Abusive Tax Shelters and Transactions
What's New: Amended IRC Section 6707A Penalty - Interim Procedures The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 that was enacted on September 27, 2010 amended Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 6707A, Penalty for Failure to Include Reportable Transaction Information with Return. The amendment is retroactive for IRC section 6707A penalties assessed after December 31, 2006. Procedures are being developed for processing the opened penalty cases and correcting the closed assessed cases impacted by the new law. Tier I Issue Loss Importation Transaction - Directive # 1 Disclosure of Loss Reportable Transactions New Transaction of Interest - Subpart F Income Partnership Blocker Intermediary Transaction Tax Shelters New Transaction of Interest - Potential for Avoidance of Tax Through Sale of Charitable Remainder Trust Interests LILO/SILO SETTLEMENT INITIATIVE - On August 6, 2008, IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman announced that settlements would be offered to taxpayers who participated in Lease-In/Lease-Out (LILO) and Sale-In/Sale-Out (SILO) transactions. IRS sent out letters giving taxpayers 30 days to make a decision on whether to accept the offer terms. |
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The Internal Revenue Service is taking steps to combat abusive tax shelters and transactions. A comprehensive strategy is in place to:
- Identify and deter promoters of abusive tax transactions through audits, summons enforcement and targeted litigation.
- Keep the public advised by publishing guidance on transactions and shelters that are determined to be abusive.
- Promote disclosure by those who market and participate in abusive transactions.
- Develop and implement alternative methods for resolving abusive transactions claimed by taxpayers.
IRS Tax Shelter Hotline
IRS maintains a hotline that people can use to provide information (anonymously, if preferred) about abusive tax shelters. OTSA is primarily interested in potentially abusive transactions that may be employed by many taxpayers and could pose a significant compliance risk to the IRS.
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Toll free (866) 775-7474
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Fax (801) 620-5122
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Email IRS Tax Shelter Hotline
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Mail:
Office of Tax Shelter Analysis
Internal Revenue Service
1973 North Rulon White Blvd.
LB&I:PFTG:OTSA - M/S 4916
Ogden, Utah 84404-5402
If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with the tax laws, see reporting suspected fraud.
If you want to blow the whistle on a person(s) who failed to pay the tax that they owe, see Whistleblower Informant Awards. If the IRS uses the information provided, it can award you up to 30 percent of the additional tax, penalty and other amounts it collects.
Office of Tax Shelter Analysis
The Office of Tax Shelter Analysis (OTSA) in the LB&I Division collects and analyzes information about abusive tax shelters and transactions, and coordinates LB&I's tax shelter planning and operation.
Disclosure of Loss Reportable Transactions
Form 13976, Itemized Statement Component of Advisee List (April 2008), may be used by material advisors for the purpose of preparing and maintaining lists with respect to reportable transactions under § 6112 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Form is not required to be used under § 301.6112-1 of the Procedure and Administration Regulations, but is offered as an option for maintaining the list.
- Revenue Procedure 2008-20 provides guidance relating to the obligation of material advisors to prepare and maintain lists with respect to reportable transactions under § 6112 and provides that material advisors may use the Form 13976, “Itemized Statement Component of Advisee List” (or successor form) to maintain the itemized statement component of the list.
New Tax Law Provisions Enacted to Combat Abusive Tax Shelters
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-357) was signed into law by the President on October 22, 2004. This new legislation contains many provisions that will affect abusive tax shelter promotions, advisors and investors.
Listed Abusive Tax Shelters and Transactions
IRS, the Office of Chief Counsel and Treasury issue formal guidance on certain tax avoidance transactions that are referred to as "listed transactions". Taxpayers are required to disclose their participation in listed transactions. To date, 34 listed transactions have been identified and addressed in formal guidance.
Notice 2009-59 updates the list of transactions that have been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be “listed transactions” for purposes of § 1.6011-4(b)(2) of the Income Tax Regulations and §§ 6111, 6112, 6662A, 6707, 6707A, and 6708 of the Internal Revenue Code. This notice also lists transactions that are no longer considered listed transactions.
Transactions of Interest
The new reportable transaction category Transaction of Interest (TOI) is defined as a transaction that the IRS and the Treasury Department believe is a transaction that has the potential for tax avoidance or evasion, but lack sufficient information to determine whether the transaction should be identified specifically as a tax avoidance transaction. The TOI category of reportable transactions will apply to transactions entered into on or after November 2, 2006.
Notice 2009-55 provides a list of transactions that have been identified by the Internal Revenue Service as “transactions of interest” for purposes of § 1.6011-4(b)(6) of the Income Tax Regulations and §§ 6111, 6112, 6662A, 6707, 6707A and 6708 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Regulations on Abusive Tax Shelters and Transactions
Treasury regulations require that certain tax shelters and transactions be registered and that lists of investors be maintained by parties who organize or sell interests in the shelter(s). Investors in certain shelters and transactions are required to disclose their participation on their tax returns.
Mandatory Tax Shelter Information Document Request
The Abusive Tax Shelter Mandatory Information Document Request (IDR) is required for all LB&I return examinations and extends to examination activities that originate from post-filing as well as pre-filing activities such as the Compliance Assurance Program (CAP). This policy is part of LB&I's continuing commitment to the IRS initiative addressing abusive tax shelters.
- LB&I Commissioner's memorandum authorizing Mandatory IDR (11/16/2006)
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Mandatory IDR Attachment (12/09/2008)
Tax Accrual Workpapers
IRS policy is to request tax accrual and other financial audit workpapers relating to the tax reserve for deferred tax liabilities, and to footnotes disclosing contingent tax liabilities appearing in audited financial statements.
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Tax Accrual Workpapers Frequently Asked Questions - April 24, 2007
An LB&I Commissioner Memorandum issued to LB&I executives, managers, and examiners provides guidance on consideration and application of penalties in an impartial, consistent and fair manner. A separate LB&I Commissioner Memorandum covers Penalty Policy in Disclosure Initiative Cases.
IRS Initiatives to Resolve and Identify Abusive Tax Shelters and Transactions
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Taxpayers were afforded the opportunity to participate in a "Son-of-Boss" settlement initiative announced in May, 2004. Taxpayers who qualified for the offer paid outstanding tax, interest and applicable penalty.
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IRS conducted a settlement initiative from October 2002 through March 2003 to allow taxpayers engaged in certain abusive transactions to resolve the tax consequences arising from their participation in the transactions. The transactions covered by the initiative were §302 / 318 Basis Shifting, §351 Contingent Liabilities, and Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI).
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A prior Tax Shelter Disclosure Initiativeconducted from December 2001 to April 2002 resulted in 1,690 transaction disclosures from 1,212 taxpayers. The transactions disclosed involved $30 billion in claimed losses and deductions.
Other Abusive Tax Schemes
In addition to the highly complex abusive technical transactions covered on this page, IRS is combating other types of abusive tax schemes, such as offshore tax avoidance schemes. Click here for information on steps IRS is taking to combat these other schemes: