SECTION 19. HOW MAY

RETROACTIVE EFFECT BE LIMITED?

Taxpayer may request that retroactivity be limited

(1) there has been no misstatement or omission of material facts;

(2) the facts at the time of the transaction are not materially different from the facts on which the letter ruling or technical advice memorandum was based;

(3) there has been no change in the applicable law;

(4) in the case of a letter ruling, it was originally issued on a prospective or proposed transaction; and

(5) the taxpayer directly involved in the letter ruling or technical advice memorandum acted in good faith in relying on the letter ruling or technical advice memorandum, and the retroactive modification or revocation would be to the taxpayer’s detriment. For example, the tax liability of each shareholder is directly involved in a letter ruling or technical advice memorandum on the reorganization of a corporation. However, the tax liability of a member of an industry is not directly involved in a letter ruling or technical advice memorandum issued to another member and, therefore, the holding in a modification or revocation of a letter ruling or technical advice memorandum to one member of an industry may be retroactively applied to other members of the industry. By the same reasoning, a tax practitioner may not obtain the nonretroactive application to one client of a modification or revocation of a letter ruling or technical advice memorandum previously issued to another client.

When a letter ruling to a taxpayer or a technical advice memorandum involving a taxpayer is modified or revoked with retroactive effect, the notice to the taxpayer, except in fraud cases, sets forth the grounds on which the modification or revocation is being made and the reason why the modification or revocation is being applied retroactively.

.01 Under § 7805(b), the Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate), the Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions & Products), the Associate Chief Counsel (Income Tax & Accounting), the Associate Chief Counsel (International), the Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs & Special Industries), the Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure and Administration), or the Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel (Tax Exempt and Government Entities), as the Commissioner’s delegate, may prescribe the extent, if any, to which a technical advice memorandum will be applied without retroactive effect.

A taxpayer for whom a technical advice memorandum was issued or for whom a technical advice request is pending may request that the Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate), the Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions & Products), the Associate Chief Counsel (Income Tax & Accounting), the Associate Chief Counsel (International), the Associate Chief Counsel (Passthroughs & Special Industries), the Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure and Administration), or the Division Counsel/Associate Chief Counsel (Tax Exempt and Government Entities), as appropriate, limit the retroactive effect of any holding in the technical advice memorandum or of any subsequent modification or revocation of the technical advice memorandum.

When germane to a pending technical advice request, a taxpayer should request to limit the retroactive effect of the holding of the technical advice memorandum early during the consideration of the technical advice request by the national office. This § 7805(b) request should be made initially as part of that pending technical advice request. The national office, however, will consider a § 7805(b) request to limit the retroactive effect of the holding if the request is made at a later time.

Sec. 19.01 2002–1 I.R.B 111 January 7, 2002

Form of request to limit retroactivity—continuing transaction before examination of return

Form of request to limit retroactivity—in all other cases

.02 When a technical advice memorandum that concerns a continuing transaction is modified or revoked by, for example, issuance of a subsequent revenue ruling or temporary or final regulations, a request to limit the retroactive effect of the modification or revocation of the technical advice memorandum must be made in the form of a request for a letter ruling if the request is submitted before an examination of the return pertaining to the transaction that is the subject of the request for the letter ruling. The requirements for a letter ruling request are given in sections 8 and 12.11 of Rev. Proc. 2002–1.

.03 In all other cases during the course of an examination of a taxpayer’s return by the director or during consideration of the taxpayer’s return by the area director, appeals (including when the taxpayer is informed that the director or the area director, appeals, will recommend that a technical advice memorandum, letter ruling, or determination letter previously issued to, or with regard to, the taxpayer be modified or revoked), a taxpayer’s request to limit retroactivity must be made in the form of a request for technical advice.

The request must meet the general requirements of a technical advice request, which are given in sections 6, 7, and 10 of this revenue procedure. The request must also—

(1) state that it is being made under § 7805(b);

(2) state the relief sought;

(3) explain the reasons and arguments in support of the relief sought (including a discussion of the five items listed in section 18.06 of this revenue procedure and any other factors as they relate to the taxpayer’s particular situation); and

(4) include any documents bearing on the request.

The taxpayer’s request, including the statement that the request is being made under § 7805(b), must be submitted to the director or the area director, appeals, who must then forward the request to the national office for consideration.

Taxpayer’s right to a conference .04 When a request for technical advice concerns only the application of § 7805(b), the taxpayer has the right to a conference in the national office in accordance with the provisions of section 14 of this revenue procedure. In accordance with section 14.02 of this revenue procedure, the examining officer or appeals officer will be offered the opportunity to attend the conference on the § 7805(b) issue. Section 14.02 of this revenue procedure also provides that other Service representatives are allowed to participate in the conference.

If the request for application of § 7805(b) is included in the request for technical advice on the substantive issues or is made before the conference of right on the substantive issues, the § 7805(b) issues will be discussed at the taxpayer’s one conference of right.

If the request for the application of § 7805(b) is made as part of a pending technical advice request after a conference has been held on the substantive issues and the Service determines that there is justification for having delayed the request, then the taxpayer will have the right to one conference of right concerning the application of § 7805(b), with the conference limited to discussion of this issue only.