TREASURY DIRECTIVE 25-01 

 

Date: September 11, 2002

 

Sunset Review: September 11, 2006

 

SUBJECT:  Authentication of Department of the Treasury Documents

 

1.         PURPOSE.  This Directive sets forth the responsibilities and the process for authenticating copies or transcripts of books, records, papers or documents under the seal of the Department of the Treasury.

 

2.         POLICY.  It is the policy of the Department of the Treasury to use Treasury Department Form (TDF) 10-01.7, "Notice of Certification," for authenticating Treasury documents according to the process set forth in this Directive which shall be followed whenever an official, certified copy of a Treasury document is required for use in a court proceeding by the Department of Justice, or for any other official purpose.

 

3.         RESPONSIBILITIES.

 

            a.         The Chief Management and Administrative Programs Officer, Heads of Bureaus, the Inspector General, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration shall ensure that certifying officials are properly appointed and authorized for their respective bureaus and offices according to Treasury Directive 12-51.

 

            b.         The Director, Information Services Division, Departmental Offices (DO) shall coordinate the process of authenticating documents for DO organizations.

 

4.         DEFINITION. The legal custodian is the head of an office at any organizational level that maintains the records to be certified in the normal course of business.

 

5.         AUTHENTICATION PROCESS.

 

            a.         The Legal Custodian of the Document.

 

                        (1)        Complete Section A of TDF 10-01.7 by entering the date of preparation, a description that clearly identifies all documents submitted for certification, and a signature and title of the preparing official.

 

                        (2)        Forward the completed form and the documents to be certified to a duly authorized DO or bureau official to affix the Department of the Treasury seal.

 

                        (3)        Retain the official copy of the transaction (the documents from which the authenticated copies were made) in accordance with an approved records control schedule.

 

                        (4)        The Legal Custodian of the documents must retain the official copy in compliance with any litigation obligation that may apply, even if the litigation obligation requires retention of the documents for a longer period of time than is required under the applicable records control schedule.  The Legal Custodian shall follow the instructions of the Office of General Counsel regarding the Department's litigation obligations.

 

            b.         The Certifying Official.

 

                        (1)        Complete Section B. of TDF 10-01.7 by entering the name and title of the legal custodian of the documents, the date on which the seal has been affixed, and a signature and title.

 

                        (2)        Apply two rivets through the original copy of the form and the document(s) being certified, insert the ribbon through the rivets down the left side of the form, and apply the Department of the Treasury seal over the ribbon in the area indicated on the form.

 

                        (3)        Retain the carbon copy of the "Notice of Certification".

 

                        (4)        Return the processed documents (the original "Notice of Certification" and the attached authenticated documents) and all supporting papers requesting use of the seal to the legal custodian of the documents as the official file of the transaction.

 

6.         REFERENCE.  Treasury Directive 12-51, "Affixing the Department of the Treasury Seal".

 

7.         CANCELLATION.  Treasury Directive 25-01, "Authentication of Department of the Treasury Documents", dated March 24, 1999, is superseded.

 

8.         OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST.  Information Services Division, Office of the Chief Management and Administrative Programs Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer.

 

/S/
Edward R. Kingman, Jr.
Assistant Secretary for Management
and Chief Financial Officer