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Part 4. Examining Process

Chapter 15. Jeopardy/Termination Assessments

Section 5. Post-Assessment Procedures

4.15.5  Post-Assessment Procedures

4.15.5.1  (06-30-1999)
Overview

  1. This section establishes procedures for the processing of jeopardy/termination assessment cases after the assessment has been made.

4.15.5.2  (06-30-1999)
Abatement Procedures

  1. During administrative review of the jeopardy/termination assessment action, there will be some determinations that the assessment was improperly made or excessive in amount. If the area director believes a jeopardy/termination assessment is excessive in amount, or if it is shown to the satisfaction of the area director that a jeopardy situation does not exist, he/she may abate the assessment in whole or in part.

  2. An abatement of all or part of the tax should be supported by a statement of reasons, the report of findings, and a new computation of tax. Copies of the area director's, Appeals', or Counsel's statement of reasons, report of findings, and new computation of tax will be included in the file of any jeopardy/termination assessment.

  3. The jeopardy/termination assessment case file (including the statement of reasons, report of findings, and a new computation of tax) will be forwarded according to whether a judicial or administrative decision is made.

  4. Counsel will relay court orders to abate all or part of the tax to the Technical Support Manager.

  5. Appeals will relay Appeals decisions to abate all or a part of the tax to Technical Support .

  6. Other Decision — The area director's decision to abate all or part of the tax will be relayed to Technical Support .

  7. Technical Support will forward all of the following information:

    1. The case file to the Technical Support Manager, for immediate processing of the abatement. Form 5344, Examination Closing Record, will be prepared to decrease tax, penalty, and interest for cases open in Exam. Form 3870, Request for Adjustment, will be used in other cases. See IRM 4.15.6.6 for instructions on abating jeopardy/termination assessment cases by Technical Support.

    2. The information to the Field Territory Manager, to advise him/her of the redetermined liability, of any restrictions on the collection action which may be pursued, or of a final decision by the court which may permit sale of seized property. If a part of the assessment remains, collection action may be resumed for the balance due. If an excess collection has been made, the service center should refund the excess. No refund will be made until the case is closed.

    3. A copy of the statement of reasons, report of findings, and a new computation of tax for granting an abatement, to the area director for review.

4.15.5.3  (06-30-1999)
Possessor of Cash

  1. If an individual comes forward and claims ownership of the cash (or cash equivalent) previously assessed under IRC 6867, he/she should be advised to submit a written request to the area director marked for the attention of the Technical Support Manager.

  2. The written request for return of the subject property should be signed under penalty of perjury. The request will contain the following information:

    1. The name, address, and social security number of the person submitting the request;

    2. A detailed description of the property levied upon, if other than cash; if cash, state the exact amount seized;

    3. A description of the claimant's basis for claiming the property levied upon as belonging to the claimant;

    4. The name and address of the "Possessor" of the cash or cash equivalent (the person who was originally found to be in possession of the cash and who denied its ownership and did not properly identify the true owner); and

    5. The originating Internal Revenue Area, the date of lien or levy as shown on Form 668, Notice of Tax Lien, Form 668–A, Notice of Levy, or Form 668–B, Levy, or in lieu thereof, a statement of the reasons why such information cannot be furnished.

  3. If Technical Support determines that the claim is valid, Technical Support will refer the claim to Exam for consideration. Exam will be responsible for abating any overassessment and refunding the overassessment to the claimant, if applicable. See abatement procedures in IRM 4.15.5.2. Exam will notify Technical Support of their determination so that Technical Support can arrange for disposition of any noncash items seized.

  4. The original assessment should be abated. If circumstances dictate, another assessment may be made on the individual that came forward and claimed the cash as his/hers. The assessment, against the owner of the cash, that replaces the original assessment, will be treated as dating back to the date of the original assessment.

4.15.5.4  (06-30-1999)
Termination Follow-Up

  1. Termination assessment provisions require the taxpayer who is subject to a termination assessment to file a full year return, and the Service to issue a notice of deficiency to the taxpayer with respect to that full year return. Generally, the notice of deficiency should be issued within 60 days of the due date of the return including extensions. Controls must be established to follow through on termination assessments.

