******SUMMARY OF THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENTON H.R. 2676, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICERESTRUCTURING AND REFORM ACT OF 1998******

**Prepared by the Staff**

**of the**

**JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION**

**June 24, 1998**

**JCX-50-98R**

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**CONTENTS**

**INTRODUCTION**

**SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT ON H.R. 2676**

TITLE I. REORGANIZATION OF STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE IRS	

	A.	IRS Restructuring and Creation of IRS Oversight Board	

		1.	IRS restructuring and mission	

		2.	Establishment and duties of IRS Oversight Board	

	B.	Appointment and Duties of IRS Commissioner and Chief Counsel and Other Personnel	

		1.	IRS Commissioner and other personnel	

		2.	IRS Chief Counsel	

	C.	Structure and Funding of the Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations 	Division ("EP/EO")	

	D.	Taxpayer Advocate and Taxpayer Assistance Orders	

	E.	Treasury Office of Inspector General; IRS Office of the Chief Inspector	

	F.	Prohibition on Executive Branch Influence Over Taxpayer Audits	

	G.	IRS Personnel Flexibilities	

TITLE II.  ELECTRONIC FILING	

	A.	Electronic Filing of Tax and Information Returns	

	B.	Due Date for Certain Information Returns	

	C.	Paperless Electronic Filing	

	D.	Return-Free Tax System	

	E.	Access to Account Information	

TITLE III.  TAXPAYER PROTECTION AND RIGHTS	

	A.	Burden of Proof	

	B.	Proceedings by Taxpayers	

		1.	Expansion of authority to award costs and certain fees	

		2.	Civil damages for collection actions	

		3.	Increase in size of cases permitted on small case calendar	

		4.	Actions for refund with respect to certain estates which have elected the installment method of payment	

		5.	Review of an adverse IRS determination of a bond issue's tax-exempt status	

		6.	Civil action for release of erroneous lien	

	C.	Relief for Innocent Spouses and for Taxpayers Unable to Manage Their	Financial Affairs Due to Disabilities	

		1.	Relief for innocent spouses	

		2.	Suspension of statute of limitations on filing refund claims during periods of disability	

	D.	Provisions Relating to Interest and Penalties	

		1.	Elimination of interest differential on overlapping periods of interest on	income tax overpayments and underpayments

		2.	Increase in overpayment rate payable to taxpayers other than		corporations	

		3.	Mitigation of penalty for individual's failure to pay during period of installment agreement	

		4.	Mitigation of failure to deposit penalty	

		5.	Suspension of interest and certain penalties if Secretary fails to	contact individual taxpayer	

		6.	Procedural requirements for imposition of penalties and additions to tax		

		7.	Personal delivery of notice of penalty under section 6672	

		8.	Notice of interest charges	

		9.	Abatement of interest on underpayments by taxpayers in Presidentially	declared disaster areas	

	E.	Protections for Taxpayers Subject to Audit or Collection Activities	

		1.	Due process in IRS collection actions	

		2.	Examination activities	

			a.	Uniform application of confidentiality privilege to taxpayer				communications with federally authorized practitioners	

			b.	Limitation on financial status audit techniques	

			c.	Software trade secrets protection	

			d.	Threat of audit prohibited to coerce tip reporting alternative	commitment agreements	

			e.	Taxpayers allowed motion to quash all third-party summonses

			f.	Service of summonses to third-party recordkeepers permitted 			by mail	

			g.	Notice of IRS contact of third parties	

		3.	Collection activities	

			a.	Approval process for liens, levies, and seizures	

			b.	Modifications to certain levy exemption amounts	

c.	Release of levy upon agreement that amount is uncollectible	

			d.	Levy prohibited during pendency of refund proceedings	

			e.	Approval required for jeopardy and termination assessments 			and jeopardy levies	

			f.	Increase in amount of certain property on which lien not			valid	

			g.	Waiver of early withdrawal tax for IRS levies on employer-sponsored retirement plans or IRAs	

			h.	Prohibition of sales of seized property at less than minimum			bid	

			i.	Accounting of sales of seized property	

			j.	Uniform asset disposal mechanism	

			k.	Codification of IRS administrative procedures for seizure of				taxpayer's property	

			l.	Procedures for seizure of residences and businesses	

		4 .	Provisions relating to examination and collection activities	

			a.	Procedures relating to extensions of statute of limitations by agreement	

			b.	Offers-in-compromise	

			c.	Notice of deficiency to specify deadlines for filing Tax Court petition	

			d.	Refund or credit of overpayments before final determination	

			e.	IRS procedures relating to appeal of examinations and collections	

			f.	Application of certain fair debt collection practices	

			g.	Guaranteed availability of installment agreements	

			h.	Prohibition on requests to taxpayers to waive rights to bring 	actions	

	F.	Disclosures to Taxpayers	

		1.	Explanation of joint and several liability	

		2.	Explanation of taxpayers' rights in interviews with the IRS	

		3.	Disclosure of criteria for examination selection

		4.	Explanation of the appeals and collection process	

		5.	Explanation of reason for refund disallowance	

		6.	Statements to taxpayers with installment agreements	

		7.	Notification of change in tax matters partner	

		8.	Conditions under which taxpayers' returns may be disclosed	

		9.	Disclosure of Chief Counsel advice	

	G.	Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics		

	H.	Other Provisions		

		1.	Cataloging complaints	

		2.	Archive of records of Internal Revenue Service	

		3.	Payment of taxes	

		4.	Clarification of authority of Secretary relating to the making of 		elections	

		5.	IRS employee contacts	

		6.	Use of pseudonyms by IRS employees	

		7.	Illegal tax protestor designations	

		8.	Provision of confidential information to Congress by whistleblowers	

			9.	Listing of local IRS telephone numbers and addresses	

		10.	Identification of return preparers	

		11.	Offset of past-due, legally enforceable State income tax obligations against overpayments	

		12.	Reporting requirements relating to education tax credits	

	I.	Studies		

		1.	Administration of penalties and interest	

		2.	Confidentiality of tax return information	

		3.	Noncompliance with internal revenue laws by taxpayers	

		4.	Payments for informants	

TITLE IV.  CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE IRS	

	A.	Review of Requests for GAO Investigations of the IRS	

	B.	Joint Congressional Review and Coordinated Oversight Reports	

	C.	Budget Matters	 

	D.	Tax Law Complexity Analysis	

TITLE V.  ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS	

	A.	Elimination of 18-Month Holding Period for Capital Gains	

	B.	Deductibility of Meals Provided for the Convenience of the Employer	

	C.	Normal Trade Relations	

TITLE VI.  TAX TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS	

TITLE VII.  REVENUE OFFSETS	

	A.	Employer Deductions for Vacation and Severance Pay	

	B.	Freeze Grandfathered Status of Stapled REITs	

	C.	Make Certain Trade Receivables Ineligible for Mark-to-Market Treatment	 

	D.  Exclusion of Minimum Required Distributions from AGI for Roth IRA Conversions	

TITLE VIII.  LIMITED TAX BENEFITS UNDER THE LINE ITEM VETO ACT	

TITLE IX.  CORRECTIONS TO THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY	

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**INTRODUCTION**

	This document,(1) prepared by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, provides asummary of the provisions of the conference agreement on H.R. 2676, the "Internal RevenueService Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998."  This summary is prepared for the convenienceof the Members and the public.  The official legislative history of the conference agreement is theconference report on H.R. 2676.

