the IRS determines that a settlement agreement will not be reached under the initiative within a reasonable period of time.

(2) Participant in a settlement initiative who, as of January 23, 2006, had reached agreement with the IRS. A participant in a settlement initiative is a taxpayer who, as of January 23, 2006, had entered into a settlement agreement under Announcement 2005–80 or any other prior or contemporaneous settlement initiative either offered through published guidance or, if the initiative was not formally published, direct contact with taxpayers known to have participated in a tax shelter promotion.

(B) Taxpayer acting in good faith—(1) In general. The IRS may suspend interest relating to a listed transaction or an undisclosed reportable transaction accruing on or before October 3, 2004, if the taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith. The IRS's determination of whether a taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith will take into account all the facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction. The facts and circumstances include, but are not limited to, whether the taxpayer disclosed the transaction and the taxpayer's course of conduct after being identified as participating in the transaction, including the taxpayer's response to opportunities afforded to the taxpayer to settle the transaction, and whether the taxpayer engaged in unreasonable delay at any stage of the matter.

(2) Presumption. If a taxpayer and the IRS promptly enter into a settlement agreement with respect to a transaction on terms proposed by the IRS or, in the event of atypical facts and circumstances, on terms more favorable to the taxpayer, and the taxpayer has complied with the terms of that agreement without unreasonable delay, the taxpayer will be presumed to have acted reasonably and in good faith except in rare and unusual circumstances. Rare and unusual circumstances must involve specific actions involving harm to tax administration. Even if a taxpayer does not qualify for the presumption described in this paragraph (b)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the taxpayer may still be granted interest suspension under the general facts and circumstances test set forth in paragraph (b)(5)(iii)(B)(1) of this section.

(3) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules the IRS uses in determining whether a taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith.

Example 1.The taxpayer participated in a listed transaction. The IRS, in a letter sent directly to the taxpayer in July 2005, proposed a settlement of the transaction. The taxpayer informed the IRS of his interest in the settlement within the prescribed time period. The revenue agent assigned to the taxpayer's case was not able to calculate the taxpayer's liability under the settlement or tender a closing agreement to the taxpayer until March 2006. The taxpayer promptly executed the closing agreement and returned it to the IRS with a proposal for arrangements to pay the agreed-upon liability. The IRS agreed with the proposed arrangements for full payment. For purposes of the application of section 6404(g)(2)(E), the taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith. Interest accruing on or before October 3, 2004, relating to the transaction in which the taxpayer participated will be suspended. Example 2.The facts are the same as in Example 1, except that the letter was sent by the IRS in February 2006, and the closing agreement was tendered to the taxpayer in April 2006. For purposes of the application of section 6404(g)(2)(E), the taxpayer has acted reasonably and in good faith. Interest accruing on or before October 3, 2004, relating to the transaction in which the taxpayer participated will be suspended. Example 3.The taxpayer participated in a listed transaction. In response to an offer of settlement extended by the IRS in August 2005, the taxpayer informed the IRS of her interest in entering into a closing agreement on the terms proposed by the IRS. The revenue agent assigned to the transaction calculated the taxpayer's liability under the settlement and tendered a closing agreement to the taxpayer in November 2005. The taxpayer executed the closing agreement but failed to make any arrangement for payment of the agreed-upon liability stated in the closing agreement. Taking into account all the facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction, the taxpayer did not act reasonably and in good faith. Interest accruing on or before October 3, 2004, relating to the transaction in which the taxpayer participated will not be suspended. Example 4.The taxpayer participated in a listed transaction. In a letter sent by the IRS directly to the taxpayer in July 2005, the IRS extended an offer of settlement. The July 2005 letter informed the taxpayer that, absent atypical facts and circumstances, the taxpayer should not expect resolution of the tax issues on more favorable terms than proposed in the letter. The taxpayer declined the proposed settlement terms of the letter and proceeded to Appeals to present what the taxpayer claimed were atypical facts and circumstances. The administrative file did not contain sufficient information bearing on atypical facts and circumstances, and the taxpayer failed to provide additional information when requested by Appeals to explain how the transaction originally proposed to the taxpayer differed in structure or types of tax benefits claimed, from the transaction as implemented by the taxpayer. Appeals determined that the taxpayer's facts and circumstances were not significantly different from those of other taxpayers who participated in that listed transaction and thus, were not atypical. In September 2006, the taxpayer and Appeals entered into a closing agreement on terms consistent with those originally proposed in the July 2005 letter. The taxpayer has complied with the terms of that closing agreement. For purposes of the application of section 6404(g)(2)(E), this taxpayer is not presumed to have acted reasonably and in good faith; instead, the IRS will apply the general rule to determine whether to suspend interest accruing on or before October 3, 2004, relating to the transaction in which the taxpayer participated. Example 5.The facts are the same as in Example 4, except that Appeals agrees that atypical facts were present that warrant additional concessions by the government. A settlement is reached on terms more favorable to the taxpayer than those proposed in the July 2005 letter. For purposes of the application of section 6404(g)(2)(E), this taxpayer is presumed to have acted reasonably and in good faith, and absent evidence of rare or unusual circumstances harmful to tax administration, is eligible for suspension of interest accruing on or before October 3, 2004, relating to the transaction in which the taxpayer participated.

