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Part 3. Submission Processing

Chapter 0. General

Section 275. Business Results Measures for Submission Processing Functions (Cont. 2)

3.0.275  Business Results Measures for Submission Processing Functions (Cont. 2)

3.0.275.8 
Other Submission Processing Business Results Measures

3.0.275.8.3 
Refund Interest Measure

3.0.275.8.3.3  (10-01-2011)
Data Source

  1. The local Refund Interest reports necessary to perform this review are accessed through Control-D.

  2. Information in the weekly IMF 703-76-13 and the BMF 161-06-13 reports is sorted by center and used to obtain the net refund and net interest paid amounts for each cycle. The BMF reports provide a breakdown by form type and a summary of all forms at the end of each service center sort. Only returns with interest paid on current year IMF and BMF refunds that occur in the original settlement cycle are included in these reports. Local Interest per Million is computed using this data.

  3. The IMF 703-71-XX and the BMF 161-01-XX (XX indicates the campus file location number) reports are accessed from Control-D. These reports, transmitted to the campuses weekly, contain one record for each original settlement refund with interest, posted in the current cycle to a taxpayer's account. The reports show the:

    • Taxpayer Identification Number

    • Name Control

    • MFT

    • Tax Period

    • Document Location Number (DLN)

    • Received Dates

    • Refund Amount (TC846 or TC840)

    • Principle and Interest Amount

    • Taxpayer Notices Codes

    • Other Information Useful for Research and Determining the Causes for Refund Interest Paid.

3.0.275.8.3.4  (10-01-2010)
Refund Interest Goals

  1. Goals are computed based on historical data and other issues, which may impact the measure, (i.e., interest rate increases/decreases.) Goal ranges are monitored by HQ, and revised as necessary.

3.0.275.8.3.5  (10-01-2011)
Reporting Results

  1. Campuses will submit monthly narrative reports to HQ, and provide updates to local management. For Refund Interest reporting specifications, see IRM 3.0.275.1.10 specifically (6) and (7), "SMART Database Cut-Off Dates and Report Information for all Business Results Measures."

  2. Improvement Team Refund Interest analysts must coordinate with their local Refund Interest Coordinator to address high amounts of refund interest paid.

  3. Coordinators should develop strategies for preventing refund interest, i.e., meeting program completion dates, using interest Jeopardy reports and developing local procedures. These local procedures, strategies and any "Best Practices, should be shared with the HQ Refund Interest Paid analyst, who in turn, will share with the other campuses."

    Note:

    A "Best Practice" is defined as a new or innovative technique that has been proven to work well and can be shared or adopted, in full or in part, by other areas or offices.

  4. Coordinators may become aware of a procedural problem, or an area causing large amounts of interest. These issues should be communicated to the HQ Refund Interest Paid analyst.

3.0.275.8.3.6  (01-07-2011)
Timeframe/Cycle Campuses Can Expect to Begin Receiving Refund Cases

  1. The IMF process begins with interest payable on refunds issued after May 29th, (45 days after the return due date of April 15). Campuses will begin to see data on the 703-71-XX (XX= campus location number) Refund Case report. Prior to 21 and 46, campuses should process as many Full Paid returns as possible. It would be to the campuses' advantage after Cycle 20, to verify input dates, and work as many delinquent cases as possible.

  2. The BMF campuses process multiple return types and have return due dates throughout the calendar year. Refunds for certain forms are accelerated several times a year as determined by National Office. These refunds cannot be intercepted.

    BMF Accelerated Cycle Chart
    MFT CYCLE 23C DATE
    02 16 5/2
    05 20 5/30
    02 29 8/1
    02 42 10/31

3.0.275.8.3.7  (10-01-2011)
Refund Interest SMART Database and Homepage

  1. Refund data is generated weekly on Control-D, analyzed by the Improvement Team Refund Interest analysts and then manually entered, by cycle on SMART.

  2. To access the SMART database go to the Business Results Measures homepage athttp://balmeas.enterprise.irs.gov.
    and select the Refund Interest link from the upper left hand side of the web page. This link will access the Refund Interest Home Page. Select DCI input from the menu bar at the top of the page to input case data.

  3. It is extremely important the campuses focus on their site's interest causes. Identifying these causes will help campuses decide what areas they need to focus on in lowering interest paid. Therefore, an adhoc query capability has been built into SMART. To access this data extraction capability, go to the Business Results Homepage, and select the Refund Interest Homepage link. On the subsequent page, the Service Center Reports option contains the link to the adhoc query form.

3.0.275.8.3.8  (10-01-2011)
Refund Interest Paid Reports

  1. The weekly MCC IMF 703-76-13 and BMF 161-06-13 reports, All Forms, Original Settlement reports list the total number of refunds with interest issued each cycle for each center. The "Original Settlement Net" is a roll-up report that summarizes four detailed reports:

    • Electronic Returns

    • IRS Initiated (all refunds not requested by taxpayers when filed)

    • Unpostable Returns

    • Service Center Controllable (refunds with interest caused by the Center)

    Refund cases filter down through the reports in this order and are included on the first report that applies to that refund. The report is cumulative though the calendar year. All of the files are generated at ECC/MCC and posted on Control-D through ECC/MCC Dispatch. Combat Zone cases are excluded.

