Awards for Information Relating To Detecting Underpayments of Tax or Violations of the Internal Revenue Laws; Hearing

AGENCY:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice of public hearing on notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

This document provides a notice of public hearing on proposed regulations that provide comprehensive guidance for the award program authorized under Internal Revenue Code section 7623, as amended. The regulations provide guidance on submitting information regarding underpayments of tax or violations of the internal revenue laws and filing claims for award, as well as on the administrative proceedings applicable to claims for award under section 7623. The regulations also provide guidance on the determination and payment of awards, and provide definitions of key terms used in section 7623. Finally, the regulations confirm that the Director, officers, and employees of the Whistleblower Office are authorized to disclose return information to the extent necessary to conduct whistleblower administrative proceedings.

DATES:

The public hearing is being held on Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. The IRS must receive outlines of the topics to be discussed at the public hearing by Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

The public hearing is being held in the IRS Auditorium, Internal Revenue Service Building, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224. Due to building security procedures, visitors must enter at the Constitution Avenue entrance. In addition, all visitors must present photo identification to enter the building.

Send Submissions to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-141066-09), room 5205, Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044. Submissions may be hand-delivered Monday through Friday to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-141066-09), Couriers Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224 or sent electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov (REG-141066-09).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Concerning the proposed regulations, Melissa Jarboe at (202) 622-3620; concerning submissions of comments, the hearing and/or to be placed on the building access list to attend the hearing Oluwafunmilayo Taylor at (202) 622-7180 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The subject of the public hearing is the notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-141066-09) that was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 (77 FR 74798).

The rules of 26 CFR 601.601(a)(3) apply to the hearing. Persons who wish to present oral comments at the hearing that submitted written comments by February 19, 2013, must submit an outline of the topics to be addressed and the amount of time to be denoted to each topic by Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

A period of 10 minutes is allotted to each person for presenting oral comments. After the deadline for receiving outlines has passed, the IRS will prepare an agenda containing the schedule of speakers. Copies of the agenda will be made available, free of charge, at the hearing or in the Freedom of Information Reading Room (FOIA RR) (Room 1621) which is located at the 11th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW., entrance, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.

Because of access restrictions, the IRS will not admit visitors beyond the immediate entrance area more than 30 minutes before the hearing starts. For information about having your name placed on the building access list to attend the hearing, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.