05-14085. Substitute for Return

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking by cross-reference to temporary regulations.

SUMMARY:

In the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing temporary regulations relating to the IRS preparing or executing returns for persons who fail to make required returns. The text of those regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations.

DATES:

Written or electronically generated comments and requests for a public hearing must be received by October 17, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-131739-03), Room 5203, Internal Revenue Service, PO Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand delivered Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-131739-03), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. Alternatively, taxpayers may submit comments electronically via the IRS Internet site at http://www.irs.gov/​regs or via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (IRS and REG-131739-03).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Concerning the proposed regulations, Tracey B. Leibowitz, [phone]; concerning submissions of comments and requests for a public hearing, Treena Garrett of the Regulations Unit at [phone] (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

 

Background and Explanation of Provisions

Temporary regulations in the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register amend 26 CFR part 301 relating to section 6020. The temporary regulations retain the method by which an internal revenue officer or employee prepares a return under section 6020(a). Further, the temporary regulations provide that a document (or set of documents) signed by an authorized internal revenue officer or employee is a return under section 6020(b) if the document (or set of documents) identifies the taxpayer by name and taxpayer identification number, contains sufficient information from which to compute the taxpayer's tax liability, and the document (or set of documents) purport to be a return under section 6020(b). A Form 13496, “IRC Section 6020(b) Certification,” or any other form that an authorized internal revenue officer or employee signs and uses to identify a document (or set of documents) containing the information set forth above as a section 6020(b) return, and the documents identified, constitute a valid section 6020(b) return. The text of those regulations also serve as the text of these proposed regulations. The preamble to the temporary regulations explains the amendments.

Special Analyses

It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It also has been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these regulations, and, because these regulations do not impose a collection of information on small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, this notice of proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on their impact.

Comments and Requests for a Public Hearing

Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations, consideration will be given to any written (a signed original and 8 copies) and electronic comments that are submitted timely to the IRS. The IRS and Treasury specifically request comments on the clarity of the proposed regulations and how they can be made easier to understand. All comments will be available for public inspection and copying. A public hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by any person that timely submits comments. If a public hearing is scheduled, notice of the date, time, and place for the public hearing will be published in the Federal Register.

Drafting Information

The principal author of these regulations is Tracey B. Leibowitz, of the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure and Administration), Administrative Provisions and Judicial Practice Division.

List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 301

• Employment taxes
• Estate taxes
• Excise taxes
• Gift taxes
• Income taxes
• Penalties
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

Proposed Amendments to the Regulations

Accordingly, 26 CFR part 301 is proposed to be amended to read as follows:

PART 301—PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION

Paragraph 1. The authority citation continues to read, in part, as follows:

Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *

Par. 2. Section 301.6020-1 is added to read as follows:

§ 301.6020-1

Returns prepared or executed by the Commissioner or other internal revenue officers.

[The text of proposed § 301.6020-1 is the same as the text of § 301.6020-1T published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register].

Mark E. Matthews,

Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement.