IRS Provides Statistical Sampling Guidance.

Part III

Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous

26 CFR 601.105: Examination of returns and claims for refund, credit or abatement; determination of correct tax liability. (Also: Part I, § 6001)

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

This revenue procedure provides taxpayers with guidance regarding the use and evaluation of statistical samples and sampling estimates.

SECTION 2. BACKGROUND

The use of statistical sampling is provided in several items of published guidance. See, for example, Rev. Proc. 2011-35, 2011-25 I.R.B. 890 (provides safe harbor methodologies to determine basis in stock acquired in transfer basis transactions); Rev. Proc. 2004-29, 2004-1 C.B. 918 (provides the statistical sampling methodology that a taxpayer may use in establishing the amount of substantiated meal and entertainment expenses that are excepted from the 50% deduction disallowance under section 274(n)(1)); Rev. Proc. 2007-35, 2007-1 C.B. 1349 (addresses when statistical sampling may be used for purposes of section 199 (income attributable to domestic production activities)); Rev. Proc. 2002-55, 2002-2 C.B. 435 (permits external auditors of qualified intermediaries to use statistical sampling); and Rev. Proc. 72-36, 1972-2 C.B. 771 (sets forth statistical sampling guidelines for determining the redemption rate of trading stamps). If statistical sampling is determined to be appropriate under prior published guidance or under this revenue procedure, a taxpayer may use only the statistical sampling procedures set forth in this revenue procedure. Thus, any published guidance in effect prior to the effective date of this revenue procedure that permits statistical sampling is modified and amplified by this revenue procedure.

SECTION 3. SCOPE

When permitted by the Service, taxpayers may use statistical sampling procedures to support items on their income tax returns. The Service will use the criteria set forth in Section 4 of this revenue procedure in determining whether to accept a statistical sampling estimate as adequate substantiation for a return position. Statistical samples that fail to meet these criteria will be rejected.

SECTION 4. APPLICATION

.01 In general. When permitted by the Service, a taxpayer may use statistical sampling in establishing, with respect to its income tax liability, items on its return by following the procedures provided in Appendix A (Sampling Plan Standards), Appendix B (Sampling Documentation Standards) and Appendix C (Technical Formulas) of this revenue procedure.

.02 Evaluation of a probability sample: Two-step method.

(1) Appropriateness. The appropriateness of using a probability sample, to either support or be primary evidence of a tax amount, is a facts and circumstances determination. Factors to be used in determining whether a probability sample is appropriate include, but are not limited to, the following: the time required to analyze large volumes of data; the cost of analyzing data; and the other books and records that may independently exist or have greater probative value. Probability samples generally will not be considered appropriate if evidence is readily available from another source that can be demonstrated to provide a more accurate answer, or if the use of sampling does not conform to applicable financial accounting standards (e.g., Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)).

(2) Validity of the final estimate. Second, taxpayers must determine whether the final estimate represents a valid estimate. In general, a final estimate will be considered valid (without regard to audit adjustment(s)) provided that all of the following conditions are met.

(a) Documentation. Taxpayers must maintain all of the proper documentation to support the statistical application, sample unit findings, and all aspects of the sample plan. Proper supportive documentation generally includes all of the information contained in Appendix A and Appendix B of this revenue procedure.

(b) Known chance of selection. The estimate must be based on a probability (i.e., statistical) sample, in which each sampling unit in the population has a known (non-zero) chance of selection, using either a simple random sampling method or stratified random sampling method.

(c) Taxpayer uses the least advantageous 95% one-sided confidence limit. The estimate must be computed at the least advantageous 95% one-sided confidence limit. The "least advantageous" confidence limit is either the upper or lower limit that results in the least benefit to the taxpayer. If the relative precision for a sampling plan, as described in section 4.03(4) of this revenue procedure, does not exceed 10%, the point estimate may be used in place of the least advantageous 95% one-sided confidence limit. When the relative precision is less than 15% and greater than 10%, the estimate will be computed as an amount between the least advantageous 95% one-sided confidence limit and the point estimate determined as follows:

To be accepted by the Service as a method to estimate population values from the sample data, taxpayers who choose to use methods (iii) or (iv) described above must first demonstrate that the statistical bias inherent in those methods is negligible. See section 4.03(3) of this revenue procedure. The formulas for these estimators are provided in Appendix C and assume sampling without replacement. Attribute estimators permitted include (combined) proportion or total count.

.03 Variable Sampling Plans.

(1) Use estimate with smallest overall standard of error. Of all the final estimates determined as qualifying, the estimate with the smallest overall standard of error, as an absolute value, will generally be used (i.e., the size of the estimate is irrelevant in the determination of the value to be reported). Situations may exist when only a single estimator may be appropriate for the plan objective. In those specialized situations, the relevant estimator may be evaluated without consideration of other methods.

(2) Calculation of confidence limits. Confidence limits are calculated by adding and subtracting the precision of the estimate from the point estimate when precision is determined by multiplying the standard error by (i) the 95% one-sided confidence coefficient based on the Student's t-distribution with the appropriate degrees of freedom, or (ii) 1.645 (i.e., the normal distribution), assuming the sample size is at least 100 in each non-100% stratum.

(3) Demonstration of statistical bias. For either the (combined) Ratio or Regression methods (as described in section 4.02(2)(c)), in order to demonstrate that little statistical bias exists, the following applies after excluding all strata tested on a 100% basis (i.e., the entire population of a stratum is selected for evaluation): (i) the total sample size of all strata must be at least 100 units; (ii) each stratum for which a population estimate is made should contain at least 30 sample units; (iii) the coefficient of variation of the paired variable must be 15% or less; (iv) the coefficient of variation of the primary variable of interest, represented by either the corrected value or the difference between the reported and corrected values in common accounting situations, must be 15% or less; and (v) for only the (combined) Ratio method, the reported values of the units must be of the same sign. Definitional formulas for the paired variable (described in (iii) above), and the corrected value and the difference between the reported and corrected values (each described in (iv) above) are provided in Appendix C (Technical Formulas).

(4) Calculating the relative precision for each estimator. The relative precision for each estimator is commonly calculated by dividing the precision at the 95% one-sided confidence limit (sometimes referred to as sampling error) of the estimate by the estimator. When an estimate may be calculated using either a corrected value or difference perspective, as in the case of Ratio and Regression methods, or solely a corrected value perspective as in the case of a Mean method, the test will be applied on the basis of a difference perspective. In these cases the numerator of the calculation is the sampling error of the adjustment and the denominator the point estimate of the adjustment.

(5) Specialized situations. For specialized situations, the 10% test that applies to the particular sampling objective must be appropriate for the plan, and adjusted accordingly to reflect an acceptable level of precision. Additional modifications may be necessary for other unique types of sampling plans.

(6) Exclusion of certain items for purposes of the 10% relative precision test. For the purpose of the 10% relative precision test, any stratum, when the sampling units or the process of evaluating the sampling units are different from those in other strata, must be excluded in calculating the relative precision.

.04 Attribute Sampling Plans

(1) Determining confidence limits. When using simple random samples, the confidence limits are determined using the Hypergeometric, Poisson, or Binomial distribution. If the proportion being estimated is between 30% and 70%, then the normal distribution approximation may be used in lieu of one of the above distributions. For stratified random samples, when at least two strata are sampled (i.e., not 100% samples), the confidence limits must be determined using the normal distribution approximation. If stratified random samples are not used, then confidence limits will be determined using the Hypergeometric, Poisson, or Binomial distribution.

(2) Calculating the relative precision. For the normal distribution approximation, the precision is calculated by multiplying the standard error by (i) the 95% one-sided confidence coefficient based on the Student's t-distribution with the appropriate degrees of freedom, or (ii) 1.645 (i.e., the normal distribution), assuming the sample size is at least 100 in each non-100% stratum.