	H.R. 2676 was passed by the House, as amended, on November 5, 1997,(2) and was passed bythe Senate, as amended, on May 7, 1998.(3)

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**SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE CONFERENCE AGREEMENT ON H.R. 2676**

**TITLE I.  REORGANIZATION OF STRUCTURE**

**AND MANAGEMENT OF THE IRS**

**A.  IRS Restructuring and Creation of IRS Oversight Board**

**1.	IRS mission and restructuring**

	The bill directs the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") to revise its mission statement toprovide greater emphasis on serving the public and meeting the needs of taxpayers.  The billdirects the Commissioner of Internal Revenue ("Commissioner") to restructure the IRS byeliminating or substantially modifying the present-law three-tier geographic structure andreplacing it with an organizational structure that features operating units serving particular groupsof taxpayers with similar needs.

**2.	Establishment and duties of IRS Oversight Board**

	The bill provides for the establishment within the Treasury Department of the InternalRevenue Service Oversight Board (the "Board").  The general responsibilities of the Board are tooversee the IRS in its administration, management, conduct, direction, and supervision of theexecution and application of the internal revenue laws.  The Board also has the authority torecommend candidates for Commissioner to the President, and to recommend removal of theCommissioner.   The Board has no authority to intervene in (1) specific taxpayer cases, includingcompliance activities involving specific taxpayers such as criminal investigations, examinations,and collection activities, (2) specific individual personnel matters, or (3) specific procurementmatters.   The Board has authority to oversee general law enforcement matters, and it has theresponsibility to ensure that the organization and operation of the IRS allows the IRS to carry outits mission.

	The Oversight Board is composed of 9 members.  Six of the members are so-called "private-life" members who are not otherwise Federal officers or employees.  The other members are: (1)the Secretary of the Treasury (or, if the Secretary so designates, the Deputy Secretary); (2) theCommissioner; and (3) an individual who is a full-time Federal employee or a representative ofemployees ("employee representative").  The private-life members of the Board and theemployee representative are appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of theSenate.  Under the bill, the private-life members of the Board will be appointed without regard topolitical affiliation, based solely on their expertise in the following areas:  management of largeservice organizations; customer service; the Federal tax laws, including tax administration andcompliance; information technology; organization development; the needs and concerns oftaxpayers; and the needs and concerns of small business.

	Under the bill, Board members would have limited access to confidential tax return andreturn information under section 6103.  This limited access would permit the Board to receivesection 6103 information from the newly established Treasury Inspector General for TaxAdministration or the Commissioner in connection with reports to the Board.  This access tosection 6103 information does not include the taxpayer's name, address, or taxpayer or employeridentification number.  Board members are subject to the anti-browsing rules applicable to IRSemployees under present law.(4)  In addition, the private-life members and the employeerepresentative will be subject to a number of ethics rules pertaining to representational activitiesand compensation matters, post-employment restrictions, and financial disclosure requirements. The President is granted the authority to waive the ethics rules for the employee representativeunder certain circumstances.

	The six private-life Board members will be appointed for five-year terms.  The private-lifemembers (including the employee representative) may serve no more than two five-year terms. Board member terms will be staggered, as a result of a special rule providing that some private-life members first appointed to the Board would serve initial terms of less than five years.  Underthis rule, the staggered term of the initial Board shall be as follows: two members first appointedwill have a term of three years; two members shall have a term of four years; and two membersshall have a term of five years. The terms of the initial Board members will run from the date ofappointment.  Subsequent terms will run from expiration of the previous term.  A Board memberappointed to fill a vacancy before the expiration of a term will be appointed to the remainder ofthe term.  Such a member could be appointed to a subsequent five-year term.

	The members of the Board are to elect a Chair from the private-life members for a two-yearterm.   Except as otherwise provided by a majority of the Board, the authority of the Chairincludes the authority to hire appropriate staff, call meetings, establish committees, establish theagenda for meetings, and develop rules for the conduct of business.

	The Board is required to meet on a regular basis (as determined necessary by the Chair), butno less frequently than quarterly.  The Board can meet privately, and is not subject to publicdisclosure laws.  A quorum of five members is required in order for the Board to conductbusiness.  Actions of the Board can be taken by a majority vote of those members present andvoting.

	The provisions relating to the Board are effective on the date of enactment.  The President isdirected to submit nominations for Board members to the Senate within six months of the date ofenactment.  The bill provides that the provisions relating to the Board are not to be construed toinvalidate the actions and authority of the IRS prior to the appointment of members of the Board. 

**B.  Appointment and Duties of IRS Commissioner and Chief Counsel and Other Personnel**

**1.	IRS Commissioner and other personnel**

	As under present law, the bill provides that the Commissioner is appointed by the President,with the advice and consent of the Senate, and may be removed at will by the President.  Underthe bill, one of the qualifications of the Commissioner is demonstrated ability in management. The Commissioner is appointed to a five-year term, beginning with the date of appointment.  TheCommissioner may be reappointed for more than one five-year term.  The Board recommendscandidates to the President for the position of Commissioner; however, the President is not required to nominate for Commissioner a candidate recommended by the Board.  The Board hasthe authority to recommend the removal of the Commissioner.

**2.	IRS Chief Counsel**

	Under the bill, the IRS Chief Counsel would no longer be an Assistant General Counsel ofthe Treasury and would generally report to the IRS Commissioner, with two exceptions.  First,the Chief Counsel would report to both the Commissioner and the Treasury General Counselwith respect to (1) legal advice or interpretation of the tax law not relating solely to tax policyand (2) tax litigation.  Second, the Chief Counsel would report only to the Treasury GeneralCounsel with respect to legal advice or interpretation of the tax law relating solely to tax policy.

**C.  Structure and Funding of the Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations Division("EP/EO")**

	To facilitate the reorganization of the IRS into operational units, the bill eliminates thepresent-law statutory requirement contained in section 7802(b) of the Code that there be an"Office of Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations" under the supervision and direction of anAssistant Commissioner.  In addition, the bill repeals the funding mechanism for EP/EO set forthin section 7802(b).  These provisions are effective on the date of enactment of the bill.

**D.  Taxpayer Advocate and Taxpayer Assistance Orders**
	The bill renames the IRS Taxpayer Advocate as the "National Taxpayer Advocate."  TheNational Taxpayer Advocate is appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation withthe Commissioner and the IRS Oversight Board.  The individual appointed to be the NationalTaxpayer Advocate cannot have been an officer or employee of the IRS (other than in the Officeof the Taxpayer Advocate) during the two-year period ending with such individual'sappointment, and must agree not to accept employment with the IRS (other than in the Office ofthe Taxpayer Advocate) for at least five years after ceasing to be the National TaxpayerAdvocate.

	The present-law problem resolution system is replaced with a system of local TaxpayerAdvocates who report directly to the National Taxpayer Advocate and who are independent fromthe IRS examination, collection, and appeals functions.

	The bill expands the circumstances under which a Taxpayer Assistance Order may be issuedif a taxpayer is suffering from or about to suffer from a significant hardship.

	These provisions generally are effective on the date of enactment.

**E.  Treasury Office of Inspector General; IRS Office of the Chief Inspector**

	Under the bill, a new, independent Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration("Treasury IG for Tax Administration") is established within the Department of Treasury.  TheIRS Office of the Chief Inspector is eliminated, and all of its powers and responsibilities aretransferred to the Treasury IG for Tax Administration, except for employee background checksand protection of employees against physical threats.  The Treasury IG for Tax Administrationhas the powers and responsibilities generally granted to Inspectors General under the IG Act of1978, without the limitations that currently apply to the Treasury IG under section D of that Act. The role of the existing Treasury IG is redefined to exclude responsibility for the IRS.  TheTreasury IG for Tax Administration is under the supervision of the Secretary of Treasury, withcertain additional reporting to the IRS Oversight Board and the Congress.  

	The provision is effective 180 days after the date of enactment.

**F.  Prohibition on Executive Branch Influence Over Taxpayer Audits**

	The bill makes it unlawful for the President, the Vice President, employees of the executiveoffices of the President or Vice President, as well as any individual (other than the AttorneyGeneral) serving in a Cabinet-level position to request that any officer or employee of the IRSconduct or terminate an audit or otherwise investigate or terminate the investigation of anyparticular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of that taxpayer.  This prohibition applies toboth direct and indirect requests.  Anyone convicted of violating this provision will be punishedby imprisonment of not more than 5 years or a fine not exceeding $5,000 (or both).  Thisprovision is effective for violations after the date of enactment.

**G.  IRS Personnel Flexibilities**

	The bill requires the IRS to exercise the personnel flexibilities consistently with existing rulesrelating to merit system principles, prohibited personnel practices, and preference eligibles.  Inthose cases where the exercise of personnel flexibilities would affect members of the employees'union, such employees would not be subject to the exercise of any flexibility unless there is awritten agreement between the IRS and the employees' union.

	The bill addresses issues relating to senior management and technical positions, theestablishment of a performance management system, the granting of awards to IRS employees,staffing flexibilities, and mandatory terminations of employees for certain proven violations.

**TITLE II.  ELECTRONIC FILING**

**A.  Electronic Filing of Tax and Information Returns**

	Under the bill, the policy of the Congress is to promote paperless filing, with a long-rangegoal of providing for the filing of at least 80 percent of all tax returns in electronic form by theyear 2007.

**B.  Due Date for Certain Information Returns**

	The bill provides an incentive to filers of information returns to use electronic filing byextending the due date for filing such returns with the IRS from February 28 (under present law)to March 31 of the year following the calendar year to which the return relates.  The bill alsorequires the Treasury to issue a study evaluating the merits and disadvantages, if any, ofextending the deadline for providing taxpayers with copies of information returns (other thanForms W-2) from January 31 to February 15, which is due by June 30, 1999.

**C.  Paperless Electronic Filing**

	To facilitate the filing of electronic returns, the Secretary is required to develop proceduresthat would eliminate the need to file a paper form relating to signature information.  In addition,the Secretary is to establish procedures, to the extent practicable, to receive all formselectronically for taxable periods beginning after December 31, 1999.  The bill also providesrules for determining when electronic returns are deemed filed and for authorization for returnpreparers to communicate with the IRS on matters included on electronically filed returns.

**D.  Return-Free Tax System**

	The bill requires the Secretary or his delegate to study the feasibility of, and developprocedures for, the implementation of a return-free tax system for appropriate individuals fortaxable years beginning after 2007.

**E.  Access to Account Information**

	Under the bill, the Secretary is required to develop procedures not later than December 31,2006, under which a taxpayer filing returns electronically could review the taxpayer's ownaccount electronically, but only if all necessary privacy safeguards are in place by that date.

**TITLE III.  TAXPAYER PROTECTION AND RIGHTS**

**A.  Burden of Proof**

	The bill provides that the Secretary shall have the burden of proof in any court proceedingwith respect to a factual issue if the taxpayer introduces credible evidence with respect to thefactual issue relevant to ascertaining the taxpayer's tax liability.  Four conditions apply.  First,the taxpayer must comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and theregulations issued thereunder to substantiate any item (as under present law).  Second, thetaxpayer must maintain records required by the Code and regulations (as under present law). Third, the taxpayer must cooperate with reasonable requests by the Secretary for meetings,interviews, witnesses, information, and documents.  Fourth, taxpayers other than individualsmust meet the net worth limitations that apply for awarding attorney's fees.  The provisionapplies to income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.  

	The provision applies to court proceedings arising in connection with examinationscommencing (or taxable periods or events beginning or occurring) after the date of enactment.

**B.  Proceedings by Taxpayers**

**1.	Expansion of authority to award costs and certain fees**

	The bill increases the hourly fee cap on attorneys fees and expands the circumstances underwhich attorneys fees and administrative costs may be awarded to taxpayers, effective for costsincurred and services performed more than 180 days after the date of enactment.

**2.	Civil damages for collection actions**

	The bill permits up to $100,000 in civil damages caused by an officer or employee of the IRSwho negligently disregards provisions of the Code or Treasury regulations in connection with thecollection of Federal tax with respect to the taxpayer.  The bill also permits up to $1 million incivil damages caused by an officer or employee of the IRS who willfully violates provisions ofthe Bankruptcy Code relating to automatic stays or discharges.  These provisions are effective foractions of officers or employees of the IRS occurring after the date of enactment.

**3.	Increase in size of cases permitted on small case calendar**

	The bill increases the cap for small case treatment in the Tax Court from $10,000 to $50,000,effective for proceedings commenced after the date of enactment.

**4.	Actions for refund with respect to certain estates which have elected the installmentmethod of payment**

	The bill grants the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. district courts jurisdiction todetermine the correct amount of estate tax liability (or refund) in actions brought by taxpayersdeferring estate tax payments under section 6166, as long as  certain conditions are met.  The billfurther provides that once a final judgment has been entered by a district court or the U.S. Courtof Federal Claims, the IRS is not permitted to collect any amount disallowed by the court, andany amounts paid by the taxpayer in excess of the amount the court finds to be currently due andpayable are refunded to the taxpayer, with interest.  The provision is effective for claims forrefunds filed after the date of enactment.

**5.	Review of an adverse IRS determination of a bond issue's tax-exempt status**

	The bill directs the Internal Revenue Service to modify its administrative procedures to allowtax-exempt bond issuers examined by the IRS to appeal adverse examination determinations tothe Appeals Division of the IRS as a matter of right.  Such an appeal is to be considered bysenior personnel with experience in tax-exempt bonds issues.  The direction to the IRS iseffective on the date of enactment.

**6.	Civil action for release of erroneous lien**

	The bill establishes an administrative procedure permitting a record owner of propertyagainst which a Federal tax lien has been filed to obtain a certificate of discharge of propertyfrom the lien as a matter of right if such record owner is not the person whose unsatisfied liabilitygave rise to the lien. The record owner is required to apply to the Secretary of the Treasury forsuch a certificate and either to deposit cash or to furnish a bond sufficient to protect the lieninterest of the United States.  The provision is effective on the date of enactment.

**C.  Relief for Innocent Spouses and for Taxpayers Unable to Manage Their Financial Affairs Due to Disabilities**

**1.	Relief for innocent spouses**

	The bill generally makes innocent spouse relief easier to obtain.  The bill eliminates all of theunderstatement thresholds and requires only that the understatement of tax be attributable to anerroneous (and not just a grossly erroneous) item of the other spouse. 

	The bill also provides a separate liability election for a taxpayer who, at the time of theelection, is no longer married to, is legally separated from, or has been living apart for at least 12months from the person with whom the taxpayer originally filed a joint return.  Such taxpayersmay elect to have the liability for any deficiency limited to the portion of the deficiency that isattributable to items allocable to the taxpayer.  The election is not available if the Secretarydemonstrates that assets were transferred between individuals filing a joint return as part of afraudulent scheme of the individuals or if both individuals had actual knowledge of theunderstatement of tax.

	Expanded innocent spouse relief and the separate liability election must be elected no laterthan two years after the date on which the Secretary has begun collection activities with respectto the individual seeking the relief.  The bill provides that the Tax Court has jurisdiction withrespect to disputes about innocent spouse relief.

	The bill further authorizes the Secretary to relieve an individual of liability if relief is notavailable under the expanded innocent spouse rule or the separate liability election, but it wouldbe inequitable to hold the individual liable for any unpaid tax or any deficiency.

