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Section 2. General Counsel Orders and Directives

Internal Revenue Manual Part 30. Administrative · 2026-10-03 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · United States

30.2.2 General Counsel Orders and Directives

Manual Transmittal

Purpose

(1) This transmits revised CCDM 30.2.2, Chief Counsel Directives; General Counsel Orders and Directives.

Exceptions & meaning →

Material Changes

(1) References in CCDM 30.2.2.1 and CCDM 30.2.2.2 were updated and hyperlinks added.

(2) Exhibit 30.2.2–12, General Counsel Order No. 10, was replaced with the most recent revision of the Order.

(3) The following exhibits were converted to xml compatible formats to comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: 30.2.2-5, 6, 7 and 13 . The content of the exhibits was not changed.

(4) The tables in the following exhibits were reformatted to comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: 30.2.2-1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

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Effect on Other Documents

Audience

Effective Date

Michael T. CochisDirectorPlanning and Management Division

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General Counsel, Treasury Department

This section provides information on General Counsel Orders, Designations and Directives (Legal Division issuances) issued by the Treasury Department.

The source of the General Counsel’s authority, can be found, among other places, in:

31 U.S.C. §§ 301(f) and 321(b)(2)

26 U.S.C. § 7803(b)

Treasury Order Nos. 101-05 and 107-01 through 107-07

Exceptions & meaning →

General Counsel Order No. 2, Delegation of Authority to Deputy General Counsel

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL ORDER NO. 2 Delegation of Authority to the Deputy General Counsel

Under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 301(f) and 321(b), and Treasury Department Order Nos. 101-05, 101–11, 107–02, 107–04, and 107–07, I hereby delegate to the Deputy General Counsel the following authority:

  1. to supervise the day-to-day operations of the Legal Division.

  2. to assign legal matters referred to the General Counsel to Assistant General Counsels, the Counselor to the General Counsel (hereafter counselor), or the Associate Deputy General Counsel.

  3. To act on personnel actions respecting attorneys in the Legal Division that are referred to the General Counsel, except actions respecting Assistant General Counsels, Deputy Assistant General Counsels, the Counselor, the Deputy Counselor to the General Counsel, the Associate Deputy General Counsel, Chief Counsels, Deputy Chief Counsels, Legal Counsels, the Tax Legislative Counsel, the International Tax Counsel, or the Benefits Tax Counsel.

  4. to represent the General Counsel in novel, significant, or disputed matters requiring contact with an agency outside the Department of the treasury or involving a matter in dispute between bureaus or offices of the Department.

  5. To administer the oath of office required by 5 U.S.C. 3331 or any other oath required by law in connection with employment in the Federal service.

  6. To sign her own name on all correspondence to Congressional committees, the Office of Management and Budget or otherwise pertaining to the treasury Department legislative program or its position on legislation, with the exception of recommendations to the Office of Management and Budget on enrolled bills, which are prepared for the signature of the General Counsel.

  7. To exercise the authorities of the Deputy General Counsel prescribed in General Counsel Order No. 10, "Delegation of Authority and Procedures for Litigation."

  8. To perform such other functions of the General Counsel as the General Counsel may from time to time direct.

General Counsel Order No. 2 of January 12, 1993, is hereby superseded.

/s/ Neal S. WolinGeneral Counsel

DATE: January 19, 2001

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General Counsel Order No. 3, Delegation of Authority to Assistant General Counsel

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL ORDER NO. 3 Delegation of Authority to Assistant General Counsels,the Counselor to the General Counsel,and the Associate Deputy General Counsel

Under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 301(t) and 321(b), and Treasury Department Orders Nos. 101-05, 101-11, 107-02, and 107-04:

  1. I hereby delegate to Assistant General Counsels (other than the Assistant General Counsel who is Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service), the Counselor to the General Counsel (hereafter Counselor), and the Associate Deputy General Counsel the authority to perform the following functions:

a. To provide advice to the Under Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and other officials and employees in the Departmental Offices and Treasury Bureaus to whom they are to provide legal assistance under General Counsel Order No. 1.

b. To exercise the authorities prescribed in General Counsel Order No. 10, "Delegations of Authority and Procedures for Litigation."

c. To administer the oath of office required by 5 U.S.C. 3331, or any other oath required by law in connection with employment in the Federal service.

