SECTION 11. HOW DOES A

TAXPAYER APPEALA KEY DISTRICT DIRECTOR’S OR CHIEF’S APPEALS OFFICE DECISION NOT TO SEEK TECHNICALADVICE?

Taxpayer notified of .01 If the EP/EO specialist or appeals officer concludes that a taxpayer’s request for decision not to seek technical referral of an issue to the national office for technical advice does not warrant referral, the advice EP/EO specialist or appeals officer will tell the taxpayer. A taxpayer’s request for such a referral will not be denied merely because the national office provided legal advice, other than advice furnished pursuant to this revenue procedure, to the key district or appeals office on the matter.

Taxpayer may appeal .02 The taxpayer may appeal the decision of the EP/EO specialist or the appeals officer decision not to seek technical not to request technical advice. To do so, the taxpayer must submit to that specialist or advice officer, within 10 calendar days after being told of the decision, a written statement of the facts, law, and arguments on the issue and the reasons why the taxpayer believes the matter should be referred to the national office for technical advice. A taxpayer who needs more than 10 calendar days must justify in writing the request for an extension of time. The extension is subject to the approval of the chief, EP/EO division, or the chief, appeals office.

Chief, EP/EO division, or .03 The EP/EO specialist or the appeals officer submits the taxpayer’s statement chief, appeals office, through proper channels to the chief, EP/EO division, or the chief, appeals office, along determines whether technical with the EP/EO specialist’s or the appeals officer’s statement of why the issue should not advice will be sought be referred to the national office. The chief determines, on the basis of the statements, whether technical advice will be requested.

If the chief determines that technical advice is not warranted and proposes to deny the request, the taxpayer is told in writing about the determination. In the letter to the taxpayer, the chief states the reasons for the proposed denial (except in unusual situations when doing so would be prejudicial to the best interests of the Government). The taxpayer has 10 calendar days after receiving the letter to notify the chief of agreement or disagreement with the proposed denial.

Chief’s decision may be .04 The taxpayer may not appeal the decision of the chief, EP/EO division, or the chief, reviewed but not appealed appeals office, not to request technical advice from the national office. However, if the taxpayer does not agree with the proposed denial, all data on the issue for which technical advice has been sought, including the taxpayer’s written request and statements, will be submitted to the Assistant Commissioner (Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations) or the National Director of Appeals as appropriate.

The Assistant Commissioner (Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations), through the Director, Employee Plans Division, or the Director, Exempt Organizations Division or, if appropriate, the National Director of Appeals will review the proposed denial solely on the basis of the written record, and no conference will be held with the taxpayer or the

January 5, 1998 168 1998–1 I.R.B.

taxpayer’s representative. The appropriate Director or his or her representative may consult within the national office, if necessary, and will notify the key district office or appeals office within 45 calendar days of receiving all the data regarding the request for technical advice whether the proposed denial is approved or disapproved. The key district office or appeals office will then notify the taxpayer.

While the matter is being reviewed, the key district office or the appeals office suspends action on the issue (except when the delay would prejudice the Government’s interest).

The provisions of this revenue procedure regarding review of the proposed denial of a request for technical advice continue to be applicable in those situations in which the authority normally exercised by the key district director or chief, appeals office, has been delegated to another official.