	The expanded innocent spouse relief, separate liability election, and authority to provideequitable relief apply to liabilities for tax arising after the date of enactment, as well as anyliability for tax arising on or before the date of enactment that remains unpaid on the date ofenactment. 

**2.	Suspension of statute of limitations on filing refund claims during periods of disability**

	The bill permits equitable tolling of the statute of limitations for refund claims of anindividual taxpayer during any period of the individual's life in which he or she is unable tomanage his or her financial affairs by reason of a medically determinable physical or mentalimpairment that can be expected to result in death or to last for a continuous period of not lessthan 12 months.  Tolling does not apply during periods in which the taxpayer's spouse or anotherperson is authorized to act on the taxpayer's behalf in financial matters.  The provision applies toperiods of disability before, on, or after the date of enactment but does not apply to any claim forrefund or credit which (without regard to the provision) is barred by the statute of limitations asof the date of enactment.

**D.  Provisions Relating to Interest and Penalties**

**1.	Elimination of interest differential on overlapping periods of interest on income tax       overpayments and underpayments**

	The bill establishes a net interest rate of zero when interest is payable and allowable onequivalent amounts of overpayment and underpayment of any taxes imposed by Title 26 (theInternal Revenue Code) that exist for any period.  Each overpayment and underpayment isconsidered only once in determining whether equivalent amounts of overpayment andunderpayment exist. The special rules that increase the interest rate paid on large corporateunderpayments and decrease the interest rate received on corporate underpayments in excess of$10,000 do not prevent the application of the net zero rate.  The provision applies to incometaxes and self-employment taxes.  The provision applies to interest for periods beginning beforethe date of enactment if:  (1) the statute of limitations has not expired with respect to either theunderpayment or overpayment; (2) the taxpayer identifies the periods of underpayment andoverpayment for which the zero rate applies; and (3) on or before December 31, 1999, thetaxpayer asks the Secretary to apply the zero rate.

**2.	Increase in overpayment rate payable to taxpayers other than corporations**

	The bill provides that the overpayment interest rate will be AFR plus three percentage points,except that for corporations, the rate remains at AFR plus two percentage points.  The provisionis effective for interest for the second and succeeding calendar quarters beginning after the dateof enactment. 

**3.	Mitigation of penalty for individual's failure to pay during period of installmentagreement**

	The bill provides that the penalty for failure to pay taxes is one half of the usual rate (.25percent instead of .50 percent) imposed with respect to the tax liability of an individual for anymonth in which an installment payment agreement with the IRS is in effect, provided that theindividual filed the tax return in a timely manner (including extensions).  The provision iseffective for installment agreement payments made after December 31, 1999.

**4.	Mitigation of failure to deposit penalty for payroll taxes**

	The bill allows the taxpayer to designate the period to which each deposit is applied. Thedesignation must be made no later than 90 days of the related IRS penalty notice.  The provisionextends the authorization to waive the failure to deposit penalty to the first deposit a taxpayer isrequired to make after the taxpayer is required to change the frequency of the taxpayer's deposits. The provision is effective for deposits required to be made more than 180 days after the date ofenactment.  The bill also provides that, for deposits required to be made after December 31,2001, any deposit is to be applied to the most recent period to which the deposit relates, unlessthe taxpayer explicitly designates otherwise.

**5.	Suspension of  interest and certain penalties if Secretary fails to contact individualtaxpayer**

	The bill suspends the accrual of certain penalties and interest after one year if the IRS has notsent the taxpayer a notice specifically stating the taxpayer's liability for additional taxes (and thebasis for the liability) within one year following the date which is the later of (1) the original duedate of the return or (2) the date on which the individual taxpayer timely filed the return.  Thesuspension only applies to individuals who file a timely tax return and does not apply to thefailure to pay penalty, in the case of fraud, or with respect to criminal penalties.  The provision iseffective for taxable years ending after the date of enactment.  With respect to taxable yearsbeginning before January 1, 2004, the one-year period is increased to 18 months.  Interest andpenalties resume 21 days after the IRS sends a notice to the taxpayer specifically stating thetaxpayer's liability and the basis for the liability.  The provision is applied separately withrespect to each item or adjustment.

**6.	Procedural requirements for imposition of penalties and additions to tax**

	The bill requires that each notice imposing a penalty include the name of the penalty, theCode section imposing the penalty, and a computation of the penalty.  The bill also requires thespecific approval of IRS management to assess all non-computer generated penalties unlessexcepted.  This provision does not apply to failure to file penalties, failure to pay penalties, or topenalties for failure to pay estimated tax.  The provision is effective with respect to noticesissued, and penalties assessed, after December 31, 2000.

**7.	Personal delivery of notice of penalty under section 6672**

	The bill permits in-person delivery, as an alternative to delivery by mail, of a preliminarynotice that the IRS intends to assess a 100-percent penalty, effective on the date of enactment.

**8. 	Notice of interest charges**

	The bill requires every IRS notice that includes an amount of interest required to be paid bythe taxpayer that is sent to an individual taxpayer to include a detailed computation of the interestcharged and a citation to the Code section under which such interest is imposed, effective fornotices issued after December 31, 2000.

**9.	Abatement of interest on underpayments by taxpayers in Presidentially declareddisaster areas**

	The bill provides that taxpayers located in a Presidentially declared disaster area do not haveto pay interest on taxes due for the length of any extension for filing their tax returns granted bythe Secretary of the Treasury, effective for disasters declared after December 31, 1997, withrespect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1997.  The provision is designated asemergency legislation under section 252(e) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency DeficitControl Act.

**E.  Protections for Taxpayers Subject to Audit or Collection Activities
**1.	Due process in IRS collection actions**

	The bill establishes formal procedures designed to insure due process where the IRS seeks tocollect taxes by levy (including by seizure).  The due process procedures also apply after noticeof a Federal tax lien has been filed.

	The IRS would be required to notify the taxpayer that a Notice of Lien had been filed. During the 30-day period beginning with the mailing or delivery of such notification, thetaxpayer may demand a hearing before an appeals officer who has had no prior involvement withthe taxpayer's case.

	Before the IRS can levy against a taxpayer's property, it would be required to provide thetaxpayer with a "Notice of Intent to Levy," similar to that currently required under section6331(d).  The notice would not be required to itemize the property the Secretary seeks to levy on. Service by registered or certified  mail, return receipt requested, would be required.

	Subject to the exceptions noted below, no levy could occur within the 30-day periodbeginning with the mailing of the "Notice of Intent to Levy."  During that 30-day period, thetaxpayer may demand a pre-levy hearing before an appeals officer who generally has had noprior involvement with the taxpayer's case.

	If a return receipt is not returned, the Secretary may proceed to levy against the taxpayer 30days after the Notice of Intent to Levy was mailed. The Secretary must provide a hearingequivalent to the pre-levy hearing if later requested by the taxpayer.  However, the Secretary isnot required to suspend the levy process pending the completion of a hearing that is not requestedwithin 30 days of the mailing of the Notice.  

	An exception to the general rule prohibiting levies during the 30-day period would apply inthe case of State tax offset procedures, and in the case of jeopardy or termination assessments.

	No seizure of a dwelling that is the principal residence of the taxpayer or the taxpayer'sspouse, former spouse, or minor child would be allowed without prior judicial approval. Noticeof the judicial hearing must be provided to the taxpayer and  relevant family member.  At thejudicial  hearing, the Secretary would be required to demonstrate (1) that the requirements of anyapplicable law or administrative procedure relevant to the levy have been met, (2) that theliability is owed, and (3) that no reasonable alternative for the collection of the taxpayer's debtexists.

The provision is effective for collection actions initiated more than 180 days after the date ofenactment.