  1. In the performance of the foregoing responsibilities, Assistant General Counsels, the Counselor, and the Associate Deputy General Counsel shall be responsible for the preparation of all necessary documents in accordance with relevant General Counsel Directives, and shall refer to another Assistant General Counsel, the Counselor, or the Associate Deputy General Counsel, as appropriate, for guidance, action, or review, any legislation, regulation, litigation, matter of procedure, or any other matter within the responsibility of that other Assistant General Counsel, the Counselor, or the Associate Deputy General Counsel.

  2. Assistant General Counsels and the Counselor shall supervise and evaluate the work of all personnel in their office and take necessary action in all personnel matters pertaining thereto, including the approval of the carry-over of annual leave under 5 U.S.C. 6304(d), and adverse actions and the separation of attorneys, in accordance with Departmental Offices and Legal Division directives. Assistant General Counsels and the Counselor are responsible for the maintenance by their legal staff of appropriate professional standards.

  3. Unless directed otherwise by the General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel and the Counselor may redelegate in writing any of the authority delegated in this Order to any subordinate officer or employee and authorize further delegation of such authority.

  4. Unless otherwise directed by the General Counsel, the Deputy Assistant General Counsel shall serve as Acting Assistant General Counsel in the absence of the Assistant General Counsel.

  5. Except as otherwise directed by the General Counsel, the most senior among the Assistant General Counsels, the Counselor, or the Associate Deputy General Counsel shall serve as Acting Deputy General Counsel during the temporary absence of the Deputy General Counsel.

  6. As necessary, Assistant General Counsels, the Counselor, the Associate Deputy General Counsel, and their staffs may be assigned work outside their area of responsibility.

General Counsel Order No. 3 of January 12, 1993, is hereby superseded.

/s/ Neal S. WolinGeneral Counsel

DATE: January 19, 2001

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General Counsel Order No. 4, Delegation of Authority to Chief Counsel

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL ORDER NO. 4 Delegation of Authority to the Assistant General Counsel —Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service

Under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 301(f), 26 U.S.C. 7803(b), and Treasury Department Order Nos. 101-5, 101-11, 107-02, 107-04, and 107-07, and the authority vested in me as General Counsel of the Department of the Treasury, I hereby delegate to the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service, subject to General Counsel Order No. 1, the authority set out below:

  1. To be the legal adviser to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and his/her officers and employees. In performing his/her assigned functions, the Chief Counsel shall consult with and assist the Commissioner of Internal Revenue with a view to furthering the policies and programs of the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service.

  2. To furnish such legal opinions as may be required in the preparation and review of rulings and memoranda of technical advice and the performance of other duties delegated to the Chief Counsel.

  3. To prepare, review, or assist in the preparation of proposed legislation, treaties, regulations, and Executive Orders relating to laws affecting the Internal Revenue Service.

  4. To represent the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in cases pending in the Tax Court of the United States as prescribed in section 7452 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, in such cases to decide whether and in what manner to defend, or to prosecute a claim, or to settle, or to abandon a claim or defense therein, subject to Commissioner Delegation Order No. 60; to acknowledge in the name of the Commissioner the receipt of Tax Court subpoenas served upon the Commissioner of Internal Revenue; to determine whether, and the extent to which, officers and employees of the Internal Revenue Service shall be permitted to disclose Internal Revenue records and information in response to a subpoena or other order of the Tax Court; to determine whether to acquiesce in the decisions of said Court; to file petitions for review of Tax Court decisions; and to enter into written stipulations of venue for review of Tax Court decisions by a United States Court of Appeals.

