A one-party agreement may not support a TEFRA refund
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This page covers legal advice the IRS Office of Chief Counsel wrote for IRS staff, issued in 2009, which can't be cited as precedent. Ask about your situation and see what the current Code and IRS guidance say, with citations.
Plain-English summary
Counsel advised that there was no agreement to refund an overassessment if the IRS did not cosign the agreement. An agreement signed by only one party would also likely not be a valid administrative adjustment request under the cited precedent, Samuelli v. Commissioner. Counsel stated that the informal claim doctrine available for non-TEFRA refunds does not apply, so the taxpayer might not be entitled to a refund and the mitigation issue appeared moot.
Ruling snapshot
- Question: Can a taxpayer obtain a TEFRA refund based on an agreement signed by only one party?
- Outcome: Advice given
- Key authorities: IRC § 6227; Samuelli v. Commissioner
Full text (IRS public release)
ID: CCA_2009091815414337 Number: 200945059
Release Date: 11/6/2009
Office: ----------
UILC: 6227.05-00
From: -------------------
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 3:41:49 PM
To: --------------------
Cc: -----------
Subject: RE: Barred Overassessment?
There is no agreement for a refund if we did not cosign the agreement. The agreement signed by only one party would also not likely constitute a valid AAR under Samuelli v. Commissioner. Under that precedent there is no informal claim doctrine as there is for non-TEFRA refunds. So taxpayer may not be entitled a refund. As a consequence, the mitigation issue appears moot.
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