SECTION 3. IN WHAT FORM IS

GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (EMPLOYEE PLANS AND EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS)?

In general .01 The Service provides guidance in the form of letter rulings, closing agreements, determination letters, opinion letters, notification letters, information letters, revenue rulings, and oral advice.

Letter ruling .02 A ‘‘letter ruling’’ is a written statement issued to a taxpayer by the Service’s national office that interprets and applies the tax laws or any nontax laws applicable to employee benefit plans and exempt organizations to the taxpayer’s specific set of facts. Once issued, a letter ruling may be revoked or modified for any number of reasons, as explained in section 12 of this revenue procedure, unless it is accompanied by a ‘‘closing agreement.’’

Closing agreement .03 A closing agreement is a final agreement between the Service and a taxpayer on a specific issue or liability. It is entered into under the authority in § 7121 of the Code and is final unless fraud, malfeasance, or misrepresentation of a material fact can be shown.

A closing agreement prepared in an office under the responsibility of the Assistant Commissioner (Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations) may be based on a ruling that has been signed by the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s delegate that says that a closing agreement will be entered into on the basis of the ruling letter.

A closing agreement may be entered into when it is advantageous to have the matter permanently and conclusively closed, or when a taxpayer can show that there are good reasons for an agreement and that making the agreement will not prejudice the interests of the Government. In appropriate cases, taxpayers may be asked to enter into a closing agreement as a condition to the issuance of a letter ruling.

If, in a single case, a closing agreement is requested for each person in a class of taxpayers, separate agreements are entered into only if the class consists of 25 or fewer taxpayers. However, if the issue and holding are identical for the class and there

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are more than 25 taxpayers in the class, a ‘‘mass closing agreement’’ will be entered into with the taxpayer who is authorized by the others to represent the class.

In appropriate cases, a closing agreement may be made with sponsors of national office master and prototype plans and sponsors of regional prototype plans.

Rev. Proc. 94–16, 1994–1 C.B. 576, establishes a voluntary closing agreement program for employee plans matters. The revenue procedure contains a formula for determining monetary sanctions and limits the sanction for employers who voluntarily enter the program.

Key district directors have authority to enter into a closing agreement on employee plans matters, notwithstanding the delegation of authority to the Commissioner’s delegate.

Determination letter .04 A ‘‘determination letter’’ is a written statement issued by a key district director that applies the principles and precedents previously announced by the national office to a specific set of facts. It is issued only when a determination can be made based on clearly established rules in the statute, a tax treaty, or the regulations, or based on a conclusion in a revenue ruling, opinion, or court decision published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin that specifically answers the questions presented.

District directors of key district offices issue determination letters involving §§ 401, 403(a), 409, and 4975(e)(7) of the Code as provided in Rev. Proc. 96–6, page [insert #], this Bulletin, Rev. Proc. 93–10, 1993–1 C.B. 476, Rev. Proc. 93–12, 1993–1 C.B. 479, and Rev. Proc. 93–39, 1993–2 C.B. 513 (as superseded in part by Rev. Proc. 96– 6; see section 2.19 of this revenue procedure).

Opinion letter .05 An ‘‘opinion letter’’ is a written statement issued by the national office to a sponsoring organization as to the acceptability (for purposes of §§ 401 and 501(a) of the Code) of the form of a master or prototype plan and any related trust or custodial account under §§ 401, 403(a), and 501(a) of the Code, or as to the conformance of a prototype trust, custodial account, or individual annuity with the requirements of § 408(a), (b), or (k), as applicable. See Rev. Proc. 89–9, 1989–1 C.B. 780, as modified by Rev. Proc. 90–21, 1990–1 C.B. 499, Rev. Proc. 92–41, 1992–1 C.B. 870, Rev. Proc. 93–12, Rev. Proc. 93–39 (as superseded in part by Rev. Proc. 96–6; see section 2.19 of this revenue procedure), and supplemented by Rev. Proc. 93–10. See also Rev. Proc. 91–44, 1991–2 C.B. 733, and Rev. Proc. 92–38, 1992–1 C.B. 859.

Notification letter .06 A ‘‘notification letter’’ is a written statement issued by the national office or a key district office, upon request, as to the acceptability (for purposes of §§ 401 and 501(a) of the Code) of the form of a regional prototype plan and any related trust or custodial account. See Rev. Proc. 89–13, 1989–1 C.B. 801, as modified by Rev. Proc. 90–21, Rev. Proc. 92–41, Rev. Proc. 93–12, Rev. Proc. 93–39 (as superseded in part by Rev. Proc. 96–6; see section 2.19 of this revenue procedure), and supplemented by Rev. Proc. 93–10.

Information letter .07 An ‘‘information letter’’ is a statement issued either by the national office or by a key district director. It calls attention to a well-established interpretation or principle of tax law (including a tax treaty) without applying it to a specific set of facts. To the extent resources permit, an information letter may be issued if the taxpayer’s inquiry indicates a need for general information or if the taxpayer’s request does not meet the requirements of this revenue procedure and the Service thinks general information will help the taxpayer. The taxpayer should provide a daytime telephone number with the taxpayer’s request for an information letter. An information letter is advisory only and has no binding effect on the Service.

Revenue ruling .08 A ‘‘revenue ruling’’ is an interpretation by the Service that has been published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin. It is the conclusion of the Service on how the law is applied to a specific set of facts. Revenue rulings are issued only by the national office and are published for the information and guidance of taxpayers, Service personnel, and other interested parties.

Because each revenue ruling represents the conclusion of the Service regarding the application of law to the entire statement of facts involved, taxpayers, Service personnel, and other concerned parties are cautioned against reaching the same conclusion in other cases unless the facts and circumstances are substantially the same. They should consider the effect of subsequent legislation, regulations, court decisions, revenue rulings, notices, and announcements. See Rev. Proc. 89–14, 1989–1

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C.B. 814, which states the objectives of and standards for the publication of revenue rulings and revenue procedures in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

Oral guidance .09

(1) No oral rulings, and no written rulings in response to oral requests.

The Service does not orally issue letter rulings or determination letters, nor does it issue letter rulings or determination letters in response to oral requests from taxpayers. However, Service employees ordinarily will discuss with taxpayers or their representatives inquiries regarding whether the Service will rule on particular issues and questions relating to procedural matters about submitting requests for letter rulings, determination letters, and requests for recognition of exempt status for a particular organization.

(2) Discussion possible on substantive issues.

At the discretion of the Service, and as time permits, substantive issues may also be discussed. However, such a discussion will not be binding on the Service, and cannot be relied on as a basis for obtaining retroactive relief under the provisions of § 7805(b).

Substantive tax issues involving the taxpayer that are under examination, in appeals, or in litigation will not be discussed by Service employees not directly involved in the examination, appeal, or litigation of the issues unless the discussion is coordinated with those Service employees who are directly involved in the examination, appeal, or litigation of the issues. The taxpayer or the taxpayer’s representative ordinarily will be asked whether the oral request for guidance or information relates to a matter pending before another office of the Service.

If a tax issue is not under examination, in appeals, or in litigation, the tax issue may be discussed even though the issue is affected by a nontax issue pending in litigation.

A taxpayer may seek oral technical guidance from a taxpayer service representative in a key district office or service center when preparing a return or report. Oral guidance is advisory only, and the Service is not bound to recognize it, for example, in the examination of the taxpayer’s return.

The Service does not respond to letters seeking to confirm the substance of oral discussions, and the absence of a response to such a letter is not confirmation of the substance of the letter.

Nonbank trustee requests .10 In order to receive approval to act as a nonbank custodian of plans qualified under § 401(a) of the Code or accounts described in § 403(b)(7) of the Code, and as a nonbank trustee or nonbank custodian for individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) established under § 408(a), (b), or (h), a written application must be filed that demonstrates how the applicant complies with the requirements of § 1.401–12(n)(3) through (6) of the Income Tax Regulations.

The Service must have clear and convincing proof in its files that the requirements of the regulations are met. If there is a requirement that the applicant feels is not applicable, the application must provide clear and convincing proof that such requirement is not germane to the manner in which the applicant will administer any trust. See § 1.401–12(n)(7) of the regulations.

The completed application should be sent to:

Internal Revenue Service Assistant Commissioner (Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations) Attention: CP:E:EP:T P.O. Box 14073, Ben Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044

Section 6.01(4) of Revenue Procedure 96–8, page 190, this Bulletin, imposes a user’s fee for anyone applying for approval to become a nonbank trustee or custodian.