  5. To determine what civil actions (including actions for the judicial enforcement of summonses) should be brought in the courts under the laws affecting the Internal Revenue Service and to prepare recommendations to the Department of Justice for the commencement of such actions.

  6. To refer a matter to the Department of Justice in order to obtain advice prior to any referral to be made by the Commissioner pursuant to Treasury Order 150-35.

  7. To determine how actions brought in the courts against the United States or officers or employees thereof should be conducted and to make recommendations to the Department of Justice with respect thereto.

  8. To determine which court decisions (including court decisions of a criminal tax matter) should be appealed or further reviewed and to make recommendations to the Department of Justice with respect thereto, clearing recommendations on significant cases (as defined in General Counsel Order No. 10) with the General Counsel, and to otherwise exercise the authorities prescribed in General Counsel Order No. 10, "Delegations of Authority and Procedures for Litigation."

  9. To cooperate with and, at the request of the Department of Justice or of United States Attorneys, to assist in conducting litigation in the courts, both civil and criminal, and in preparing briefs and arguments with respect thereto.

  10. To accept or reject plans where the United States is a creditor or equity security holder, including municipal debt adjustment plans, reorganization plans, and railroad reorganization plans (11 U.S.C. sections 90 1 (a)and 1126(a)). This covers proceedings where the United States possesses solely an Internal Revenue Service claim (a Treasury claim), as well as proceedings in which there are other claims of the United States in addition to the claim of the Internal Revenue Service. A non-Treasury claim of the United States includes any department, agency, federally chartered corporation, or instrumentality of the United States. To the extent that an agreement cannot be reached between the Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service and the holder of a non-Treasury claim of the United States, the matter will be referred to General Counsel of the Treasury for resolution.

  11. To review cases within the provisions of section 6405 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and to prepare and sign the reports required by that section to be submitted to the Joint Committee on Taxation.

  12. To perform the functions prescribed for the General Counsel by section 7122 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to compromise matters arising in the administration of the Internal Revenue laws (excluding matters arising under Internal Revenue Code provisions administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms).

  13. To supervise and evaluate the work of all officers and employees who are performing the duties and functions delegated in this Order in the Office of the Chief Counsel, and to take the necessary action in all personnel matters pertaining thereto, including those for the appointment, classification, promotion, demotion, reassignment, transfer or separation of such officers and employees, with the exceptions of appointments above GS-15, and of promotions, demotions or separations to or from the Senior Executive Service and reassignment of SES members.

  14. To be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of appropriate professional standards and for the professional competence, recruitment and evaluation of the work of the attorneys of his/her office.

  15. Subject to the approval of the General Counsel, to establish in the Office of Chief Counsel such divisions and subdivisions as he/she may deem advisable to carry out the duties herein and elsewhere delegated by the General Counsel and to designate the titles and duties of officers and employees in the Office carrying out such duties, except that the approval of the General Counsel shall not be required to designate the titles of and duties of such officers and employees who are not members of the Senior Executive Service.

  16. To redelegate any of the authority delegated in this Order to any officer or employee in the Office of the Chief Counsel, and to authorize further redelegation of such authority. With respect to cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, to redelegate authority to refer matters and authorize the commencement of actions to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and to authorize further redelegation of such authority.

  17. To administer the oath of office required by 5 U.S.C. 3331 or any other oath required by law in connection with employment in the Federal service, and to redelegate this authority to any officer or employee in the Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service.

  18. To approve carry-over of annual leave in accordance with the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 6304( d), and to redelegate this authority to a Deputy Chief Counsel, Associate Chief Counsel, or Division Counsel.

  19. To approve requests by attorneys under his/her jurisdiction to engage in outside employment, when authority to approve is conferred on Chief Counsel by General Counsel Directive No. 6, and the approval is consistent with any standards and criteria in the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, 5 C.F.R. Part 2635; the Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Department of the Treasury, 5 C.F.R. Chapter XXI; and any other applicable statutes and regulations.

  20. To make determinations relating to the applicability of section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including the determination that disclosure would seriously impair Federal tax administration, and to disclose and authorize disclosure of tax returns, tax return information and taxpayer return information pursuant to the provisions of section 6103 (excluding determinations relating to Subtitle E provisions administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms).

General Counsel Order No. 4 dated July 1, 1997 is hereby superseded.

/s/ Neal S. WolinGeneral Counsel

DATE: January 19, 2001

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General Counsel Order No. 6, Delegation of Authority to Tax Legislative Counsel

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL ORDER NO. 6 Delegation of Authority to the Tax Legislative Counsel

Under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 301(f) and 321(b), and Treasury Department Order Nos. 101-05 and 107–04, I hereby delegate to the Tax Legislative Counsel the authority to perform the following functions, subject to the review prescribed by General Counsel Order No. 1:

  1. To provide legal advice to the Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) and to his or her subordinates concerning domestic aspects of tax legislation and tax policy.

  2. To supervise the legal activities of those attorneys and support personnel under him or her.

  3. To recommend to the General Counsel personnel actions with respect to attorney and non-attorney personnel under his or her jurisdiction in accordance with the policies promulgated by the General Counsel.

  4. To be responsible for the maintenance by his or her legal staff of appropriate professional standards.

General Counsel Order No. 8 of October 15, 1987, is hereby superseded.

/s/

Neal S. WolinGeneral Counsel

DATE: January 19, 2001

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General Counsel Order No. 7, Delegation of Authority to International Tax Counsel

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL ORDER NO. 7 Delegation of Authority to the International Tax Counsel

Under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 301(f) and 321(b), and Treasury Department Order Nos. 101-05 and 107–04, I hereby delegate to the International Tax Counsel the authority to perform the following functions, subject to the review prescribed by General Counsel Order No. 1:

  1. To provide legal advice to the Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) and to his or her subordinates concerning international aspects of tax legislation and tax policy, including with respect to international tax treaties.

  2. To supervise the legal activities of those attorneys and support personnel under him or her.

  3. To recommend to the General Counsel personnel actions with respect to attorney and non-attorney personnel under his or her jurisdiction in accordance with the policies promulgated by the General Counsel.

  4. To be responsible for the maintenance by his or her legal staff of appropriate professional standards.

General Counsel Order No. 9 of October 15, 1987, is hereby superseded.

/s/

Neal S. WolinGeneral Counsel

DATE: January 19, 2001

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General Counsel Order No. 8, Delegation of Authority to Benefits Tax Counsel

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL ORDER NO. 8 Delegation of Authority to the Benefits Tax Counsel

Under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 301(f) and 321(b), and Treasury Department Order Nos. 101-05 and 107–04, I hereby delegate to the Benefits Tax Counsel the authority to perform the following functions, subject to the review prescribed by General Counsel Order No. 1:

  1. To provide legal advice to the Assistant Secretary (Tax Policy) and to his or her subordinates concerning pension and benefits aspects of tax legislation and tax policy.

  2. To supervise the legal activities of those attorneys and support personnel under him or her.

  3. To recommend to the General Counsel personnel actions with respect to attorney and non-attorney personnel under his or her jurisdiction in accordance with the policies promulgated by the General Counsel.

  4. To be responsible for the maintenance by his or her legal staff of appropriate professional standards.

/s/

Neal S. WolinGeneral Counsel

DATE: January 19, 2001

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General Counsel Order No. 9, Practice Before the IRS

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL ORDER NO. 9 Practice Before the Internal Revenue ServiceDelegation of Authority to the Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service

Under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 301(f), 321(b) and 330, Treasury Department Order Nos. 101-05 and 107–04, and the authority vested in me as General Counsel of the Treasury, I hereby delegate to the Assistant General Counsel who is the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service the authority to perform the following function:

To decide all appeals to the Secretary of the Treasury filed under any provision of Part 10 of Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations ("Practice before the Internal Revenue Service" , also known as Department circular 230).

The authority delegated by the Order may be redelegated. Any redelegation shall be in writing.

General Counsel Order No. 11 of March 12, 2000 is hereby superseded.

/s/

Neal S. WolinGeneral Counsel

DATE: January 19, 2001

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General Counsel Order No. 10, Procedures for Litigation

DEPARTMENT THE TREASURYGENERAL COUNSEL ORDER NO. 10Delegations of Authority and Procedures for Litigation

Under the authority granted to me as General Counsel of the Department of the Treasury by 31 U.S.C. 301(f) and 321(b), 26 U.S.C. 7803(b), and Treasury Department Order Nos. 101-05, 107-02 and 107-04 and pursuant to my role as head of the Legal Division of the Department of the Treasury, I hereby define and prescribe the authority and procedures for litigation in the Department of the Treasury:

  1. The General Counsel is responsible for litigation related matters involving the Department the Treasury. Unless specifically prohibited by law, this order applies to all litigation affecting the Department of the Treasury. Every attorney in the Legal Division who is involved with litigation matters has a responsibility to work with clients, supervisors, and the Department of Justice when appropriate, to meet legal and ethical obligations regarding such litigation.

  2. Any questions regarding these obligations should be referred quickly to supervisors, and the Justice Department when appropriate, to assure prompt resolution. Each Legal Division attorney involved with litigation matters also has a responsibility to actively and vigorously represent the Department, including involvement in discovery, in preparing and reviewing filings, in witness preparation, and, when appropriate, participation at trials.

  3. Each Assistant General Counsel has principal responsibility, subject to the direction of the General Counsel and the Deputy General Counsel, for the supervision, day to day management, and general strategic direction for all litigation in his or her area of responsibility, including that related to the Freedom of Information Act. This includes case tracking; responding to requests for documents and testimony either through subpoena or Treasury's Touhy regulations; preparation of litigation memoranda: review of pleadings and briefs; document review and production; and other necessary litigation duties. Each Assistant General Counsel may delegate these duties as appropriate. In addition, each Assistant General Counsel, except for the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service, is responsible for designating within his or area of responsibility a case/dispute or litigation matter as "significant" as defined below.

  4. The Deputy General Counsel, Assistant General Counsels, Chief Counsels, Legal Counsels, these officials’ designees, and any other member of the Legal Division designated by the General Counsel, shall assist in the coordination of litigation matters to ensure that litigation obligations are met and that the Department is actively and vigorously represented. Among other things, this assistance shall include ensuring timely coordination of litigation matters with all Treasury clients with an interest in the litigation, with all Legal Division offices with an interest in the litigation, and with the Department of Justice when appropriate. This assistance also shall include ensuring that accurate information is maintained concerning the status of pending cases and deadlines associated therewith. If more than one Assistant General Counsel’s office has an interest in a particular case, and there is a disagreement as to which is primarily responsible, the Deputy General Counsel shall designate a lead office.

  5. Authority to receive service of any subpoena, summons, or other judicial process directed to any component of the Department, or to an officer or employee of the Departmental Offices or any Treasury Department bureau in his or her official capacity in any litigation, is delegated to the Deputy General Counsel, Assistant General Counsels, Chief Counsels, and Legal Counsels within their respective areas of responsibility. This authority may be redelegated, in whole or in part, to any attorney under the supervision of these officials provided that any such redelegation shall be in writing.

