SECTION 22. WHAT

ARE THE STEPS FOR EXHAUSTING ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES (QUALIFIED PLANS ONLY)?

In general

Steps for exhausting administrative remedies

Applicant’s request for § 7805(b) relief

the DOL if the DOL has submitted a comment, and to the PBGC, if the PBGC has submitted a comment.

.01 For purposes of § 7476(b)(3), a petitioner is deemed to have exhausted the administrative remedies available within the Service upon the completion of the steps described in section 22.02, 22.03, 22.04, or 22.05 of this revenue procedure subject, however, to sections 20A.06 and 20A.07 of this revenue procedure. If applicants, interested parties, or the PBGC do not complete the applicable steps described below, they will not have exhausted their respective available administrative remedies as required by § 7476(b)(3) and will, thus, be precluded from seeking declaratory judgment under § 7476 except to the extent that section 22.05 of this revenue procedure applies.

.02 In the case of an applicant, with respect to any matter relating to the qualification of a plan, the steps referred to in section 22.01 of this revenue procedure are:

(1) Filing a completed application with EP Determinations pursuant to this revenue procedure;

(2) Complying with the requirements pertaining to notice to interested parties as set forth in this revenue procedure and § 1.7476–2; and,

(3) Appealing to the Independent Office of Appeals pursuant to § 601.201(o)(6) of the Statement of Procedural Rules, in the event a notice of proposed adverse determination is issued by EP Determinations.

.03 In order for a petitioner to be deemed to have exhausted administrative remedies within the Service with respect to § 7805(b), an applicant must submit a request for relief under § 7805(b) to the agent or specialist assigned to the case in accordance with the procedures in section 23.08 of this revenue procedure.

Interested parties .04 In the case of an interested party or the PBGC, the steps referred to in section 22.01 of this revenue procedure are, with respect to any matter relating to the qualification of the plan, submitting to EP Determinations a comment raising such matter in accordance with section 19A.01(2) of this revenue procedure, or requesting the DOL to submit to EP Determinations a comment with respect to such matter in accordance with section 19A.01(3) of this revenue procedure and, if the DOL declines to comment, submitting the comment in accordance with section 19A.01(4) of this revenue procedure, so that it may be considered by EP Determinations through the administrative process.

Deemed exhaustion of administrative remedies

.05 An applicant, an interested party, or the PBGC will not be deemed to have exhausted administrative remedies prior to the earlier of:

(1) The completion of those steps applicable to each as set forth in section 22.01, 22.02, 22.03, or 22.04 of this revenue procedure, which constitute their administrative remedies; or

Bulletin No. 2023–1 225 January 3, 2023

Service must have reasonable time to act on appeal

Service must have reasonable time to act on request for § 7805(b) relief