The Return Preparer Program (RPP) is an agency-wide effort to increase compliance with professional standards of paid return preparers. Paid tax return preparers are a critical component of tax administration and provide a unique opportunity to impact taxpayer behavior and compliance with tax laws.

Prior to May 25, 2007, preparer penalties under IRC 6694 and IRC 6695 were not applicable to employment tax returns; they were applicable only to preparers of income tax returns. The Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act (SBWOTA) of 2007 amended IRC 6694 and IRC 6695 to include any tax return preparer. Preparer penalties became applicable to employment tax returns filed on or after May 25, 2007.

IRM 20.1.6, Penalty Handbook, Preparer, Promoter, Material Advisor Penalties, provides information regarding the policies and procedures for servicewide preparer, promoter, and material advisor penalties .

Employment tax provisions are found at Internal Revenue Code Subtitle C:

The Employment Tax Program is governed by Policy Statements and other internal guidance that apply to all Service personnel regardless of operating division. The Policy Statements found in IRM 1.2.1, Servicewide Policies and Authorities, Servicewide Policy Statements, apply to all employment tax issues and examinations. Examiners should review these Policy Statements to properly perform their examination duties.

A website, Search Servicewide Delegation Orders, located at http://irm.web.irs.gov/imd/del/search.aspx provides a searchable list of Servicewide Delegation Orders issued by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, or on his/her behalf by either of the deputy commissioners. Delegation Orders pertaining to each IRS business process can be found in IRM 1.2.2, Servicewide Policies and Authorities, Servicewide Delegations of Authority.

IRM 4.23 provides Servicewide instructions for all operating divisions with employees involved with the correct filing, reporting, and payment of employment taxes. IRM 4.23 serves as the foundation for consistent administration of employment taxes by various IRS operating divisions. By providing one source of authority for all operating divisions, the Service greatly reduces philosophical and procedural inconsistencies.

Director, Specialty Examination Policy is responsible for the procedures and updates addressed in this IRM.

Director, Specialty Examination is the executive responsible for examination operational compliance.

Chief, Employment Tax Examination, is responsible for ensuring employment tax examiners follow the guidance included in the IRM.

Program Goals: The processes and procedures provided in this IRM are consistent with the objectives or goals for Employment Tax Examination that are addressed in IRM 1.1.16.3.3.3, Employment Tax Examination, and for Employment Tax Policy that are found in IRM 1.1.16.3.5.2.2, Employment Tax Policy.

Program Effectiveness: Program goals are measured with Employment Tax National Quality and Embedded Quality (EQ / NQ) Performance Reports that monitor whether quality attributes are applied uniformly and consistently.

Annual Review: Program Manager - Employment Tax Policy is responsible for reviewing the information in this IRM annually to ensure accuracy and promote consistent tax administration.

Program Reports: Information regarding the reporting of program objectives are included on, but not limited to, the following reports submitted to the Director, Examination - Specialty:

The Quarterly Business Performance Review (BPR) provides updates on the status of Whistleblower claims in Operating Division SME status.

The following table lists commonly used acronyms and their definitions:

The following table lists the primary sources of guidance:

Other helpful information sources include:

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TBOR) lists rights that already existed in the tax code, putting them in simple language and grouping them into 10 fundamental rights. Employees are responsible for being familiar with and acting in accord with taxpayer rights. See IRC 7803(a)(3), Execution of Duties in Accord with Taxpayer Rights. For additional information about the TBOR, see https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), led by the National Taxpayer Advocate. Its job is to protect taxpayers’ rights by striving to ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and knows and understands their rights under the TBOR. TAS offers free help to taxpayers, including when taxpayers face financial difficulties due to an IRS problem, when they are unable to resolve tax problems, they haven’t been able to resolve on their own, or when they need assistance to address an IRS system, process, or procedure that is not functioning as it should. TAS has at least one taxpayer advocate office located in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Employment tax examiners should consider the disclosure provisions when preparing agreed and unagreed case reports. For further information, see the Privacy, Government Liaison and Disclosure (PGLD) maintained knowledge base at https://portal.ds.irsnet.gov/sites/VL003/pages/default.aspx for additional information.

A preparer penalty case is an individual federal tax matter of the preparer. As with any individual tax matter, an examiner may disclose return information only to that individual, in accordance with IRC 6103(e)(1)(A)(i), or to the preparer’s attorney in fact, or duly authorized power of attorney, as permitted by IRC 6103(e)(6).

Penalty files may include copies of tax returns or portions of tax returns prepared by the preparer who is being considered for the penalty. The penalty files may also include other information taken from examination administrative files, including workpapers and transcripts of taxpayers’ accounts whose returns were prepared by the preparer, as well as information received directly from the preparer.

Information taken from the returns or copies of returns prepared by the preparer, and information from the examination files related to such returns, may be incorporated into the preparer's penalty file. Such information may be disclosed to the preparer or authorized power of attorney if the information relates to the resolution of the penalty issue (IRC 6103(h)(4)). These disclosures may be made by the examiner during the course of the penalty determination or subsequent tax administration activity. An examiner may disclose information about the prepared returns because that information relates to the penalty determination, not because the preparer prepared the return or may have had a power of attorney to represent the taxpayer.

Other information in the penalty file that does not relate to the penalty determination, such as the taxpayer’s current address or current employer, may not be disclosed to the preparer or the preparer's authorized power of attorney. If the file includes information that would seriously impair federal tax administration if disclosed, that information must be withheld by the examiner’s manager in accordance with the manager’s authority to withhold information in accordance with IRC 6103(e)(7). Delegation Order 11-2, Authority to Permit Disclosure of Tax Information and to Permit Testimony or the Production of Documents, contains the specific delegation of authority. Refer to IRM 1.2.2, Servicewide Policies and Authorities, Servicewide Delegations of Authority.

During an examination of the client taxpayer’s return, do not disclose a preparer penalty decision to the taxpayer or preparer.

The examination case of the related client should be closed prior to establishing the preparer penalty case.

The determination of the employment tax examination will proceed without regard to the return preparer penalty issue.

The Return Preparer Coordinator (RPC) is responsible for handling employment tax return preparer penalty cases. The Employment Tax Policy Analyst for the Return Preparer Program is responsible for RPC duties. A list of SB/SE Employment Tax Policy Analysts, including their contact information and program assignments, is found at: Employment Tax Policy Contacts.

The RPC can advise the examiner if the return preparer is being investigated by Criminal Investigation (CI), the Lead Development Center, or one of the Income Tax Examination Areas. In addition, the RPC can provide invaluable assistance to the examiner at the start of the investigation regarding audit techniques, questions, and direction. The RPC can also provide coordination if more than one investigation is ongoing or contemplated.

The RPC has direct access to the Preparer section of the Return Preparer Database, which aggregates information about the tax return preparer, including outreach action, address, and counts of individual and business returns, to provide a picture of preparer activity by Social Security Number (SSN) and Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The Preparer module also contains links to other modules of the database if data is present. The other modules include:

The examiner establishes controls on the Examination Returns Control System (ERCS) using Form 5809. These cases are not controlled on the Audit Inventory Management System (AIMS). The Form 5809 records:

Email a copy of the Form 5809 (Copy B) to the RPC at the start of the penalty investigation.

There are two different ways of preparing Form 5809 for input on ERCS:

For Method 2, establish a separate ERCS record for each client/year/proposed penalty combination using the following guidelines:

The statute of limitations on assessment for IRC 6694(a) and IRC 6695 expires three years from the later of the due date of the related (client) return or the date the return was filed. The deemed due date of 4/15 of the subsequent year is used to determine the statute date for all Forms 941 filed in a calendar year. There is no statute of limitations on assessment for IRC 6694(b), IRC 6700, or IRC 6701 penalties.

There is no statute of limitations on actions to enjoin preparers or promoters under IRC 7407 or IRC 7408.

If the statute is less than 180 days and the preparer will agree, the statute on a return preparer penalty case under IRC 6694(a) or IRC 6695 can be extended using Form 872–D, Consent to Extend the Time on Assessment of Tax Return Preparer Penalty (Refer to Rev. Rul. 78-245). The form is sent to the return preparer via Letter 907-P, Return Preparer Penalty Statute Extension Request. If the case has a short statute, the examiner should follow the short statute procedures. See IRM 4.23.14, Employment Tax, Statute Control and Extension, and IRM 4.75.10.6.1, Statute of Limitations.

A transcript of the return on which the preparer penalty is based should be included in the preparer penalty case file for accurate monitoring of the expiration date. If the preparer does not agree, see IRM 4.23.17.5.6, Quick Assessment Procedures.

Each employment tax examination is separate and distinct from the Return Preparer Penalty Case File. Examiners will not propose or discuss preparer penalties in the presence of the taxpayer.

When initiating a preparer penalty case, examiners should notify the preparer by mailing Letter 4523, Preparer Contact Letter, to the preparer. Allow fourteen calendar days for a response, prior to attempting contact by phone.

Comprehensive interviews of both the client and preparer are required to develop facts and circumstances in determining if a return preparer penalty case is warranted. At a minimum during the interview, the examiner should ask the taxpayer/client the following basic questions:

Ask follow-up questions: while asking basic interview questions is required, critical information may be provided in responses to follow-up questions.

The questions asked of the preparer are important to determine if additional development regarding the return preparation is warranted. If the preparer is the taxpayer’s representative, examiners may want to ask:

Representatives will often review the return and the taxpayer’s records prior to the initial interview. If an error has been made on the return, the preparer will probably know in advance. While the preparer is not required to disclose the error, the extent of the preparer’s knowledge should become apparent during the process.

When interviewing the taxpayer or preparer, ask if other services are provided by the preparer’s firm and how long the preparer has been preparing returns for the taxpayer. These questions will help to determine the extent of the preparer’s knowledge regarding the taxpayer’s financial situation/status. These questions will also alert the examiner as to the potential applicability of penalties. A preparer who has been preparing a client’s return for a number of years is more knowledgeable than a preparer who is preparing a client’s return for the first time.

The examiner should contemporaneously document the preparer penalty case file following the conversation with the taxpayer and/or preparer. While each examiner’s interview style is different, the documentation of the facts should be consistent and recorded in the case history and on the Employment Tax Reengineering lead sheets and workpapers.

The group manager will review the investigation file and document concurrence. The examiner will prepare Letter 1120, No Change - Preparer’s Penalty, and mail the original to the preparer as well as include a copy in the case file.

The examiner will complete Form 5809 and email a copy to the RPC. The group will update ERCS to status code "90" and forward the case, closed "NO CHANGE" , to the RPC for review.

The RPC will extract pertinent information from the file, to be retained for not less than one year. The rest of the no-change case file will not be retained by the examiner.

The preparer should be afforded an opportunity to meet with the group manager to resolve the issues. Document the actions taken on Form 4665, Report Transmittal, if the preparer does not agree.

If penalties are proposed in conference with the preparer, the examiner provides the preparer with Form 5816, Report of Tax Return Preparer Penalty Case, and Form 886-A, Explanation of Items. When penalties are based on many different prepared returns, attach a list of client names, SSNs/EINs, and tax periods. Use a separate form for each year/return combination.

If penalties are being proposed via mail, send Letter 1125, Transmittal of Preparer Penalty Report, along with the Form 5816 and Form 886-A. Letter should be issued in ALL circumstances which affords the preparer 30-days to respond. Letter 1125 is, in effect, a 30-day letter and should include Pub 5, Your Appeal Rights and How To Prepare a Protest If You Don't Agree, and Pub 594, The IRS Collection Process.

For agreed cases, the preparer signs Form 5816. Solicit payment from preparer and if the preparer pays, prepare Form 3244-A, Payment Posting Voucher - Examination.

Complete Form 8278, Assessment and Abatement of Miscellaneous Penalties. When more than one penalty under different IRC sections will be assessed against the same preparer for the same period, complete a separate Form 8278 for each penalty.