  6. All litigation documents mailed or directed to the Departmental Offices, shall be forwarded to the office of the Assistant General Counsel for General Law, Ethics and Regulation, who shall maintain records concerning the receipt those litigation documents, as appropriate. The Assistant General Counsel for General Law, Ethics and Regulation's office shall promptly forward litigation documents to an Assistant General Counsel, a Chief Counsel, a Legal Counsel, these officials' designees, or others, as appropriate. When a litigation document is forwarded to a Chief Counsel or Legal Counsel, a copy of the litigation document also will be forwarded to the supervising Assistant General Counsel. These officials should maintain their own records concerning the receipt of litigation documents regardless of whether the matter was referred by the Assistant General Counsel for General Law, Ethics and Regulation.

  7. For purposes of this order, the terms "significant case" or "significant litigation" means any case or dispute, including matters that are not in formal litigation:

a. so designated by the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, or their designee;

b. involving the Department or an employee or official thereof with respect to which —

(1) a petition for writ of certiorari has been filed, or is being Contemplated by the Government; or

(2) a petition for rehearing or rehearing en banc has been filed, or is being contemplated, by the Government; or

c. that is deemed significant by an Assistant General Counsel, or his or her designee. A case may be significant if, for example, it has one or more of the following features:

(1) a significant legal or policy issue involving more than one office within the Treasury Department of having broad applicability to or significant impact on the Department;

(2) a policy issue that may attract significant public or media attention;

(3) an action against a senior official of the Department;

(4) sensitive policy or legal issues;

(5) a substantive or procedural challenge to a significant regulation issued or action taken by a Treasury office or bureau;

(6) the administration by the Department of a significant law;

(7) a petition for a rehearing or rehearing en bane that has been filed by a non-Governmental party;

(8) the Government's consideration of potential or actual amicus participation, intervention in litigation, or participation through filing a statement of interest; or

(9) a non-enforcement action in an amount in controversy in excess of $500,000.

  1. Each Assistant General Counsel, except for the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service, shall ensure that the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel and other appropriate Legal Division staff are promptly notified when a case is designated as significant and of each major ruling or event in significant cases.

  2. All recommendations to the Solicitor General and to the Department of Justice concerning a petition for rehearing, rehearing en banc, or a writ of certiorari (i.e., cases that are per se significant) shall have the approval of the General Counsel or his designee. Such written recommendations shall be prepared for the signature of the General Counsel, except those involving the IRS may be prepared for the signature of the Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.

  3. Other critical decisions regarding significant litigation, including any compromise or settlement, shall be approved by the General Counsel, the Deputy General Counsel, or their designee. Recommendations regarding these critical decisions shall be made in writing.

  4. Documents and decisions concerning significant litigation that are not reserved to the General Counsel or the Deputy General Counsel shall be signed or made by the appropriate Assistant General Counsel, or their designees. Each Assistant General Counsel may delegate signature and decision-making authority concerning significant and other litigation matters to their respective Deputies and/or the Chief Counsel or Legal Counsel.

  5. Documents and decisions, including any compromise or settlement up to $100,000, concerning litigation that is not designated as significant or otherwise reserved to the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel may be signed or made by the appropriate Assistant General counsel or their designees. Before entering into a settlement, the Assistant General Counsel must obtain assurance that adequate funds are available to pay any monetary settlement. Each Assistant General Counsel shall establish procedures regarding the delegation of signature and decision-making authority concerning litigation to attorneys under their supervision.

General Counsel Directive No. 10 of January 19, 2001, is hereby superseded.

/s/ Robert F. Hoyt General Counsel

DATE: 1-11-2009

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General Counsel Directive No. 6, Outside Employment of Attorneys

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL COUNSEL DIRECTIVE NO. 6

Outside Employment of Attorneys

  1. General Policy

(A) The policies and procedures applicable to outside employment activities by attorneys within the Legal Division set forth in 18 U.S.C. title 11, the Standards of Ethical Conduct (5 C.F.R. part 2635 subpart H) ("Standards" ), the Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Department of the Treasury (5 C.F.R. part 3101) ("Supplemental Standards" ) and this Directive shall be strictly followed so that such activities do not interfere with our obligations as Treasury attorneys.

