SECTION 11. HOW ARE

CONFERENCES SCHEDULED?

Schedules a conference if .01 A taxpayer may request a conference regarding a letter ruling request. Normally, a requested by taxpayer conference is scheduled only when the national office considers it to be helpful in deciding the case or when an adverse decision is indicated. If conferences are being arranged for more than one request for a letter ruling involving the same taxpayer, they will be scheduled so as to cause the least inconvenience to the taxpayer. As stated in section 8.02(6) of this revenue procedure, a taxpayer who wants to have a conference on the issue or issues involved should indicate this in writing when, or soon after, filing the request.

If a conference has been requested, the taxpayer will be notified by telephone, if possible, of the time and place of the conference, which must then be held within 21 calendar days after this contact. Instructions for requesting an extension of the 21-day period and notifying the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s representative of the Service’s approval or denial of the request for extension are the same as those explained in section 10.07(4) of this revenue procedure regarding providing additional information.

Permits taxpayer one .02 A taxpayer is entitled, as a matter of right, to only one conference in the national conference of right office, except as explained under section 11.05 of this revenue procedure. This conference normally will be held at the branch level and will be attended by a person who, at the time of the conference, has the authority to sign the letter ruling in his or her own name or for the branch chief.

When more than one branch has taken an adverse position on an issue in a letter ruling request or when the position ultimately adopted by one branch will affect that adopted by another, a representative from each branch with the authority to sign in his or her own name or for the branch chief will attend the conference. If more than one subject is to be discussed at the conference, the discussion will constitute a conference on each subject.

To have a thorough and informed discussion of the issues, the conference usually will be held after the branch has had an opportunity to study the case. However, at the request of the taxpayer, the conference of right may be held earlier.

No taxpayer has a right to appeal the action of a branch to an assistant chief counsel or to any other official of the Service. But see section 11.05 of this revenue procedure for situations in which the Service may offer additional conferences.

In employment tax matters, only the party entitled to the letter ruling is entitled to a conference. See section 5.09 of this revenue procedure.

Sec. 11.02

1998–1 I.R.B. 45 January 5, 1998

Disallows verbatim .03 Because conference procedures are informal, no tape, stenographic, or other verbatim recording of conferences recording of a conference may be made by any party.

Makes tentative .04 The senior Service representative present at the conference ensures that the taxpayer recommendations on has the opportunity to present views on all the issues in question. A Service representative substantive issues explains the Service’s tentative decision on the substantive issues and the reasons for that decision. If the taxpayer asks the Service to limit the retroactive effect of any letter ruling or limit the revocation or modification of a prior letter ruling, a Service representative will discuss the recommendation concerning this issue and the reasons for the recommendation. The Service representatives will not make a commitment regarding the conclusion that the Service will finally adopt.

May offer additional .05 The Service will offer the taxpayer an additional conference if, after the conference conferences of right, an adverse holding is proposed, but on a new issue, or on the same issue but on different grounds from those discussed at the first conference. There is no right to another conference when a proposed holding is reversed at a higher level with a result less favorable to the taxpayer, if the grounds or arguments on which the reversal is based were discussed at the conference of right.

The limit on the number of conferences to which a taxpayer is entitled does not prevent the Service from offering additional conferences, including conferences with an official higher than the branch level, if the Service decides they are needed. Such conferences are not offered as a matter of course simply because the branch has reached an adverse decision. In general, conferences with higher level officials are offered only if the Service determines that the case presents significant issues of tax policy or tax administration and that the consideration of these issues would be enhanced by additional conferences with the taxpayer.

Requires written confirmation .06 The taxpayer should furnish to the national office any additional data, reasoning, of information presented precedents, etc., that were proposed by the taxpayer and discussed at the conference but at conference not previously or adequately presented in writing. The taxpayer must furnish the additional information within 21 calendar days from the date of the conference. See section 10.07 of this revenue procedure for instructions on submission of additional information. If the additional information is not received within that time, a letter ruling will be issued on the basis of the information on hand or, if appropriate, no ruling will be issued.

Procedures for requesting an extension of the 21-day period and notifying the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s representative of the Service’s approval or denial of the requested extension are the same as those stated in section 10.07(4) of this revenue procedure regarding submitting additional information.

May schedule a pre- .07 Sometimes it will be advantageous to both the Service and the taxpayer to hold a submission conference conference before the taxpayer submits the letter ruling request to discuss substantive or procedural issues relating to a proposed transaction. Such conferences are held only if the taxpayer actually intends to make a request, only if the request involves a matter on which a letter ruling is ordinarily issued, and only on a time-available basis. For example, a presubmission conference will not be held on an income tax issue if, at the time the presubmission conference is requested, the identical issue is involved in the taxpayer’s return for an earlier period and that issue is being examined by a district director. See section 5.01(1) of this revenue procedure.

Generally, the taxpayer will be asked to provide before the pre-submission conference a statement of whether the issue is an issue on which a letter ruling is ordinarily issued and a draft of the letter ruling request or other detailed written statement of the proposed transaction, issue, and legal analysis. If the taxpayer’s authorized representative will attend the pre-submission conference, a power of attorney form is required. It is preferred that Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, be used to provide the representative’s authorization.

Any discussion of substantive issues at a pre-submission conference is advisory only, is not binding on the Service in general or on the Office of Chief Counsel in particular, and

Sec. 11.03

January 5, 1998 46 1998–1 I.R.B.

cannot be relied upon as a basis for obtaining retroactive relief under the provisions of § 7805(b). A letter ruling request submitted following a pre-submission conference will not necessarily be assigned to the branch that held the pre-submission conference.

Under limited .08 Infrequently, taxpayers request that their conference of right be held by telephone. circumstances, may This request may occur, for example, when a taxpayer wants a conference of right but beschedule a conference lieves that the issue involved does not warrant incurring the expense of traveling to to be held by telephone Washington, DC. If a taxpayer makes such a request, the branch chief, senior technician reviewer (or senior technical reviewer), or assistant to the branch chief (or assistant branch chief) of the branch to which the case is assigned will decide if it is appropriate in the particular case to hold the conference of right by telephone. If the request is approved, the taxpayer will be advised when to call the Service representatives (not a toll-free call).