**2.	Examination activities**

**a.	Uniform application of confidentiality privilege to taxpayer communications with      federally authorized practitioners**

	The bill extends the present law attorney-client privilege of confidentiality tocommunications between taxpayers and individuals who are authorized under Federal law topractice before the IRS.  The privilege of confidentiality created by this provision does not applyto a written communication between federally authorized tax practitioner and any director,shareholder, officer, employee, agent, or representative of a corporation in connection with thepromotion of any tax shelter (as defined in section 6662(d)(2)(C)(iii)) with respect to which suchcorporation is a direct or indirect participant.

	The provision is effective with regard to communications made on or after the date ofenactment.

**b.	Limitation on financial status audit techniques**

	The bill prohibits the IRS from using financial status or economic reality examinationtechniques to determine the existence of unreported income of any taxpayer unless the IRS has areasonable indication that there is a likelihood of unreported income, effective on the date ofenactment.

**c.	Software trade secrets protection**

	The bill prohibits the Secretary from issuing (or beginning an action to enforce) a summonsin a civil action for any portion of any third-party tax-related computer source code unless certainrequirements are satisfied.  The bill also establishes a number of protections against thedisclosure and improper use of software and source code obtained by the IRS in the course of anexamination.  The bill specifically provides that computer software or source code that isobtained by the IRS in the course of the examination of a taxpayer's return is included in thedefinition of return information under section 6103.

	The provision does not change or eliminate any other requirement of the Code.   A summonsfor third-party tax-related computer source code that meets the standards established by theprovision will not be enforced if it would not be enforced under present law.

	The provision is effective with respect to summons issued and software acquired after thedate of enactment.  In addition, 90 days after the date of enactment, the protections against thedisclosure and improper use of trade secrets and confidential information added by the provision(except for the requirement that the Secretary provide a written agreement from non-U.S.government officers and employees) apply to software and source code acquired on or before thedate of enactment.

**d.	Threat of audit prohibited to coerce tip reporting alternative commitment**

**agreements**

	The bill requires the IRS to instruct its employees that they may not threaten to audit anytaxpayer in an attempt to coerce the taxpayer to enter into a tip reporting alternative commitment("TRAC") agreement, effective on the date of enactment.

**e.	Taxpayers allowed motion to quash all third-party summonses**

	The bill generally expands the current "third-party recordkeeper" procedures to apply tosummonses issued to persons other than the taxpayer. Thus, the taxpayer whose liability is beinginvestigated receives notice of the summons and is entitled to bring an action in the appropriateU.S. District Court to quash the summons.  The provision is effective for summonses served afterthe date of enactment.

**f.	Service of summonses to third-party recordkeepers permitted by mail**

	The bill allows the IRS the option of serving any summons either in person or by certified orregistered mail, effective for summonses served after the date of enactment.

**g.	Notice of IRS contact of third parties**

	The bill provides that the IRS may not contact any person other than the taxpayer withrespect to the determination or collection of the tax liability of the taxpayer without providingreasonable notice to the taxpayer that contacts with persons other than the taxpayer may be made. The provision is effective with respect to contacts made after 180 days after the date ofenactment.

**3.	Collection activities**

**a.	Approval process for liens, levies, and seizures**

	The bill requires the IRS to implement an approval process under which any lien, levy orseizure would, when appropriate, be approved by a supervisor, who would review the taxpayer'sinformation, verify that a balance is due, and affirm that a lien, levy or seizure is appropriateunder the circumstances.  Circumstances to be considered include the amount due and the valueof the asset.  The provision is effective for collection actions commenced after date of enactment,except in the case of any action under the automated collection system, the provision applies toactions initiated after December 31, 2000.

**b.	Modifications to certain levy exemption amounts**

	The bill increases the value of personal effects exempt from levy to $6,250 and the value ofbooks and tools exempt from levy to $3,125.  These amounts are indexed for inflation, effectivefor levies issued after the date of enactment.

**c.	Release of levy upon agreement that amount is uncollectible**

	The bill requires the IRS to immediately release a wage levy upon agreement with thetaxpayer that the tax is not collectible, effective for levies imposed after December 31, 1999. 

**d.	Levy prohibited during pendency of refund proceedings**

	The bill requires the IRS to withhold collection by levy of liabilities that are the subject of arefund suit during the pendency of the litigation, effective for refund suits brought with respect totax years beginning after December 31, 1998.  Proceedings related to a proceeding under thisprovision include, but are not limited to, civil actions or third-party complaints initiated by theUnited States or another person with respect to the same kinds of tax (or related taxes orpenalties) for the same (or overlapping) tax periods.

**e.	Approval required for jeopardy and termination assessments and jeopardy levies**

	The bill requires IRS Chief Counsel review and approval before the IRS can make a jeopardyassessment, a termination assessment, or a jeopardy levy.  If the Chief Counsel's approval is notobtained, the taxpayer is entitled to obtain abatement of the assessment or release of the levy,and, if the IRS fails to offer such relief, to appeal first to IRS Appeals under the new due processprocedure for IRS collections and then to court.  The provision is effective for taxes assessed andlevies made after the date of enactment.

**f.	Increase in amount of certain property on which lien not valid**

	The bill increases the dollar limit for purchasers at a casual sale from $250 to $1,000, andfurther increases the dollar limit from $1,000 to $5,000 for mechanics lienors providing homeimprovement work for owner-occupied personal residences and indexes these dollar amounts forinflation.  The provision is effective on the date of enactment.

**g.	Waiver of early withdrawal tax for IRS levies on employer-sponsored retirement       plans or IRAs**

	The bill provides an exception from the 10-percent early withdrawal tax for amountswithdrawn from an employer-sponsored retirement plan or an IRA that are subject to a levy bythe IRS.  The exception applies only if the plan or IRA is levied; it does not apply, for example,if the taxpayer withdraws funds to pay taxes in the absence of a levy, in order to release a levy onother interests.  The provision is effective for withdrawals after the date of enactment.

**h.	Prohibition of sales of seized property at less than minimum bid**

	The bill prohibits the IRS from selling seized property for less than the minimum bid price,effective for sales occurring after the date of enactment.

**i.	Accounting of sales of seized property**

	The bill requires the IRS to provide a written accounting of all sales of seized property,whether real or personal, to the taxpayer.  The accounting must include a receipt for the amountcredited to the taxpayer's account.  The provision is effective for seizures occurring after the dateof enactment.

**j.	Uniform asset disposal mechanism**

	The bill requires the IRS to implement a uniform asset disposal mechanism for sales ofseized property within two years from the date of enactment.

**k.	Codification of IRS administrative procedures for seizure of taxpayer's property**

	The bill codifies the IRS administrative procedures which require the IRS to investigate thestatus of certain property prior to levy, effective on the date of enactment.

**l.	Procedures for seizure of residences and businesses**

	The bill prohibits the IRS from seizing any real property used as a residence by the taxpayeror any nonrental real property of the taxpayer used by any other individual as a residence tosatisfy an unpaid liability of $5,000 or less, including penalties and interest.  The bill requires theIRS to exhaust all other payment options before seizing the taxpayer's  business assets orprincipal residence.  For this purpose, future income that may be derived by a taxpayer from thecommercial sale of fish or wildlife under a specified State permit must be considered inevaluating other payment options before seizing the taxpayer's business assets.  A levy ispermitted on a principal residence only if a judge or magistrate of a United States district courtapproves (in writing) of the levy.  The provision is effective on the date of enactment.

**4.	Provisions relating to examination and collection activities**

**a.	Procedures relating to extensions of statute of limitations by agreement**

	The bill eliminates the provision of present law that allows the statute of limitations oncollections to be extended by agreement between the taxpayer and the IRS.  Extensions of thestatute of limitations on collection may be made as part of an installment agreement; theextension is only for the period for which the installment agreement by its terms extends beyondthe end of the otherwise applicable 10-year period, plus 90 days.