(B) Non-attorneys in the Legal Division shall follow the outside employment rules and procedures applicable to employees of the bureaus or offices in which they serve.

  1. General Principles

(A) The Standards and the Supplemental Standards prohibit outside employment activities that conflict with an employee's official duties because they are prohibited by statute or regulation, or would require the employee's disqualification from matters so central or critical to the performance of his official duties that the ability of the employee to perform the duties of his position would be materially impaired.

(B) Attorneys should be aware of the restrictions on representational activities against or before the Government set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 205, as well as those regarding the receipt or sharing of compensation for such activities in 18 U.S.C. § 203.

(C) Outside employment activities shall not be conducted during official time. Requests for annual leave, leave without pay, or use of accumulated credit hours (where available by office policy) for purposes of engaging in outside employment activities, like all such requests, must be scheduled and approved in advance and supervisors shall take into account the work needs of the office when considering such requests. Except as stated in subparagraph (D), below, outside employment activities shall not be conducted on Government premises nor involve the use of Government property and non-public information.

(D) Government property shall be used only for those purposes authorized in accordance with law or regulation. 5 C.F.R. § 2635.704. The following personal uses of Government office and library equipment and facilities are authorized in connection with permissible outside employment activities: (1) use of property that involves minimal time and expense (e.g., electricity, ink, small quantities of paper, and ordinary wear and tear); and (2) limited, occasional outgoing telephone/fax calls to locations within the local dialing area, or that are charged to non-Government accounts.

(E) Outside teaching, speaking, and writing activities, with or without compensation, are outside employment activities for which advance approval is required if they relate to Treasury programs or operations. Employees should be aware of the restrictions on certain compensated outside speaking, teaching, and writing activities in the Standards, 5 C.F.R. § 2635.807.

(F) Pro bono legal service is an outside employment activity for which advance approval is required.

(G) Attorneys are responsible for ensuring that their outside employment activities are consistent with applicable rules of professional responsibility or conduct.

  1. Prohibited Activities

(A) Attorneys in the Legal Division are covered by the rules in the Supplemental Standards applicable to employees of the bureaus or offices in which they serve.

(B) Except as set forth in section 5(A), below, an attorney in the Legal Division shall not engage in the outside practice of law that might require the attorney to:

(1) take a position that is or appears to be in conflict with the interests of the Department of the Treasury; or

(2) interpret any statute, regulation or rule administered or issued by the Department of the Treasury.

(C) Except as provided herein, no attorney in the Legal Division shall represent any other Treasury employee, with or without compensation, who is the subject of disciplinary or other personnel administration proceedings in connection with those proceedings. This prohibition does not extend to representation by an attorney in the Legal Division acting in his or her capacity as a union representative in a grievance procedure or a statutory appeals procedure, provided the represented employee is a Legal Division employee in the union representative's bargaining unit, and provided further that such representation does not otherwise create a conflict or apparent conflict of interest or would otherwise be incompatible with law or with the official duties of the representing employee.

(D) Nothing in this Directive shall prohibit an attorney in the Legal Division from acting without compensation as agent or attorney for, or otherwise representing any cooperative, voluntary, professional, recreational, or similar organization or group not established or operated for profit, if a majority of the organization's or group's members are current Government officers or employees, or their spouses or dependent children, provided that such representation is consistent with 18 U.S.C. § 205(d) and the attorney obtains prior written approval to engage in the activity.

(E) An attorney in the Legal Division may represent a person or organization as part of an approved pro bono activity provided such representation is consistent with law, e.g., does not involve representation of another before any agency or court of the United States.

