[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 29 (Monday, February 14, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7396-7401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2816]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Parts 301 and 602

[TD 9178]
RIN 1545-BB15


Testimony or Production of Records in a Court or Other Proceeding

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Final regulation.

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SUMMARY: This document contains final regulations replacing the 
existing regulation that establishes the procedures to be followed by 
IRS officers and employees upon receipt of a request or demand for 
disclosure of IRS records or information. The purpose of the final 
regulations is to provide specific instructions and to clarify the 
circumstances under which more specific procedures take precedence. The 
final regulations extend the application of the regulation to former 
IRS officers and employees as well as to persons who are or were under 
contract to the IRS. The final regulations affect current and former 
IRS officers, employees and contractors, and persons who make requests 
or demands for disclosure.

DATES: Effective Date: These regulations are effective February 14, 
2005.
    Applicability Date: For dates of applicability, see Sec.  301.9000-
7.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott E. Powers, (202) 622-4580 (not a 
toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collections of information contained in these final regulations 
have been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507(d)) under control number 1545-1850.
    The collections of information are in Sec.  301.9000-5. This 
information is required to enable the IRS to provide authorizing 
officials with a better informed basis upon which to determine whether 
to grant, deny, or limit testimony or the disclosure of IRS records or 
information so as to conserve agency resources.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid 
control number assigned by the Office of Management and Budget.
    The burden reflected in the notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-
140930-02) relating to the procedures for IRS officers and employees to 
follow upon receipt of a request or demand for disclosure of IRS 
records or information was published in the Federal Register (68 FR 
40850). Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and 
suggestions for reducing this burden should be sent to the Internal 
Revenue Service, Attn: IRS Reports Clearance Officer, 
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:T:SP, Washington, DC 20224, and to the Office of 
Management and Budget, Attn: Desk Officer for the Department of the 
Treasury, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 
20503.
    Books or records relating to a collection of information must be 
retained as long as their contents may become material in the 
administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and 
tax return information are confidential, as required by section 6103 of 
the Internal Revenue Code.

Background

    This document contains amendments to 26 CFR part 301 under 5 U.S.C. 
301 and 26 CFR part 602. On July 9, 2003, a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (REG-140930-02) relating to the procedures for IRS officers 
and employees to follow upon receipt of a request or demand for 
disclosure of IRS records or information was published in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 40850). No comments were received from the public in 
response to the notice of proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was 
requested or held. The proposed regulations are adopted as amended by 
this Treasury decision. With the exception of changes that are 
grammatical in nature, the revisions are discussed below.

Summary of Comments and Explanation of Revisions

    The regulations have been clarified by the addition of an example 
illustrating a situation in which testimony authorization is required. 
In addition, text and examples have been added to illustrate that even 
though testimony authorization may not be required, any disclosure of 
IRS records and information must be proper under the applicable 
substantive law. For

[[Page 7397]]

example, any disclosure of returns and return information must comply 
with section 6103, and any disclosure of tax convention information 
must comply with section 6105 and be coordinated with the United States 
Competent Authority.

Special Analyses

    It has been determined that this Treasury decision is not a 
significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. 
Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has been 
determined that 5 U.S.C. 553(b), the Administrative Procedure Act, does 
not apply to these final regulations.
    It is hereby certified that the collection of information in these 
final regulations will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. This certification is based upon 
the fact that of the estimated 1,400 requests received annually, less 
than 500 of those requests are estimated to be received from small 
entities. Moreover, the burden associated with complying with the 
collection of information in these regulations is estimated to be only 
1 hour per respondent. Therefore, a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) is not 
required.
    Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, the 
notice of proposed rulemaking preceding this regulation was submitted 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
for comment on its impact on small business.

Drafting Information

    The principal authors of this final regulation are David Fish and 
Scott E. Powers, Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure & Administration), 
Disclosure & Privacy Law Division.

List of Subjects

26 CFR Part 301

    Employment taxes, Estate taxes, Excise taxes, Gift taxes, Income 
taxes, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

26 CFR Part 602

    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Adoption of Amendments to the Regulations

0
Accordingly, 26 CFR parts 301 and 602 are amended as follows:

PART 301--PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION

0
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for Part 301 is amended by adding 
the following entries in numerical order to read in part as follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
    Section 301.9000-1 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 301 and 26 U.S.C. 
6103(q) and 7804;
    Section 301.9000-2 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 301 and 26 U.S.C. 
6103(q) and 7804;
    Section 301.9000-3 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 301 and 26 U.S.C. 
6103(q) and 7804;
    Section 301.9000-4 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 301 and 26 U.S.C. 
6103(q) and 7804;
    Section 301.9000-5 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 301 and 26 U.S.C. 
6103(q) and 7804;
    Section 301.9000-6 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 301 and 26 U.S.C. 
6103(q) and 7804; * * *


0
Par. 2. Section 301.9000-1 is revised and Sec. Sec.  301.9000-2 through 
301.9000-7 are added to read as follows:


Sec.  301.9000-1  Definitions when used in Sec. Sec.  301.9000-1 
through 301.9000-6.

    (a) IRS records or information means any material (including copies 
thereof) contained in the files (including paper, electronic or other 
media files) of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), any information 
relating to material contained in the files of the IRS, or any 
information acquired by an IRS officer or employee, while an IRS 
officer or employee, as a part of the performance of official duties or 
because of that IRS officer's or employee's official status with 
respect to the administration of the internal revenue laws or any other 
laws administered by or concerning the IRS. IRS records or information 
includes, but is not limited to, returns and return information as 
those terms are defined in section 6103(b)(1) and (2) of the Internal 
Revenue Code (Code), tax convention information as defined in section 
6105 of the Code, information gathered during Bank Secrecy Act and 
money laundering investigations, and personnel records and other 
information pertaining to IRS officers and employees. IRS records and 
information also includes information received, generated or collected 
by an IRS contractor pursuant to the contractor's contract or agreement 
with the IRS. The term does not include records or information obtained 
by IRS officers and employees, solely for the purpose of a federal 
grand jury investigation, while under the direction and control of the 
United States Attorney's Office. The term IRS records or information 
nevertheless does include records or information obtained by the IRS 
before, during, or after a Federal grand jury investigation if the 
records or information are obtained--
    (1) At the administrative stage of a criminal investigation (prior 
to the initiation of the grand jury);
    (2) From IRS files (such as transcripts or tax returns); or
    (3) For use in a subsequent civil investigation.
    (b) IRS officers and employees means all officers and employees of 
the United States appointed by, employed by, or subject to the 
directions, instructions, or orders of the Commissioner or IRS Chief 
Counsel and also includes former officers and employees.
    (c) IRS contractor means any person, including the person's current 
and former employees, maintaining IRS records or information pursuant 
to a contract or agreement with the IRS, and also includes former 
contractors.
    (d) A request is any request for testimony of an IRS officer, 
employee or contractor or for production of IRS records or information, 
oral or written, by any person, which is not a demand.
    (e) A demand is any subpoena or other order of any court, 
administrative agency or other authority, or the Congress, or a 
committee or subcommittee of the Congress, and any notice of deposition 
(either upon oral examination or written questions), request for 
admissions, request for production of documents or things, written 
interrogatories to parties, or other notice of, request for, or service 
for discovery in a matter before any court, administrative agency or 
other authority.
    (f) An IRS matter is any matter before any court, administrative 
agency or other authority in which the United States, the Commissioner, 
the IRS, or any IRS officer or employee acting in an official capacity, 
or any IRS officer or employee (including an officer or employee of IRS 
Office of Chief Counsel) in his or her individual capacity if the 
United States Department of Justice or the IRS has agreed to represent 
or provide representation to the IRS officer or employee, is a party 
and that is directly related to official business of the IRS or to any 
law administered by or concerning the IRS, including, but not limited 
to, judicial and administrative proceedings described in section 
6103(h)(4) and (l)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.
    (g) An IRS congressional matter is any matter before the Congress, 
or a committee or subcommittee of the Congress, that is related to the 
administration of the internal revenue laws or any other laws 
administered by or concerning the IRS, or to IRS records or 
information.