	The bill also requires that, on each occasion on which the taxpayer is requested by the IRS toextend the statute of limitations on assessment, the IRS must notify the taxpayer of thetaxpayer's right to refuse to extend the statute of limitations or to limit the extension to particularissues.

	The provision is effective for requests to extend the statute of limitations made afterDecember 31, 1999.  If, in any request to extend the period of limitations made on or beforeDecember 31, 1999, a taxpayer agreed to extend that period beyond the 10-year statute oflimitations on collection, that extension shall expire on the latest of: the last day of such 10-yearperiod, December 31, 2002, or the 90th day after the end of the term of the installment agreementrelated to such request.

**b.	Offers-in-compromise**

The bill expands the authority for the IRS to accept offers-in-compromise.

	The bill requires the IRS to develop and publish schedules of national and local allowancesthat will provide taxpayers entering into an offer-in-compromise with adequate means to providefor basic living expenses.  The IRS is required to consider the facts and circumstances of aparticular taxpayer's case in determining whether the national and local schedules are adequatefor that particular taxpayer.  The bill prohibits the IRS from rejecting an offer-in-compromisefrom a low-income taxpayer solely on the basis of the amount of the offer.

The bill prohibits the IRS from collecting a tax liability by levy (1) during any period that ataxpayer's offer-in-compromise for that liability is being processed, (2) during the 30 daysfollowing rejection of an offer, (3) during any period in which an appeal of the rejection of anoffer is being considered, and (4) while an installment agreement is pending.

	The bill requires that the IRS implement procedures to review all proposed IRS rejections oftaxpayer offers-in-compromise and requests for installment agreements prior to the rejectionbeing communicated to the taxpayer.

	The bill provides that the IRS will adopt a liberal acceptance policy for offers-in-compromiseto provide an incentive for taxpayers to continue to file tax returns and continue to pay theirtaxes.

The provisions are generally effective for offers-in-compromise submitted after the date ofenactment.  The provision suspending levy is effective with respect to offers-in-compromisepending on or made after December 31, 1999.  

**c.	Notice of deficiency to specify deadlines for filing Tax Court petition**

	The provision requires the IRS to include on each deficiency notice the date determined bythe IRS as the last day on which the taxpayer may file a petition with the Tax Court.  Theprovision provides that a petition filed with the Tax Court by this date is  treated as timely filed. The provision is effective for notices mailed after December 31, 1998.

**d.	Refund or credit of overpayments before final determination**

	The provision provides that a proper court (including the Tax Court) may order a refund ofany amount that was collected within the period during which the Secretary is prohibited fromcollecting the deficiency by levy or other proceeding.  The provision allows the refund of anyoverpayment determined by the Tax Court to the extent the overpayment is not contested onappeal.  The provision is effective on the date of enactment.

**e.	IRS procedures relating to appeal of examinations and collections**

	The bill codifies existing IRS procedures with respect to early referrals to Appeals and theCollections Appeals Process.  The bill also codifies the existing Alternative Dispute Resolution("ADR") procedures, as modified by eliminating the dollar threshold.  The provision is effectiveon the date of enactment.

**f.	Application of certain fair debt collection practices**

	The bill applies to the IRS certain restrictions relating to communication withtaxpayer/debtors and the prohibitions on harassing or abusing a debtor.  The restrictions relatingto communication with the taxpayer/debtor are not intended to hinder the ability of the IRS torespond to taxpayer inquiries (such as answering telephone calls from taxpayers).  The provisionis effective on the date of enactment.

**g.	Guaranteed availability of installment agreements**

	The bill requires the Secretary to enter an installment agreement, at the taxpayer's option, if:(1) the liability is $10,000, or less (excluding penalties and interest); (2) within the previous 5years, the taxpayer has not failed to file or to pay, nor entered an installment agreement underthis provision; (3) if requested by the Secretary, the taxpayer submits financial statements, andthe Secretary determines that the taxpayer is unable to pay the tax due in full; (4) the installmentagreement provides for full payment of the liability within 3 years; and (5) the taxpayer agrees tocontinue to comply with the tax laws and the terms of the agreement for the period (up to 3years) that the agreement is in place.  The provision is effective on the date of enactment.

**h.	Prohibition on requests to taxpayers to waive rights to bring actions**

	The bill provides that the Government may not request a taxpayer to waive the taxpayer'sright to sue the United States or one of its employees for any action taken in connection with thetax laws, unless (1) the taxpayer knowingly and voluntarily waives that right, or (2) the request ismade to the taxpayer's attorney or other representative, effective on the date of enactment.

**F.  Disclosures to Taxpayers
**1.	Explanation of joint and several liability**

	The bill requires that the IRS establish procedures to clearly alert married taxpayers of theirjoint and several liability, the availability of electing separate liability, and an individual's rightto relief under section 6015 of the Code on all appropriate tax publications and instructions.  TheIRS will make an appropriate cross reference to these statements near the signature line onappropriate tax forms.  The bill requires that the procedures be established as soon as practicable,but no later than 180 days after the date of enactment.

**2.	Explanation of taxpayers' rights in interviews with the IRS**

	The bill requires that the IRS rewrite Publication 1 ("Your Rights as a Taxpayer") to informtaxpayers more clearly of their rights (1) to be represented by a representative and (2) if thetaxpayer is so represented, that interviews with the IRS may not proceed without the presence ofthe representative unless the taxpayer consents.  The revisions are required no later than 180 daysafter the date of enactment.

**3.	Disclosure of criteria for examination selection**

	The provision requires that IRS add to Publication 1 ("Your Rights as a Taxpayer") astatement which sets forth in simple and nontechnical terms the criteria and procedures forselecting taxpayers for examination. The statement is required to be included not later than 180days after the date of enactment.

**4.	Explanation of the appeals and collection process**

	The bill requires that, no later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a description of theentire process from examination through collections, including the assistance available totaxpayers from the Taxpayer Advocate at various points in the process, be provided with the firstletter of proposed deficiency that allows the taxpayer an opportunity for administrative review inthe IRS Office of Appeals.

**5.	Explanation of reason for refund disallowance**

	The bill requires the IRS to notify the taxpayer of the specific reasons for the disallowance(or partial disallowance) of a refund claim, effective for 180 days after the date of enactment.

**6.	Statements to taxpayers with installment agreements**

	The bill requires the IRS to send every taxpayer in an installment agreement an annualstatement of the initial balance owed, the payments made during the year, and the remainingbalance, effective July 1, 2000.

**7.	Notification of change in tax matters partner**

	The bill requires the IRS to notify all partners of any resignation of the tax matters partnerthat is required by the IRS, and to notify the partners of any successor tax matters partner,effective for selections of tax matters partners made by the Secretary after the date of enactment.

**8.	Conditions under which taxpayers' returns may be disclosed**

	The bill requires that general tax forms instruction booklets include a description ofconditions under which tax return information may be disclosed outside the IRS (including toStates), effective on the date of enactment.

**9.	Disclosure of Chief Counsel advice**

	The provision amends section 6110 of the Code, establishing a structured process by whichthe IRS will make certain work products, designated as "Chief Counsel Advice," open to publicinspection on an ongoing basis.  It is designed to protect taxpayer privacy while allowing thepublic inspection of these documents in a manner generally consistent with the mechanism ofsection 6110 for the public inspection of written determinations.  In general, the provisionoperates by establishing that Chief Counsel Advice are written determinations subject to thepublic inspection provisions of section 6110.   The provision applies to Chief Counsel Adviceissued more than 90 days after enactment.

**G.  Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics
	The bill provides that the Secretary is authorized to provide up to $6,000,000 per year inmatching grants to certain low-income taxpayer clinics. No clinic could receive more than$100,000 per year.  Eligible clinics would be those that charge no more than a nominal fee toeither represent low-income taxpayers in controversies with the IRS or provide tax informationto individuals for whom English is a second language.  The provision is effective on the date ofenactment.

**H.  Other Provisions**

**1.	Cataloging complaints**

	The bill requires that, in collecting data for the annual report to the Congress on allegationsof IRS employee misconduct, records of taxpayer complaints of misconduct by IRS employeesmust be maintained on an individual employee basis, effective January 1, 2000.

**2.	Archive of records of Internal Revenue Service**

	The bill provides an exception to the disclosure rules to require IRS to disclose IRS recordsto officers or employees of National Archives and Records Administration ("NARA"), uponwritten request from the U.S. Archivist, for purposes of the appraisal of such records fordestruction or retention.  The present-law prohibitions on and penalties for disclosure of taxinformation would generally apply to NARA.  The provision is effective for requests made bythe Archivist after the date of enactment.

**3.	Payment of taxes**

	The bill requires the Secretary or his delegate to establish such rules, regulations, andprocedures as are necessary to allow payment of taxes by check or money order to be madepayable to the United States Treasury, rather than to the IRS, effective on the date of enactment.

**4.	Clarification of authority of Secretary relating to the making of elections**

	The bill clarifies that, except as otherwise provided, the Secretary may prescribe the mannerof making any election under the Code by any reasonable means, effective on the date ofenactment.

**5.	IRS employee contacts**

	The bill requires any manually generated correspondence received by a taxpayer from theIRS to include in a prominent manner the name, telephone number, and unique identifyingnumber of an IRS employee the taxpayer may contact with respect to the correspondence.  Anyother correspondence or notice received by a taxpayer from the IRS must include in a prominentmanner a telephone number that the taxpayer may contact.  An IRS employee must give ataxpayer during a telephone or personal contact the employee's telephone number and uniqueidentifying number.  The requirements for a unique identifying number are effective six monthsafter the date of enactment.

**6.	Use of pseudonyms by IRS employees**

	The bill provides that an IRS employee may use a pseudonym only if (1) adequatejustification, such as protecting personal safety, for using the pseudonym was provided by theemployee as part of the employee's request to use a pseudonym, and (2) IRS management hasapproved the request to use the pseudonym prior to its use.  This provision is effective forrequests made after the date of enactment.

**7.	Illegal tax protester designations**

	The bill prohibits the use by the IRS of the "illegal tax protester" designation. Any extantdesignation in the individual master file (the main computer file) must be removed and any otherextant designation (such as on paper records that have been archived) must be disregarded.  TheIRS is, however, permitted to designate appropriate taxpayers as nonfilers.  The IRS mustremove the nonfiler designation once the taxpayer has filed valid tax returns for two consecutiveyears and paid all taxes shown on those returns.  The provision is effective on the date ofenactment, except that the removal of any designation from the master file, is not required tobegin before January 1, 1999.

**8.	Provision of confidential information to Congress by whistleblowers**

	The bill provides that any person (i.e., a whistleblower) who otherwise has or had access toany return or return information under section 6103 may disclose such return or returninformation to the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, or theJoint Committee on Taxation or to any individual authorized by one of those committees toreceive or inspect any return or return information if such person (the whistleblower) believessuch return or return information relates to evidence of possible misconduct, maladministration,or taxpayer abuse.  The provision is effective on the date of enactment.

**9.	Listing of local IRS telephone numbers and addresses**

	The bill requires the IRS, as soon as is practicable, to publish addresses and local telephonenumbers of local IRS offices in appropriate local telephone directories.

**10.	Identification of return preparers**

	The bill authorizes the IRS to approve alternatives to Social Security numbers to identify taxreturn preparers, effective on the date of enactment.

**11.	Offset of past-due, legally enforceable State income tax obligations against        overpayments**

	The bill permits States to participate in the IRS refund offset program for specified past-due,legally enforceable State income tax debts,  providing the person making the Federal taxoverpayment has shown on the Federal return for the taxable year of the overpayment an addressthat is within the State seeking the tax offset.  The provision is effective for Federal income taxrefunds payable after December 31, 1999.

**12.	Reporting requirements in connection with education tax credits**

	The bill modifies the information reporting requirements applicable to certain educationalinstitutions in connection with the HOPE Scholarship and Lifetime Learning credits.  In additionto reporting the aggregate amount of payments for qualified tuition and related expenses receivedby the educational institution with respect to a student, the institution must report any grantamount received by the student and processed through the institution during the applicablecalendar year.  An educational institution also must report only the aggregate amount ofreimbursements or refunds paid to a student by the institution (and not by any other party).  Thebill further clarifies that the definition of  term "qualified tuition and related expenses" shall be asset forth in section 25A, determined without regard to section 25A(g)(2) (which requiresadjustments for certain scholarships). The provision applies to returns required to be filed withrespect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998.

**I.  Studies
**1.	Administration of penalties and interest**

	The bill requires the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Treasury to each conduct aseparate study reviewing the interest and penalty provisions of the Code, and make anylegislative and administrative recommendations deemed appropriate to simplify penaltyadministration and reduce taxpayer burden.  The reports must be provided not later than one yearafter the date of enactment.

**2.	Confidentiality of tax return information**

	The bill requires the Joint Committee on Taxation and Treasury to each conduct a separatestudy on provisions regarding taxpayer confidentiality.  The studies are to examine:  (1)  present-law protections of taxpayer privacy; (2) the need, if any, for third parties to use tax returninformation; (3) whether greater levels of voluntary compliance can be achieved by allowing thepublic to know who is legally required to file tax returns but does not do so; (4) theinterrelationship of the taxpayer confidentiality provisions in the Internal Revenue Code withthose elsewhere in the United States Code (such as the Freedom of Information Act); (5) theimpact on taxpayer privacy of sharing tax information for the purposes of enforcing State andlocal tax laws (other than income tax laws) and (6) an examination of whether the public interestwould be served by greater disclosure of information relating to tax-exempt organizations(described in section 501 of the Code).  The findings of the studies, along with anyrecommendations, are required to be reported to the Congress no later than 18 months after thedate of enactment.

**3.	Noncompliance with internal revenue laws by taxpayers**

	The bill provides that the Secretary of the Treasury and the Commissioner, in consultationwith the Joint Committee on Taxation, must conduct a study of noncompliance with the tax law,including tax law complexity and willful noncompliance or other factors.  The study must bereported to the Congress within one year of the date of enactment. 

**4.	Payments for informants**

	The bill requires a study and report by the Secretary of the Treasury to the Congress of thepresent-law informant reward program (including results) and any legislative or administrativerecommendations regarding the program and its application.  The study must be reported to theCongress within one year of the date of enactment.

**TITLE IV.  CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE IRS
**A.  Review of Requests for GAO Investigations of the IRS**

	Under the bill, the Joint Committee on Taxation is to review all requests (other than requestsby the chair or ranking member of a Committee or Subcommittee of the Congress) forinvestigations of the IRS by the General Accounting Office ("GAO") and approve such requestswhen appropriate.  In reviewing such requests, the Joint Committee on Taxation is to eliminateoverlapping investigations, ensure that the GAO has the capacity to handle the investigation, andensure that investigations focus on areas of primary importance to tax administration.  Theprovision is effective with respect to requests for GAO investigations made after the date ofenactment.

**B.  Joint Congressional Review and Coordinated Oversight Reports**

	Under the bill, there will be one annual joint review which shall include two majority and one minoritymembers of each of the Senate Committees on Finance, Appropriations, and Government Affairsand the House Committees on Ways and Means, Appropriations, and Government Reform andOversight.  The review is to be held before June 1 on the progress of the IRS inmeeting its objectives under the strategic and business plans, the progress of the IRS inimproving taxpayer service and compliance, the progress of the IRS on technologymodernization, and the annual filing season.  The annual review will be called by the Chairmanof the Joint Committee on Taxation and will take place in each of calendar years 1999-2003.

	The bill provides that the Joint Committee on Taxation is to make a report once during eachCongress to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Ways and Means on the overallstate of the Federal tax system, together with recommendations with respect to possiblesimplification proposals and other matters relating to the administration of the Federal tax systemas it may deem advisable.  This report will be required only if amounts necessary to carry out thisrequirement are specifically appropriated to the Joint Committee on Taxation.  The JointCommittee on Taxation also is to report annually to the Senate Committees on Finance,Appropriations, and Government Affairs and the House Committees on Ways and Means,Appropriations, and Government Reform and Oversight with respect to the matters that are thesubject of the annual joint hearings of members of such Committees.  This reporting requirementwill apply only for calendar years 1999-2003.

**C.  Budget Matters**

	The bill provides that it is the sense of the Congress that the IRS efforts to resolve the centurydate change computing problems should be fully funded to provide for certain resolution of suchproblems, and it is the sense of the Congress that the IRS should place resolving the century datechange computing problems as a high priority.

**D.  Tax Law Complexity Analysis**
The bill provides that it is the sense of the Congress that the IRS should provide the Congresswith an independent view of tax administration and that the tax-writing committees should hearfrom front-line technical experts at the IRS during the legislative process with respect to theadministrability of pending amendments to the Internal Revenue Code.  In addition, the IRS isrequired to report by March 1 of each year to the House Committee on Ways and Means and theSenate Committee on Finance regarding sources of complexity in the administration of theFederal tax laws.

The bill requires the Joint Committee on Taxation (in consultation with the IRS andTreasury) to provide an analysis of complexity or administrability concerns raised by taxlegislation provisions of widespread applicability to individuals or small businesses.  Theanalysis is to be included in any Committee Report of the House Committee on Ways and Means or Senate Committee on Finance or Conference Report containing tax provisions, or provided tothe Members of the relevant Committee or Committees as soon as practicable after the report isfiled.  A point of order is established with respect to the floor consideration by the House ofRepresentatives of a bill or conference report that does not contain the required tax complexityanalysis.  The point of order may be waived by a majority vote.

**TITLE V.  ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS**

**A. Elimination of 18-Month Holding Period for Capital Gains**

	The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 Act ("the 1997 Act") provided lower capital gains rates forindividuals.  Generally, the 1997 Act reduced the maximum rate on the adjusted net capital gainof an individual from 28 percent to 20 percent and provided a 10-percent rate for the adjusted netcapital gain otherwise taxed at a 15-percent rate.  Under the bill, property held more than oneyear (rather than more than 18 months) will be eligible for the lower capital gain rates providedby the 1997 Act.  The provision applies to amounts properly taken into account on or afterJanuary 1, 1998.

**B.  Deductibility of Meals Provided for the Convenience of the Employer**

	The bill provides that all meals furnished to employees at a place of business for theconvenience of the employer are treated as provided for the convenience of the employer undersection 119 if more than one half of employees to whom such meals are furnished on thepremises are furnished such meals for the convenience of the employer under section 119.  Ifthese conditions are satisfied, the value of all such meals would be excludable from theemployee's income and fully deductible to the employer.

	The provision is effective for taxable years beginning before, on, or after the date ofenactment.

**C.  Normal Trade Relations**

	The bill changes the terminology used in U.S. trade statutes from "most-favored-nation"(MFN) to "normal trade relations" (NTR) in order more accurately to reflect the nature of thetrade relationship in question.  The bill does not change the tariff treatment received by anycountry.

**TITLE VI.  TAX TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
The bill contains technical, clerical, and conforming amendments to the Taxpayer Relief Actof 1997 and other recently enacted legislation.  The provisions generally are effective as ifenacted in the original legislation to which each provision relates.

**TITLE VII.  REVENUE OFFSETS**

**A.  Employer Deductions for Vacation and Severance Pay
	The bill provides that, for purposes of determining whether an item of compensation isdeferred compensation, the compensation is not considered to be paid or received until actuallyreceived by the employee.  The bill is intended to overrule the result in *Schmidt Baking*.  Theprovision is effective for taxable years ending after date of enactment, with a three-year spreadunder section 481.

**B.  Freeze Grandfathered Status of Stapled REITs**

	The bill treats activities and gross income of a stapled REIT group with respect to realproperty interests acquired after March 26, 1998, by any member of a stapled REIT group asactivities and income of the REIT for certain purposes.  There is an exception to this treatmentfor certain grandfathered real property interests.  The provision is effective for taxable yearsending after March 26, 1998.

**C.  Make Certain Trade Receivables Ineligible for Mark-to-Market Treatment**

	The bill provides that certain trade receivables are not eligible for mark-to-market treatmentunder section 475.  The provision generally is effective for taxable years ending after the date ofenactment, with a four-year spread under section 481.

**D.  Exclusion of Minimum Required Distributions from AGI for Roth IRA Conversions**

	The bill excludes minimum required distributions from IRAs from the definition of AGIsolely for purposes of determining eligibility to convert from an IRA to a Roth IRA.  Theprovision is effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2004.

**TITLE VIII.  LIMITED TAX BENEFITS UNDER THE LINE ITEM VETO ACT**

The Line Item Veto Act amended the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974to grant the President the limited authority to cancel specific dollar amounts of discretionarybudget authority, certain new direct spending, and limited tax benefits.  The Line Item Veto Actprovides that the Joint Committee on Taxation is required to examine any revenue orreconciliation bill or joint resolution that amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 prior to itsfiling by a conference committee in order to determine whether or not the bill or joint resolutioncontains any "limited tax benefits," and to provide a statement to the conference committee thateither (1) identifies each limited tax benefit contained in the bill or resolution, or (2) states thatthe bill or resolution contains no limited tax benefits.

	Pursuant to section 1027(a) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974 (asamended by the Line Item Veto Act), the Joint Committee on Taxation has determined that theconference agreement to H.R. 2676, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Actof 1998, contains the following provisions that constitute limited tax benefits within the meaningof the Line Item Veto Act:
- 	Section 3105 (relating to administrative appeal of adverse IRS determination of tax-exempt status of bond issue); and
- 	Section 3445(c) (relating to State fish and wildlife permits).

**TITLE IX.  CORRECTIONS TO THE TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT FOR THE 21st CENTURY**

	The conference agreement includes corrections to the Transportation Equity Act for the 21stCentury.

1.   This document may be cited as follows: Joint Committee on Taxation, *Summary of theConference Agreement on H.R. 2676, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and ReformAct of 1998* (JCX-50-98R), June 24, 1998.
2.   For a description of H.R. 2676 as reported by the House Committee on Ways andMeans, see H. Rept. 105-364, Part I.  H.R. 2676 was amended by the House by adding (as newTitle VI) the provisions of H.R. 2645 ("Tax Technical Corrections Act") as reported by theCommittee on Ways and Means. (See H. Rept. 105-356, October 29, 1997.)
3.   H.R. 2676, as amended, was reported by the Senate Committee on Finance on April 22,1998 (S. Rept. 105-174).
4.   The provision does not affect the Secretary's (or Deputy Secretary's) or theCommissioner's access to section 6103 information or the application of the anti-browsing rulesto the Secretary (or Deputy Secretary) or the Commissioner.**************