4.70.3. Promoter Investigations

(1) Purpose: This IRM provides guidance to Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) employees pursuing investigations of promoters. It contains procedures for TE/GE coordination with other Business Operating Divisions (BOD). It contains procedures unique to TE/GE for processing Promoter Investigations.

(2) Audience: This section provides guidance primarily for Tax Exempt and Governmental Entities (TE/GE) employees and may provide guidance to Small Business/Self-Employer (SB/SE) and Large Business and International (LB&I) examiners.

(3) Policy Owner: Tax Exempt and Government Entities

(4) Program Owner: Tax Exempt and Government Entities

(5) Contact Information: To recommend changes or make any other suggestions related to this IRM section, see IRM 1.11.6.5, Providing Feedback About and IRM Section - Outside of Clearance.

(6) Acronyms: The following provides a list of acronyms and their definitions:

(1) This IRM offers guidance to TE/GE Compliance employees pursuing promoter investigations and is intended to complement IRM 4.32, Abusive Transactions.

(2) IRS is committed to stopping the widespread use of abusive transactions that erode the voluntary tax compliance system and result in substantial tax revenue losses. As a partner in these efforts, TE/GE participates in pursuing investigation of promoters of these abusive transactions. These investigations are designated as priority work. The IRS combats AT promotions by:

1. Seeking timely injunctions.

2. Asserting civil penalties against promoters.

3. Providing published guidance.

4. Conducting various client compliance actions.

5. Criminally prosecuting promoters or clients.

(3) The term "promoter" as used throughout this IRM chapter unless specifically noted, includes promoters, material advisors as defined under IRC 6111, and tax return preparers.

(4) The term "client" as used in this IRM chapter includes all persons who participated in a promotion, purchased a product or service from a promoter, had an interest in a promotion, or received any material aid, assistance, or advice with respect to the promotion. Client includes investors and advisees. Client also includes all persons who paid to have a tax return or tax form prepared or sought tax advice from any individual or firm offering such service or services. See IRM 4.32.2.2(3).

(5) Abusive promotions are defined and discussed in IRM 4.32.2.3.

(1) The corporate approach is a strategy that supports TE/GE coordination with:

• SB/SE

• SB/SE Lead Development Center (LDC)

• Large Business and International (LB&I)

• Office of Tax Shelter Analysis (OTSA)

• Office of Promoter Investigations (OPI)

(2) The corporate approach enables TE/GE to deter and stop promoter schemes involving tax-exempt entities. This approach:

1. Designates oversight, roles and responsibilities within management, and develops a uniform strategic approach to conduct and/or facilitate effective promoter investigations.

2. Develops and carries out a practical screening process to determine potential promoter investigations. The process includes coordinating with SB/SE, LDC, OTSA and OPI in continually reviewing leads and referrals to identify and address promotions that involve entities and/or transactions.

3. Identifies and assigns needed resources (agents and support staff) for TE/GE to take the lead in applicable promoter investigations and/or provide needed support to SB/SE and other functions.

(3) Managing at the corporate level involves:

1. Developing a TE/GE cadre of agents to help with or lead a promoter investigation.

2. Coordinating with management to ensure cadre availability.

(1) Promoter investigations led by TE/GE agents or support examinations will be assigned to a trained member of its Cadre whenever possible.

(2) The TE/GE Fraud Specialist will contact TE/GE Counsel for the assignment of a TE/GE Division Counsel attorney to assist with the promoter investigation.

(1) If TE/GE is the lead operating division, the TE/GE Fraud Specialist will provide the LDC with the names of the TE/GE Lead Agent and TE/GE Division Counsel employee within 30 days of receiving the case file.

(2) If TE/GE needs SB/SE help (legal, technical, revenue agent, or other), the TE/GE Fraud Specialist will contact the LDC who coordinates with the appropriate Abusive Transactions (AT) Territory Manager to provide SB/SE assistance.

(3) The TE/GE Fraud Specialist :

1. Provides the TE/GE Lead Agent with SB/SE points of contact for their support role in TE/GE-led promoter investigations.

2. Communicates at least quarterly with the TE/GE Lead agent to ensure communication with SB/SE and Counsel during this part of the process.

(4) The TE/GE Lead Agent develops an action plan for each promoter investigation.

(5) A team approach is used to conduct promoter investigations and complete exams.

(1) It is important for the TE/GE Lead Agent to contact SB/SE as early in the process as possible to avoid case processing delays when there are client examinations under SB/SE jurisdiction.