[[Page 7398]]

    (h) A non-IRS matter is any matter that is not an IRS matter or an 
IRS congressional matter.
    (i) A testimony authorization is a written instruction or oral 
instruction memorialized in writing within a reasonable period by an 
authorizing official that sets forth the scope of and limitations on 
proposed testimony and/or disclosure of IRS records or information 
issued in response to a request or demand for IRS records or 
information. A testimony authorization may grant or deny authorization 
to testify or disclose IRS records or information and may make an 
authorization effective only upon the occurrence of a precedent 
condition, such as the receipt of a consent complying with the 
provisions of section 6103(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. To 
authorize testimony means to issue the instruction described in this 
paragraph (i).
    (j) An authorizing official is a person with delegated authority to 
authorize testimony and the disclosure of IRS records or information.


Sec.  301.9000-2  Considerations in responding to a request or demand 
for IRS records or information.

    (a) Situations in which disclosure shall not be authorized. 
Authorizing officials shall not permit testimony or disclosure of IRS 
records or information in response to requests or demands if testimony 
or disclosure of IRS records or information would--
    (1) Violate a Federal statute including, but not limited to, 
sections 6103 or 6105 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), the Privacy 
Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), or a rule of procedure, such as the grand 
jury secrecy rule, Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e);
    (2) Violate a specific Federal regulation, including, but not 
limited to, 31 CFR 103.53;
    (3) Reveal classified national security information, unless 
properly declassified;
    (4) Reveal the identity of an informant; or
    (5) Reveal investigatory records or information compiled for law 
enforcement purposes that would permit interference with law 
enforcement proceedings or would disclose investigative techniques and 
procedures, the effectiveness of which could thereby be impaired.
    (b) Assertion of privileges. Any applicable privilege or protection 
under law may be asserted in response to a request or demand for 
testimony or disclosure of IRS records or information, including, but 
not limited to, the following--
    (1) Attorney-client privilege;
    (2) Attorney work product doctrine; and
    (3) Deliberative process (executive) privilege.
    (c) Non-IRS matters. If any person makes a request or demand for 
IRS records or information in connection with a non-IRS matter, 
authorizing officials shall take into account the following additional 
factors in responding to the request or demand--
    (1) Whether the requester is a Federal agency, or a state or local 
government or agency thereof;
    (2) Whether the demand was issued by a Federal or state court, 
administrative agency or other authority;
    (3) The potential effect of the case on the administration of the 
internal revenue laws or any other laws administered by or concerning 
the IRS;
    (4) The importance of the legal issues presented;
    (5) Whether the IRS records or information are available from other 
sources;
    (6) The IRS's anticipated commitment of time and anticipated 
expenditure of funds necessary to comply with the request or demand;
    (7) The number of similar requests and their cumulative effect on 
the expenditure of IRS resources;
    (8) Whether the request or demand allows a reasonable time for 
compliance (generally, at least fifteen business days);
    (9) Whether the testimony or disclosure is appropriate under the 
rules of procedure governing the case or matter in which the request or 
demand arises;
    (10) Whether the request or demand involves expert witness 
testimony;
    (11) Whether the request or demand is for the testimony of an IRS 
officer, employee or contractor who is without personal knowledge of 
relevant facts;
    (12) Whether the request or demand is for the testimony of a 
presidential appointee or senior executive and whether the testimony of 
a lower-level official would suffice;
    (13) Whether the procedures in Sec.  301.9000-5 have been followed; 
and
    (14) Any other relevant factors that may be brought to the 
attention of the authorizing official.


Sec.  301.9000-3  Testimony authorizations.

    (a) Prohibition on disclosure of IRS records or information without 
testimony authorization. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this 
section, when a request or demand for IRS records or information is 
made, no IRS officer, employee or contractor shall testify or disclose 
IRS records or information to any court, administrative agency or other 
authority, or to the Congress, or to a committee or subcommittee of the 
Congress without a testimony authorization. However, an IRS officer, 
employee or contractor may appear in person to advise that he or she is 
awaiting instructions from an authorizing official with respect to the 
request or demand.
    (b) Exceptions. No testimony authorization is required in the 
following circumstances--
    (1) To respond to a request or demand for IRS records or 
information by the attorney or other government representative 
representing the IRS in a particular IRS matter;
    (2) To respond solely in writing, under the direction of the 
attorney or other government representative, to requests and demands in 
IRS matters, including, but not limited to, admissions, document 
production, and written interrogatories to parties;
    (3) To respond to a request or demand issued to a former IRS 
officer, employee or contractor for expert or opinion testimony if the 
testimony sought from the former IRS officer, employee or contractor 
involves general knowledge (such as information contained in published 
procedures of the IRS or the IRS Office of Chief Counsel) gained while 
the former IRS officer, employee or contractor was employed or under 
contract with the IRS; or
    (4) If a more specific procedure established by the Commissioner 
governs the disclosure of IRS records or information. These procedures 
include, but are not limited to, those relating to: procedures pursuant 
to Sec.  601.702(d) of this chapter; Freedom of Information Act 
requests pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552; Privacy Act of 1974 requests 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a; disclosures to state tax agencies pursuant 
to section 6103(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code); and disclosures 
to the United States Department of Justice pursuant to an ex parte 
order under section 6103(i)(1) of the Code.
    (c) Disclosures of IRS records or information with or without 
testimony authorization must be permitted under other applicable law. 
Any disclosure of IRS records or information that is otherwise 
permissible under this section must not be prohibited under applicable 
law. For example, in a case in which returns and return information may 
be disclosed, the disclosure must be authorized under section 6103, 
even if any required testimony authorization is obtained. If tax 
convention information (as defined under section 6105) may be 
disclosed, in deciding whether the disclosure is authorized, the 
authorizing

[[Page 7399]]

official must coordinate the disclosure with the U.S. Competent 
Authority.


Sec.  301.9000-4  Procedure in the event of a request or demand for IRS 
records or information.

    (a) Purpose and scope. This section prescribes procedures to be 
followed by IRS officers, employees and contractors upon receipt of a 
request or demand in matters in which a testimony authorization is or 
may be required.
    (b) Notification of the Disclosure Officer. Except as provided in 
paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this section, an IRS officer, employee 
or contractor who receives a request or demand for IRS records or 
information for which a testimony authorization is or may be required 
shall notify promptly the disclosure officer servicing the IRS 
officer's, employee's or contractor's geographic area. The IRS officer, 
employee or contractor shall await instructions from the authorizing 
official concerning the response to the request or demand. An IRS 
officer, employee, or contractor who receives a request or demand in 
one of the following matters should not notify the disclosure officer, 
but should follow the instructions in paragraph (c), (d), or (e) of 
this section, as applicable:
    (1) United States Tax Court cases.
    (2) Personnel matters, labor relations matters, government contract 
matters, matters related to informant claims or matters related to the 
rules of Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of 
Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971) (Bivens matters), or matters under the 
Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).
    (3) IRS congressional matters.
    (c) Requests or demands in United States Tax Court cases. An IRS 
officer, employee or contractor who receives a request or demand for 
IRS records or information on behalf of a petitioner in a United States 
Tax Court case shall notify promptly the IRS Office of Chief Counsel 
attorney assigned to the case. The IRS Office of Chief Counsel attorney 
shall notify promptly the authorizing official. The IRS officer, 
employee or contractor who received the request or demand shall await 
instructions from the authorizing official.
    (d) Requests or demands in personnel, labor relations, government 
contract, Bivens or FTCA matters, or matters related to informant 
claims. An IRS officer, employee or contractor who receives a request 
or demand, on behalf of an appellant, grievant, complainant or 
representative, for IRS records or information in a personnel, labor 
relations, government contract, Bivens or FTCA matter, or matter 
related to informant claims, shall notify promptly the IRS Associate 
Chief Counsel (General Legal Services) attorney assigned to the case. 
If no IRS Associate Chief Counsel (General Legal Services) attorney is 
assigned to the case, the IRS officer, employee or contractor shall 
notify promptly the IRS Associate Chief Counsel (General Legal 
Services) attorney servicing the geographic area. The IRS Associate 
Chief Counsel (General Legal Services) attorney shall notify promptly 
the authorizing official. The IRS officer, employee or contractor who 
received the request or demand shall await instructions from the 
authorizing official.
     (e) Requests or demands in IRS congressional matters. An IRS 
officer, employee or contractor who receives a request or demand in an 
IRS congressional matter shall notify promptly the IRS Office of 
Legislative Affairs. The IRS officer, employee or contractor who 
received the request or demand shall await instructions from the 
authorizing official.
    (f) Opposition to a demand for IRS records or information in IRS 
and non-IRS matters. If, in response to a demand for IRS records or 
information, an authorizing official has not had a sufficient 
opportunity to issue a testimony authorization, or determines that the 
demand for IRS records or information should be denied, the authorizing 
official shall request the government attorney or other representative 
of the government to oppose the demand and respectfully inform the 
court, administrative agency or other authority, by appropriate action, 
that the authorizing official either has not yet issued a testimony 
authorization, or has issued a testimony authorization to the IRS 
officer, employee or contractor that denies permission to testify or 
disclose the IRS records or information. If the authorizing official 
denies authorization in whole or in part, the government attorney or 
other representative of the government shall inform the court, 
administrative agency or other authority of the reasons the authorizing 
official gives for not authorizing the testimony or the disclosure of 
the IRS records or information or take other action in opposition as 
may be appropriate (including, but not limited to, filing a motion to 
quash or a motion to remove to Federal court).
    (g) Procedure in the event of an adverse ruling. In the event the 
court, administrative agency, or other authority rules adversely with 
respect to the refusal to disclose the IRS records or information 
pursuant to the testimony authorization, or declines to defer a ruling 
until a testimony authorization has been received, the IRS officer, 
employee or contractor who has received the request or demand shall, 
pursuant to this section, respectfully decline to testify or disclose 
the IRS records or information.
    (h) Penalties. Any IRS officer or employee who discloses IRS 
records or information without following the provisions of this section 
or Sec.  301.9000-3, may be subject to administrative discipline, up to 
and including dismissal. Any IRS officer, employee or contractor may be 
subject to applicable contractual sanctions and civil or criminal 
penalties, including prosecution under 5 U.S.C. 552a(i), for willful 
disclosure in an unauthorized manner of information protected by the 
Privacy Act of 1974, or under section 7213 of the Internal Revenue 
Code, for willful disclosure in an unauthorized manner of return 
information.
    (i) No creation of benefit or separate privilege. Nothing in 
Sec. Sec.  301.9000-1 through 301.9000-3, this section, and Sec. Sec.  
301.9000-5 and 301.9000-6, creates, is intended to create, or may be 
relied upon to create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
enforceable at law by a party against the United States. Nothing in 
these regulations creates a separate privilege or basis to withhold IRS 
records or information.


Sec.  301.9000-5  Written statement required for requests or demands in 
non-IRS matters.

    (a) Written statement. A request or demand for IRS records or 
information for use in a non-IRS matter shall be accompanied by a 
written statement made by or on behalf of the party seeking the 
testimony or disclosure of IRS records or information, setting forth--
    (1) A brief description of the parties to and subject matter of the 
proceeding and the issues;
    (2) A summary of the testimony, IRS records or information sought, 
the relevance to the proceeding, and the estimated volume of IRS 
records involved;
    (3) The time that will be required to present the testimony (on 
both direct and cross examination);
    (4) Whether any of the IRS records or information is a return or is 
return information (as defined in section 6103(b) of the Internal 
Revenue Code (Code)), or tax convention information (as defined in 
section 6105(c)(1) of the Code), and the statutory authority for the 
disclosure of the return or return information (and, if no consent to 
disclose pursuant to section 6103(c) of the Code accompanies the 
request or

[[Page 7400]]

demand, the reason consent is not necessary);
    (5) Whether a declaration of an IRS officer, employee or contractor 
under penalties of perjury pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746 would suffice in 
lieu of deposition or trial testimony;
    (6) Whether deposition or trial testimony is necessary in a 
situation in which IRS records may be authenticated without testimony 
under applicable rules of evidence and procedure;
    (7) Whether IRS records or information are available from other 
sources; and
    (8) A statement that the request or demand allows a reasonable time 
(generally at least fifteen business days) for compliance.
    (b) Permissible waiver of statement. The requirement of a written 
statement in paragraph (a) of this section may be waived by the 
authorizing official for good cause.


Sec.  301.9000-6  Examples.

    The following examples illustrate the provisions of Sec. Sec.  
301.9000-1 through 301.9000-5:

    Example 1. A taxpayer sues a practitioner in state court for 
malpractice in connection with the practitioner's preparation of a 
Federal income tax return. The taxpayer subpoenas an IRS employee to 
testify concerning the IRS employee's examination of the taxpayer's 
Federal income tax return. The taxpayer provides the statement 
required by Sec.  301.9000-5. This is a non-IRS matter. A testimony 
authorization would be required for the IRS employee to testify. (In 
addition, the taxpayer would be required to execute an appropriate 
consent under section 6103(c) of the Code). The IRS would oppose the 
IRS employee's appearance in this case because the IRS is a 
disinterested party with respect to the dispute and would consider 
the commitment of resources to comply with the subpoena 
inappropriate.
    Example 2. In a state judicial proceeding concerning child 
support, the child's custodial parent subpoenas for a deposition an 
IRS agent who is examining certain post-divorce Federal income tax 
returns of the non-custodial parent. This is a non-IRS matter. The 
custodial parent submits with the subpoena the statement required by 
Sec.  301.9000-5 stating as the reason for the lack of taxpayer 
consent to disclosure that the non-custodial parent has refused to 
provide the consent (both a consent from the taxpayer complying with 
section 6103(c) and a testimony authorization would be required 
prior to the IRS agent testifying at the deposition). If taxpayer 
consent is obtained, the IRS may provide a declaration or certified 
return information of the taxpayer. A deposition would be 
unnecessary under the circumstances.
    Example 3. The chairperson of a congressional committee requests 
the appearance of an IRS employee before the committee and committee 
staff to submit to questioning by committee staff concerning the 
procedures for processing Federal employment tax returns. This is an 
IRS congressional matter. Even though questioning would not involve 
the disclosure of returns or return information, the questioning 
would involve the disclosure of IRS records or information; 
therefore, a testimony authorization would be required. The IRS 
employee must contact the IRS Office of Legislative Affairs for 
instructions before appearing.
    Example 4. The IRS opens a criminal investigation as to the tax 
liabilities of a taxpayer. This is an IRS matter. During the 
criminal investigation, the IRS refers the matter to the United 
States Department of Justice, requesting the institution of a 
Federal grand jury to investigate further potential criminal tax 
violations. The United States Department of Justice approves the 
request and initiates a grand jury investigation. The grand jury 
indicts the taxpayer. During the taxpayer's trial, the taxpayer 
subpoenas an IRS special agent for testimony regarding the 
investigation. The records and information collected during the 
administrative stage of the investigation, including the taxpayer's 
tax returns from IRS files, are IRS records and information. A 
testimony authorization is required for the IRS special agent to 
testify regarding this information. However, no IRS testimony 
authorization is required regarding the information collected by the 
IRS special agent when the IRS special agent was acting under the 
direction and control of the United States Attorney's Office in the 
Federal grand jury investigation. That information is not IRS 
records or information within the meaning of Sec.  301.9000-1(a). 
Disclosure of that information should be coordinated with the United 
States Attorney's Office.
    Example 5. The United States Department of Justice attorney 
representing the IRS in a suit for refund requests testimony from an 
IRS revenue agent. This is an IRS matter. A testimony authorization 
would not be required for the IRS revenue agent to testify because 
the testimony was requested by the government attorney.
    Example 6. In response to a request by the taxpayer's counsel to 
interview an IRS revenue agent who was involved in a case at the 
administrative level, the United States Department of Justice 
attorney representing the IRS in a suit for refund asks that the IRS 
revenue agent be made available to be interviewed. This is an IRS 
matter. A testimony authorization would be required for the IRS 
revenue agent to testify because the testimony was first requested 
by taxpayer's counsel.
    Example 7. A state assistant attorney general, acting in 
accordance with a recommendation from his state's department of 
revenue, is prosecuting a taxpayer under a state criminal law 
proscribing the intentional failure to file a state income tax 
return. The assistant attorney general serves an IRS employee with a 
subpoena to testify concerning the taxpayer's Federal income tax 
return filing history. This is a non-IRS matter. This is also a 
state judicial proceeding pertaining to tax administration within 
the meaning of section 6103(h)(4) and (b)(4). As such, the 
requirements of section 6103(h)(4) apply. A testimony authorization 
would be required for the testimony demand in the subpoena.
    Example 8. A former IRS revenue agent is requested to testify in 
a divorce proceeding. The request seeks testimony explaining the 
meaning of entries appearing on one party's transcript of account, 
which is already in the possession of the parties. This is a non-IRS 
matter. No testimony authorization is required because the testimony 
requested from the former IRS employee involves general knowledge 
gained while the former IRS revenue agent was employed with the IRS.
    Example 9. A Department of Justice attorney requests an IRS 
employee to testify in a refund suit involving Taxpayer A. The 
testimony may include tax convention information, as defined in 
section 6105, which was originally obtained by the IRS from a treaty 
partner in connection with a tax case against Taxpayer B. While no 
testimony authorization is necessary, because the testimony is being 
requested by government counsel in a tax matter, the IRS employee 
may not testify (or otherwise disclose IRS records or information) 
without coordinating with the U.S. Competent Authority, as 
disclosure of tax convention information is governed by section 
6105. The disclosure must also meet the requirements in section 
6103(h)(4).
    Example 10. In a state court tort action, Defendant subpoenas 
IRS for Plaintiff's federal income tax returns for particular 
taxable years. This is a non-IRS matter. The Disclosure Officer 
instructs Defendant that the IRS has established procedures for 
obtaining copies of Federal income tax returns. Section 
601.702(d)(1) of this chapter establishes the procedures for 
obtaining Federal tax returns by requiring written requests for 
copies of tax returns using IRS Form 4506, ``Request for Copy of Tax 
Return.'' At Defendant's request, Plaintiff executes Form 4506, 
naming Defendant's counsel as designee, and the form is properly 
submitted to IRS. A testimony authorization would not be required to 
disclose Plaintiff's returns to Defendant's counsel.


Sec.  301.9000-7  Effective date.

    These regulations are applicable on February 14, 2005.

PART 602--OMB CONTROL NUMBERS UNDER THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

0
Par. 3. The authority citation for part 602 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805.


0
Par. 4. In Sec.  602.101, paragraph (b) is amended by adding an entry 
for Sec.  301.9000-5 in numerical order to the table to read as 
follows:


Sec.  602.101  OMB Control numbers.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *

[[Page 7401]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Current OMB
     CFR part or section where identified and described      control No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
301.9000-5.................................................    1545-1850
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mark E. Matthews,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.
    Approved: February 3, 2005.
Eric Solomon,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 05-2816 Filed 2-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P