(C) Closed transactions. A transaction is considered closed for purposes of this clause if, as of December 14, 2005, the assessment of all federal income taxes for the taxable year in which the tax liability to which the interest relates is prevented by the operation of any law or rule of law, or a closing agreement under section 7121 has been entered into with respect to the tax liability arising in connection with the transaction.

(c) Special rules—(1) Tentative carryback and refund adjustments. If an amount applied, credited or refunded under section 6411 exceeds the overassessment properly attributable to a tentative carryback or refund adjustment, any interest, penalty, addition to tax, or additional amount with respect to the excess will not be suspended.

(2) Election under section 183(e)—(i) In general. If a taxpayer elects under section 183(e) to defer the determination of whether the presumption that an activity is engaged in for profit applies, the 18-month (or 36-month) notification period described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section will be tolled for the period to which the election applies. If the 18-month (or 36-month) notification period has passed as of the date the section 183(e) election is made, the suspension period described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section will be tolled for the period to which the election applies and will resume the day after the tolling period ends. Tolling will begin on the date the election is made and end on the later of the date the return for the last taxable year to which the election applies is filed or is due without regard to extensions.

(ii) Example. In taxable year 2007, taxpayer begins training and showing horses. On January 4, 2011, the taxpayer elects under section 183(e) to defer the determination of whether the horse-related activity will be presumed (under section 183(d)) to be engaged in for profit. Accordingly, under section 183(e)(1), a determination of whether the section 183(d) presumption applies will not occur before the close of the 2013 taxable year. Assume that in 2014, the IRS is considering issuing a notice of deficiency for taxable year 2009 regarding tax deductions claimed for the horse-related activity. Pursuant to paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section, the 36-month notification period under paragraph (a)(1) of this section will be tolled with respect to taxable year 2009 for the period to which the section 183(e) election applies. This tolling of the notification period begins on January 4, 2011 (the date the taxpayer made the section 183(e) election) and ends on the later of April 15, 2014, or the date the taxpayer's return for taxable year 2013 is filed.

(d) Effective/Applicability date. Paragraph (b)(5) of these regulations applies to interest relating to listed transactions and undisclosed reportable transactions accruing before, on, or after October 3, 2004. Paragraphs (a), (b)(1) through (b)(4), and (c) are effective on August 22, 2011.

[T.D. 9488, 75 FR 33993, June 16, 2010, as amended by T.D. 9545, 76 FR 52261, Aug. 22, 2011; 76 FR 60373, Sept. 29, 2011]

§ 301.6405–1 - Reports of refunds and credits.

Section 6405 requires that a report be made to the Joint Committee on Taxation of proposed refunds or credits in excess of $100,000 of any income tax (including any qualified State individual income tax collected by the Federal Government), war profits tax, excess profits tax, estate tax, or gift tax. An exception is provided under which refunds and credits made after July 1, 1972, and attributable to an election under section 165(h) to deduct a disaster loss for the taxable year in which the disaster occurred, may be made prior to the submission of such report to the Joint Committee on Taxation.

[T.D. 7577, 43 FR 59376, Dec. 20, 1978]

§ 301.6407–1 - Date of allowance of refund or credit.

The date on which the district director or the director of the regional service center, or an authorized certifying officer designated by either of them, first certifies the allowance of an overassessment in respect of any internal revenue tax shall be considered as the date of allowance of refund or credit in respect of such tax.

Rules of Special Application

§ 301.6411–1 - Tentative carryback adjustments.

For regulations under section 6411, see §§ 1.6411–1 to 1.6411–4, inclusive, of this chapter (Income Tax Regulations).

§ 301.6413–1 - Special rules applicable to certain employment taxes.

For regulations under section 6413, see §§ 31.6413(a)–1 to 31.6413(c)–1, inclusive, of this chapter (Employment Tax Regulations).

§ 301.6414–1 - Income tax withheld.

(a) For rules relating to the refund or credit of income tax withheld under chapter 3 of the Code on nonresident aliens and foreign corporations and tax-free covenant bonds, see § 1.6414–1 of this chapter (Income Tax Regulations).

(b) For rules relating to the refund or credit of income tax withheld under chapter 24 of the Code from wages, see § 31.6414–1 of this chapter (Employment Tax Regulations).

§ 301.6425–1 - Adjustment of overpayment of estimated income tax by corporation.

For regulations under section 6425, see §§ 1.6425–1 to 1.6425–3, inclusive, of this chapter (Income Tax Regulations).

[T.D. 7059, 35 FR 14548, Sept. 17, 1970]