1. If an SB/SE agent is needed to help with client exams, (i.e., taxable returns must be reviewed to resolve a case), the TE/GE Lead Agent will prepare a Form 6229, Collateral Examination, request for a collateral agent or a request for the release of jurisdiction for the appropriate income tax return.

2. If SB/SE is unable to begin the client exams within 30 days, TE/GE may request SB/SE to release its jurisdiction over the clients.

   Note: This rule doesn’t apply to discrepancy adjustments because they aren’t considered exams.

(2) The Form 6229 is emailed to the TE/GE Fraud Specialist, who will coordinate with SB/SE Planning and Special Programs (PSP) Territory Manager to secure SB/SE examination support, if possible.

(3) If SB/SE is unable to assist, the TE/GE Fraud Specialist will follow up with SB/SE about releasing jurisdiction of the return, if warranted. Caution: Examinations of returns outside TE/GE jurisdiction will not be opened unless SB/SE (or other BOD) has provided a written release of jurisdiction.

(1) If SB/SE is the lead operating division, the LDC will notify the TE/GE Fraud Specialist of the assigned SB/SE revenue agent and SB/SE Counsel Attorney.

1. After TE/GE agrees to provide support for promoter investigations involving a TE/GE entity or taxpayer, the TE/GE Fraud Specialist will facilitate the assignment of the examination to a Cadre agent.

2. SB/SB Counsel will contact TE/GE Division Counsel if additional legal support is needed.

(1) The TE/GE Fraud Specialist is the TE/GE liaison with the LDC.

(2) The TE/GE Fraud Specialist will ensure that SB/SE notifies TE/GE of SB/SE points of contact.

(3) The TE/GE Fraud Specialist will regularly communicate with the assigned TE/GE agent(s) to ensure TE/GE continually coordinates and develops the case with SB/SE and Counsel.

(4) The TE/GE Fraud Specialist:

1. Communicates with the LDC and appropriate SB/SE management to ensure they include the TE/GE agent(s) and manager(s) in their workplan development meeting with SB/SE employees and Counsel.

2. Includes the assigned TE/GE agent and group manager when coordinating assignments for supporting TE/GE client examinations to ensure the exams are done timely.

(5) A team approach to conduct promoter investigations and complete supporting client exams is essential.

(1) It’s critical to the success of any promoter investigation to address non-compliance by clients in abusive promotions and to show "harm" to the government because of the promotion.

(2) Occasionally, TE/GE may need to examine clients’ tax returns in promoter investigations to substantiate harm to the government. See IRM 4.32.2.13, Post-Injunction Activities and IRM 4.32.2.14, Client/Investor/Advisee Lists for compliance actions that IRS may take on clients. TE/GE may develop other compliance actions for TE/GE taxpayers.

(3) It is important for the TE/GE Lead Agent secure the promoter client list as early as possible in the investigation to allow time for case building and classification. Once the client list is secured, it will be sent to the TE/GE Fraud Specialist, who will share it with CP&C, C&CA to initiate the selection of client examinations.

(4) If the case involves SB/SE taxpayers, the TE/GE Fraud Specialist will:

1. Share the list with the AT List Keeper within 30 days of receipt.

2. Coordinate the appropriate case building requirements with stakeholders in the appropriate operating divisions with the SB/SE ATAT List Keeper. See IRM 4.32.2.14, Client/Investor/ Advisee Lists for procedures to submit a list.

(5) For cases that involve individual client noncompliance, the TE/GE Fraud Specialist will coordinate a compliance strategy with the appropriate functions in TE/GE and the other affected BODs.

(1) The TE/GE Fraud Specialist ensures that case controls are established when the LDC sends an authorized investigation to the TE/GE Lead Agent.

1. IRC 6700, IRC 6701, IRC 6707 and IRC 6708 penalty investigations are controlled on TE/GE computer systems.

2. Controls are established only for the most current fully completed calendar year.

(2) Web-Based Employee Technical Time System (WebETS) is used to track promoter investigation time charges. Time applied to identification and submission of sub-promoter leads to the LDC be charged to the key case.

(3) Client examinations worked by TE/GE are controlled like other TE/GE examination cases.

(4) The LDC requires the business units to provide status updates every two months for all promoter investigations. The TE/GE Fraud Specialist must complete the reports and submit them to the LDC. Examiners assigned to these investigations provide the information for the reports.

(5) The TE/GE agent must contact the TE/GE Fraud Specialist for case closing procedures.