(3) Point estimate. One of the following two tests must be achieved for the use of the point estimate from an attribute sampling plan. A relative precision of 10% or less must be achieved on the point estimate (i.e., the estimated proportion, p) and on its complement (i.e., 1 - p). A simple random sample size of at least 300 must be used to determine the point estimate, when the sample size of 300 excludes dummy and null sampling units.

.05 Limitations.

(1) The Service's allowance of a taxpayer's estimate does not correspondingly require acceptance by the Service of the taxpayer's use of an estimate for the determination of associated adjustments, allocation, or subdivision of the findings for other purposes.

(2) This revenue procedure only addresses the statistical requirements that must be met for a probability sample to meet preliminary acceptance. It is not intended to further require acceptance of individual sample unit determinations. Valuation or attribute determinations remain subject to independent verification along with other non-statistical issues such as missing sampling items. Likewise, the statistical procedures followed may be examined and adjusted if the procedures are found to be in error. Any fatal error in statistical methodology that renders the probability sample invalid will preclude the use of any statistical estimate based on the sample and will only allow for consideration of the sample findings on an actual basis. When a probability sample is determined to be not appropriate and is raised as an issue, the examining agent may pursue a more accurate determination or allow the findings of units examined on an actual basis. The computational validity of the estimator should still be considered and addressed along with other alternative issues in un-agreed cases.

(3) This revenue procedure does not preclude the Service from raising or pursuing any income, employment, or other tax issues identified in the review of a statistical sample.

(4) It is recognized that existing industry practices and specific taxpayers may be using techniques that are not covered by this revenue procedure. If a taxpayer employed a probability sample or method not covered by this revenue procedure, then the estimate may be referred to a Statistical Sampling Coordinator for resolution or issue development.

(5) This revenue procedure does not relieve taxpayers of their responsibility to maintain any documentation required by section 6001, other sections, or subsections that have specific documentation requirements for the entire population. Issues regarding documentation or support may be raised as appropriate.

(6) This revenue procedure does not supersede any specific rules for substantiation, such as those under section 274(d).

SECTION 5. EFFECT ON OTHER DOCUMENTS

This revenue procedure modifies and amplifies Rev. Proc. 2007-35, Rev. Proc. 2004-29, Rev. Proc. 2002-55, and Rev. Proc. 72-36.

SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE

This revenue procedure is effective for taxable years ending on or after August 19, 2011. With respect to the use of statistical sampling by a taxpayer for a taxable year ending before August 19, 2011, for which the applicable period of limitations has not expired, the Service will permit, but will not require, application of this revenue procedure.

SECTION 7. PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

The collection of information contained in this revenue procedure has been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3507) under control number 1545-0123.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a valid OMB control number.

The collection of information in this revenue procedure is in Appendix B. This information is required to ensure compliance with the statistical sampling methodology contained in this revenue procedure. The information will be used to evaluate compliance with the procedures described in this revenue procedure. The collection of information is mandatory. The likely recordkeepers are businesses or other for-profit institutions.

The estimated total annual recordkeeping burden is 2400 hours. The estimated annual burden per recordkeeper is 8 hours. The estimated number of recordkeepers is 300.

Books or records relating to a collection of information must be retained as long as their contents may be material in the administration of any internal revenue law. Generally tax returns and tax return information are confidential, as required by section 6103.

DRAFTING INFORMATION

The principal author of this revenue procedure is Amanda F. Dunlap of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure & Administration). For further information regarding this revenue procedure, contact Amanda F. Dunlap at (202) 622-4910 (not a toll free call). For further information regarding Appendices A, B or C, or any substantive statistical sampling questions, contact Gerald Goguen of the Large Business and International Division at (415) 837-6510, or Michael J. Curley of the Large Business and International Division at (630) 699-6020.