SECTION 9. REVIEW BY DISTRICT

DIRECTOR

.01 In general. The district director must apply a change in method of accounting made in compliance with all the applicable provisions of this revenue procedure in determining the taxpayer’s liability, unless the district director recommends that the change in method of accounting should be modified or revoked. (See section 6.06 of this revenue procedure if a change in method of accounting is made without complying with all the applicable provisions of this revenue procedure.) The district director will ascertain if the change in method of accounting was made in compliance with all the applicable provisions of this revenue procedure, including whether:

(1) the representations on which the change was based reflect an accurate statement of the material facts;

(2) the amount of the § 481(a) adjustment was properly determined;

(3) the change in method of accounting was implemented in compliance with all the applicable provisions of this revenue procedure. The district director will also ascertain whether:

(4) there has been any change in the material facts on which the change was based during the period the method of accounting was used; and

(5) there has been any change in the applicable law during the period the method of accounting was used.

.02 National office consideration. If the district director recommends that a change in method of accounting (other than the § 481(a) adjustment) made in compliance with all the applicable provisions of this revenue procedure should be modified or revoked, the district director will forward the matter to the national office for consideration before any further action is taken. Such a referral to the national office will be treated as a request for technical advice, and the provisions of Rev. Proc. 98–2 (or any successor) will be followed.

.02 Exceptions.

(1) Change not made or made im- properly. The Service may change a taxpayer’s method of accounting for prior taxable years if (a) the taxpayer fails to implement the change, (b) the taxpayer implements the change but does not comply with all the applicable provisions of this revenue procedure, or (c) the method of accounting is changed or modified because there has been a misstatement or omission of material facts (see section 8.02(2) of this revenue procedure). (2) Change in sub-method. The Service may change a taxpayer’s method of accounting for prior taxable years if the taxpayer is changing a sub-method of accounting within the method. For example, an examining agent may propose to terminate the taxpayer’s use of the LIFO inventory method during a prior taxable year even though the taxpayer changes its method of valuing increments in the current year.

(3) Prior year Service-initiated change. The Service may make adjustments to the taxpayer’s returns for the same item for taxable years prior to the requested year of change to reflect a prior year Service-initiated change.

(4) Criminal investigation. The Ser

vice may change a taxpayer’s method of accounting for the same item for taxable years prior to the year of change if there is any pending or future criminal investigation or proceeding concerning (a) directly or indirectly, any issue relating to the taxpayer’s federal tax liability for any taxable year prior to the year of change, or (b) the possibility of false or fraudulent statements made by the taxpayer with respect to any issue relating to its federal tax liability for any taxable year prior to the year of change.