IRS Expands & Makes Industry Issue
Resolution Program Permanent

WASHINGTON - The Industry Issue Resolution Program, a pilot program aimed at resolving contentious tax issues involving business, is being made permanent, IRS officials announced today.

The program, which tackles industry-wide tax issues submitted by taxpayers, associations and other business groups representing large- and mid-sized companies, is also being expanded to accept tax issues raised by small businesses and the self-employed.

“This program moves the IRS and business taxpayers away from the case-by-case disputes towards solutions that will assist broad groups of business in meeting their tax obligations,´´ said IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti.

During an Industry Issue Resolution (IIR) pilot program this past year, the Large and Mid-Size Business Division solicited and selected issues from business taxpayers. Based on these submissions, the IRS provided tax guidance on such matters as the use of demonstration vehicles by auto dealership employees, the bad debt conformity election for banks and the depreciation of certain golf course land improvements.

The objective of the IIR program is to issue guidance for frequently disputed or burdensome issues. The benefit is that taxpayers can then rely on that guidance, and both taxpayers and the IRS will save the time and expense that would otherwise be expended in resolving the issues in tax examinations.

Submissions must be received by April 30, 2002 to be considered for the IIR program this year. Issues that are selected for the program will be assigned to IRS and Treasury teams that will meet with business groups representing taxpayers affected by the issues.

Notice 2002-20 provides additional information on the IIR program, including how to submit issues for IIR consideration, and is available on the IRS web site at www.irs.gov.

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