  1. Approval Procedures

(A) An attorney in the Legal Division who wishes to engage in outside employment shall request permission in writing prior to commencing the activity. The attorney shall submit the written request to the attorney's supervisor. The request shall provide, at a minimum, the following information:

(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the prospective outside employer, if appropriate;

(2) any relationship of the proposed employer to the attorney;

(3) any relationship of the proposed employer, if a business entity, to Treasury;

(4) a description of the attorney's anticipated duties;

(5) the number of hours the attorney expects to work (per day, week, or month, as applicable);

(6) the projected duration of the outside employment activity; and

(7) if the activity involves teaching, speaking, or writing for compensation, the nature and source of such compensation.

(B) The written request shall be decided as follows:

(1) for outside employment requests by Chief Counsel, Legal Counsel, or attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel, by the General Counselor Deputy General Counsel; and

(2) for outside employment requests by attorneys reporting to Chief Counselor Legal Counsel, by the appropriate Chief Counselor Legal Counsel, or Deputy Chief Counsel. The Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service may delegate this authority to the Associate Chief Counselor Division Counsel level.

The determining official shall issue a written decision on the request. The determining official shall consult with bureau or office ethics counselor the Designated Agency Ethics Official if there are any questions about the propriety of the request.

C) The original written outside employment request and the determination shall be returned to the requesting attorney. The attorney's supervisor shall retain a copy of these documents, and a copy of both documents shall be sent to the attorney's servicing personnel office for inclusion in the attorney's official personnel folder (temporary side).

D) Chief Counsel and Legal Counsel may issue supplemental procedures and/or forms for approval of outside employment requests consistent with the requirements of this Directive. A copy of any such procedure or form shall be provided to the Designated Agency Ethics Official.

(E) Approval may be revoked at any time upon a determination that a change of circumstances renders the employment inconsistent with applicable law, regulation, or the principles set forth in this Directive.

  1. Activities Permitted Without Approval

The following types of activities do not require written approval:

(A) Providing legal services, or acting in a fiduciary capacity, for the attorney's parents, spouse, or child, or the estate of any such person, provided that such activities are consistent with applicable statutes (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 205(e), regulations, and rules of professional responsibility or conduct, and would not require the attorney's disqualification from matters so central or critical to the performance of his official duties that the ability of the attorney to perform the duties of his position would be materially impaired;

(B) Membership and services (including holding of office) in civic, scout, religious, educational, fraternal, social, community, veterans, and charitable organizations, including corporations, where such office or services do not entail the management of a business type activity such as the direct operation of a commercial-type clubhouse;

(C) Membership and services (including holding of office) in Federal employee organizations, credit unions, and Federal employee unions, as otherwise permitted by law;

(D) Services as a notary public;

(E) Sales to co-workers, friends, relatives, and neighbors not involving sales to, and solicitation of, the general public, provided that such sales are not solicited or transacted during duty hours or in space occupied by Treasury offices, and are otherwise permitted by law;

(F) Rental of personally owned real or personal property, provided that the attorney is not engaged in a commercial business venture;

(G) Minor services for friends, relatives, or neighbors; and

(H) Teaching, speaking, or writing that does not relate to Treasury programs or operations.

  1. Pro Bono and Bar-Related Activities

Attorneys in the Legal Division are encouraged to participate in pro bono service and activities of bar associations and other professional organizations. Each attorney shall obtain approval in accordance with this Directive before accepting a leadership position or undertaking substantive committee or pro bono assignments that might require substantial commitments of time and energy or present the risk of an actual or apparent conflict of interest. Such activities are subject to the limitation in section 3(B) of this Directive. Attorneys should consult with the current Department of the Treasury Legal Division Pro Bono Legal and Volunteer Service Policy Statement for additional considerations regarding pro bono service.

  1. Effective Date, Duration and Cancellation

This revision is effective January 19, 2001. It remains in effect until superseded. All previous versions of General Counsel Directive No. 6 are superseded upon the effective date of this Directive. All previous delegations in conflict with the provisions herein are hereby superseded.

/s/ Neal S. Wolin General Counsel

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▸Contents — Internal Revenue Manual Part 30. Administrative

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