Prepare Letter 1195 (DO), Acceptance Letter - Agreed Preparer Penalty Case, and a self-addressed envelope. Attach Form 3198, Special Handling Notice for Examination Case Processing, to each penalty case file. Identify the case as a return preparer penalty case in the "Other" section and reference the applicable IRC section.

If the preparer filed a joint income tax return, annotate with either "Assess on Primary SSN" or "Assess on Secondary SSN" in the "Other" section to identify the individual against whom the penalty is to be asserted.

Route the investigation case file to the RPC. Annotate the Form 3198 to indicate that the Letter 1195 (DO) and addressed envelope are enclosed in the file. Complete Form 5809 and include in case file for RPC.

The group clerk will update the return preparer case on ERCS to status code "41" and use Form 3210, Document Transmittal, to mail the case to the RPC. The group clerk will share all penalty case documents through email or conference call with the RPC for review and discussion. After RPC review and concurrence, the examiner will update ERCS to status code "51" and forward the case to Centralized Case Processing (CCP).

The examiner provides the preparer with:

The case then goes into suspense for 30 days, during which time the preparer may agree or protest. If the response is agreed, follow the procedures for an agreed case. If no response is received, follow the procedures for quick assessment at IRM 4.23.17.5.6, Quick Assessment Procedures.

If the preparer submits a pre-assessment protest (written) within 30 days, the investigation file will be reviewed for:

The examiner will prepare the assessment document, Form 8278. When more than one penalty under different IRC sections will be assessed against the same preparer for the same period, complete a separate Form 8278 for each penalty.

Complete Form 5809 and share the case file through email or conference call with the RPC for review. After review and RPC concurrence, the examiner will update ERCS to status code"21" and forward the case to Technical Services to be sent to Appeals via Form 3210.

An unagreed Return Preparer Penalty Case file cannot be submitted to Appeals for pre-assessment consideration unless 365 days remain on the assessment statute of limitations when received in Appeals. Form 872-D, Consent to Extend the Time on Assessment of Tax Return Preparer Penalty, is used to extend the statute in a preparer penalty investigation. Refer to IRM 4.23.17.4.3, Determine Statute.

If the preparer refuses to extend the statute and a preparer penalty is proposed, forward the preparer penalty case to CCP for quick assessment.

Send the preparer Form 5816, Report of Tax Return Preparer Penalty Case, with the bottom part of the report removed along with an explanation of the reason for the quick assessment and a discussion of the preparer’s appeals rights.

Letter 1125, Transmittal of Preparer Penalty Report, is not sent to the preparer.

Forward to the RPC a copy of Form 5816, along with a completed Form 8278 and Form 2859, Request for Quick or Prompt Assessment.

Annotate Form 3198 with "Quick Assessment" on the "Other" line in the "Expedite" section. The investigation file should be forwarded to the RPC when completed.

Upon request, the preparer will be provided the same appeal rights post-assessment as would have been provided if the request for Appeals consideration was received before the assessment.

For additional information on the quick assessment process for return preparers, refer to IRM 20.1.6.21, Statute of Limitations.

Employment Tax examiners address noncompliance of return preparers through proposed preparer penalties and referrals to the RPC. Some common examples of noncompliance that should have penalty considerations and a referral to the Area’s RPC include:

IRM 4.1.10, Planning and Special Programs, Return Preparer Program Coordinator, contains general procedures for conducting a PAC. The following procedures are specific to SB/SE employment tax examiners for making a preparer referral to initiate a PAC:

Source Code (SC) "49" is only to be used for the primary return selected as part of the Program Action Case (PAC) client sample originating from ET-WSD. If multi-year cases are developed in ET-WSD for delivery to the groups, only the primary return should reflect SC "49" . The appropriate related return source code should be used on the related returns (i.e., SC "40" for prior/subsequent and SC "44" for non-filers). In addition, Aging Reason Code "49" should be used on all return preparer program returns including the primary and multiple-year returns.

Other resources: