Editorial Note on Part 53
Editorial Note: Nomenclature changes to part 53 appear by T.D. ATF-447, 66 FR 19088, Apr. 13, 2001.

§ 53.24 Records. ( a ) *In general* — ( 1 ) *Form of records.* The records required by the regulations in this part shall be kept accurately, but no particular form is required for keeping the records. Such forms and systems of accounting shall be used as will enable appropriate TTB officers to ascertain whether liability for tax is incurred and, if so, the amount thereof.
( 2 ) [Reserved]
( b ) *Copies of returns, schedules, and statements.* Every person who is required, by the regulations in this part or by instructions applicable to any form prescribed thereunder, to keep any copy of any return, schedule, statement, or other document, shall keep such copy as a part of the records.
( c ) *Records of claimants.* Any person who, pursuant to the regulations in this part, claims a refund, credit, or abatement, shall keep a complete and detailed record with respect to the tax, interest, addition to the tax, additional amount, or assessable penalty to which the claim relates. Such record shall include any records required of the claimant by paragraph (b) of this section and subpart L of this part.
( d ) *Place and period for keeping records.* ( 1 ) All records required by this part shall be prepared and kept by the person required to keep them, at one or more convenient and safe locations accessible to appropriate TTB officers, and shall at all times be immediately available for inspection by such officers.
( 2 ) Except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph, every person required by the regulations in this part to keep records in respect of a tax shall maintain such records for at least three years after the due date of such tax for the return period to which the records relate, or the date such tax is paid, whichever is later. The records of claimants required by paragraph (c) of this section shall be maintained for a period of at least three years after the date the claim is filed.
( e ) *Reproduction of original records.* ( 1 ) General books of account, such as cash books, journals, voucher registers, ledgers, etc., shall be maintained and preserved in their original form. However, reproductions of supporting records of details, such as invoices, vouchers, production reports, sales records, certificates, proofs of exportation, etc., may be kept in lieu of the original records. Any process may be used which accurately and timely reproduces the original record, and which forms a durable medium for reproducing and preserving the original record.
( 2 ) *Copies of records treated as original records.* Whenever records are reproduced under this section, the reproduced records shall be preserved in conveniently accessible files, and provisions shall be made for examining, viewing, and using the reproduced records the same as if they were the original record. Such reproduced records shall be treated and considered for all purposes as though they were the original record. All provisions of law and regulations applicable to the original record are applicable to the reproduced record.
[T.D. ATF-365, 60 FR 33670, June 28, 1995, as amended by T.D. ATF-447, 66 FR 19088, Apr. 13, 2001]