Laurence L. and Patricia Jacobs - Page 18




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               Of particular relevance to the instant case is section                 
          301.6404-2T(b)(2), Example (3), Temporary Proced. & Admin. Regs.,           
          supra, which provides the following:                                        
               A taxpayer invested in a tax shelter and reported a loss               
               from the tax shelter on the taxpayer's income tax return.              
               Internal Revenue Service personnel conducted an extensive              
               examination of the tax shelter, and the processing of the              
               taxpayer's case was delayed during such examination.                   
               Because the period of limitations on assessment was about to           
               expire, the taxpayer executed a consent to extend the period           
               of limitations.  The time required to process the taxpayer's           
               case was not a result of a delay in performing a ministerial           
               act; consequently, interest attributable to this period                
               cannot be abated * * *.                                                
          Example 3 was neither incorporated into the final regulations nor           
          cited by respondent in the instant case, although it appears to             
          be applicable to the instant case.10                                        
               TLP's tax matters partner and its attorney executed a Form             
          872-O extending the period of limitations indefinitely.  Although           
          the Form 872-O was never revoked or terminated for the duration             
          of the examination, review, and appeal of the TLP case, we do not           
          interpret Example 3 so broadly as to conclude that the parties'             
          extension of the period of limitations means that respondent                
          could not commit an error or delay in performing a ministerial              
          act during that period.  We conclude that, even where an                    
          extension of the period of limitations is granted, there may be             
          instances where an error or delay by an officer or employee of              
          the IRS in performing a ministerial act may present a                       

          10   See supra note 9.                                                      





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