4.15.5.4.1  (06-30-1999)
Control of Assessment Files

  1. Exam is responsible for establishing controls and for determining whether or not the taxpayer files a full year's return and the location of the filing for termination assessments. PSP Support will be responsible for controlling termination assessment cases for Exam. See IRM 4.15.7 for instructions on how termination assessment cases will be controlled by PSP Support.

4.15.5.4.2  (06-30-1999)
Filing Requirements by the Taxpayer

  1. IRC 6091(b) and Section 1.6091–2 of the Treasury Regulations (Reg.) require persons subject to a termination assessment to file their full taxable year returns with the area director as prescribed by the regulations.

  2. Where persons subject to a termination assessment are required to file their full taxable year returns depends on whether the taxpayer is an individual or a corporation. Such place of filing is prescribed to provide early receipt and time for necessary examination and issuance of the notice of deficiency within the 60-day period required by IRC 6851(b).

    1. Individual taxpayers are directed to file the returns for their usual annual accounting period with the office of the area director of the area in which they reside.

    2. Corporate taxpayers are directed to file the returns for their usual annual accounting period with the office of the area director of the area in which their principal office is located.

  3. If a taxpayer does not comply with the filing directions (files his/her full year's return with a service center or a area director not specified), the return is not deemed filed within the meaning of IRC 6851(b). In such a case, the 60-day limit for the Service to issue a notice of deficiency does not begin to run until the proper area director secures the return.

4.15.5.4.3  (06-30-1999)
Examination of Full-Year Return

  1. An examination of the full year return is required in order to determine the correct tax liability and issue a notice of deficiency, whether the taxpayer filed a full year return or failed to file a return. The examination should be completed in time for the preparation, review, and issuance of the notice of deficiency within the required 60-day period.

    1. Filed Return — Upon filing of the full year return by the taxpayer subject to a termination assessment, an examination for the entire year should be initiated.

    2. Nonfiled Return — If the taxpayer fails to file by the due date of the return, an examination for the entire year should be initiated. If a return is not secured, follow substitute for return (SFR) procedures. See IRM 4.12.1.

4.15.5.5  (06-30-1999)
Notice of Deficiency

  1. A notice of deficiency is required to be mailed to the last known address of the taxpayer within 60 days after a jeopardy/termination assessment.

  2. The area Exam function is responsible for issuing notices of deficiency in jeopardy/termination assessments, except in cases pending in Appeals. Technical Support will be responsible for issuing the notices of deficiency for Exam. All notices of deficiency prepared in jeopardy/termination cases will be reviewed by Counsel before issuance. See IRM 4.15.6.4 for instructions on preparing notices of deficiency by Technical Support.

  3. Jeopardy Assessment — A notice of deficiency is required to be mailed within 60 days of the date of the assessment.

  4. Termination Assessment — A notice of deficiency is required to be mailed within 60 days after the later of:

    1. The due date of the taxpayer's return for the taxable year, determined with regard to extensions; or

    2. The date the taxpayer files a return for the taxable year.

      Note:

      If the taxpayer does not file a return, the notice of deficiency must be sent within 60 days after the due date of the return. See Perlowin v. Sassi, 711 F.2d 910 (9th Cir. 1983), aff'd in relevant part, rev'd on other grounds.

4.15.5.6  (06-30-1999)
Area Report on Jeopardy and Termination Assessments

  1. On an annual basis, each Field Territory Manager will prepare a report of jeopardy/termination assessments.

  2. The Jeopardy/Termination Coordinator is responsible for preparing the report for the Field Territory Manager.

  3. Form 6388, Semi-Annual Report of Jeopardy and Termination Assessments, may be used to report the statistics. One page is used to report jeopardy statistics, and another page is used to report termination statistics. A case represents one taxpayer and may include more than one tax year.

  4. The original and one copy of the report will be prepared. The original will be sent to the Area Director. The copy will be sent to SB/SE Headquarters. It should be sent by November 1 for the fiscal year just ended.


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