  2. The IMF 703-76-12 and BMF 161-06-12 reports show amounts for Gross Interest Paid, Interest Reversed and Net Interest Paid by cycle, and sorted by service center.

  3. The IMF 703-76-11 and BMF 161-06-11 reports show amounts for Gross Refunds, Reversed Refunds, and Net Refunds paid by cycle, sorted by service center.

  4. The IMF 703-71-11 and 703-71-XX (XX Service center location code) reports are a weekly record of all the designated site's individual Refund Interest cases. These reports identify the actual cases causing refund interest, and include tax periods, DLN's, and whether or not the cases went unpostable, etc. Sites should obtain these files for sampling purposes. Once these files are loaded into an EXCEL spreadsheet. the data can be manipulated and sorted to extract a sample from any of the categories for review.

3.0.275.8.3.9  (10-01-2010)
Refund Interest Contact and Definition

  1. Local Refund Interest Paid Coordinators, their designated campus, telephone number, and email address, are listed under the contact link on the Refund Interest Homepage. National Office contact information is provided on the Business Results Measures Homepage under National Office Contacts/Staff.

  2. The Refund Interest Definitions link on the Refund Interest Home Page provides some IMF and BMF program specifications, historical interest rates and a record layout of the 703-71-12 (IMF) and 161-01-12 (BMF) for Refund Interest Paid.

3.0.275.8.3.10  (12-01-2009)
Refund Interest Processing Cycles

  1. The Processing Cycles page list the processing cycles for each month. See Exhibit 3.0.275-23.

3.0.275.8.3.11  (10-01-2011)
Requesting Returns for IMF and BMF

  1. For IMF and BMF case reviews, campuses should, at a minimum, select 12 cases with the highest amount of refund interest paid per cycle (weekly) from the 703-71-XX IMF Report and 161-01-12 BMF Report.

  2. You may choose to request your returns on IDRS or use a template of a Form 2275, Records Request, Charge and Recharge, for Returns-Expedite. Complete the request and wait to receive returns. If a return is received and it becomes necessary to forward it to another area, re-charge the document using Command Code ESTABDT. See IRM 3.5.61 Accounts Services - Files Management and Services (.1.4(1)m and .2.13.17–1) Overlay the EMP. NUM> field with the IDRS number of the employee the document is being sent to.

  3. Not all returns will be received with the first document request. Those not received should be requested a minimum of three times before coded as "Unknown" or "Cannot be Determined" .

3.0.275.8.3.12  (10-01-2010)
IMF and BMF Research Tools

  1. Research each sample case utilizing the following research tools:

    1. UPTIN

      IMF

      • Check for misapplied credits and any outstanding balance due on other tax periods for the taxpayer. IF found and a liability exist that corresponds with the payment(s), transfer the credit.

      • To determine how long Unpostables (UP) had the case in their inventory.

      BMF

      • If UP381 RC-2 is shown, check for misapplied credits and other taxpayer identification numbers for the taxpayer. If found and a liability exists that corresponds with the payment(s), transfer the credit.

      • If UP305 RC-4 is shown for another module, determine if the payments(s) that are refunding should be transferred.

      • To determine how long UP had the case in their inventory.

    2. RTVUE/BRTVU

      To determine how the taxpayer filed the return (refund/non-refund, the existence of any Taxpayer Notice Codes (TPNC) and if the taxpayer is expecting this refund?)

    3. TRDBV

      Use in researching Input Correction Operations cas history.

    4. IMFOLT/BMFOLT/TXMOD

      To view credits posted to the module and any pending activity.

    5. SCFTR

      To follow the progress of the block of work through the Service Center pipeline. Did the block go to ERS or Rejects? If so, how long was it there? Was correspondence sent? if so, was a Correspondence Received Date (CRD) entered?

    6. RTR

      Used to view an image of a taxpayer's check.

    7. BBTS

      To determine if the return was timely and correctly batched. Check the return received date against the IRS batched date. (the return is needed to verify the actual received date.) Was the return transshipped? Check the batched received and released dates for the various functions and analyze why the refund missed the 45-day interest free period. Determine how the return was batched. The Program Code or Batch ID field identifies refund vs non-refund or 11 day/6 day cycle. Look for merges and bypass work. These cases are added in Numbering because they were pulled out of their original batch.

3.0.275.8.3.12.1  (10-01-2010)
IMF and BMF General Information

  1. If the return shows a refund then check the "Batch/Block Tracking System (BBTS)," print to ensure the return was batched correctly. Check these BBTS fields:
    Batch Identification Code - is located at the top right of page 1. These codes identify how the return was batched. If no code is shown, then it was batched according to the Program Code. See IRM 3.10.5, Batch/Block Tracking System (BBTS), for additional information.
    Received Date- located under the Program Code. This shows as a Julian date/year and is not necessarily the received date of the return under review. This is the earliest received date in the block of work. The actual received date of the return must be entered on the DCI.

  2. Release Date - is located to the right of the BBTS received date, see received date format. Code a Taxpayer defect for a misplaced entry that affected the batching of the return.

  3. Check the "Service Center Control File," (SCCF) print to see how long it took from the time the block established on SCCF until it posted to good tape. Be careful not to charge an area for late processing if the returns posted within a few days of being entered in Data Conversion.

    Note:

    SCCF- A Magnetic Tape Control System used to record the receipt of Returns or documents into the processing pipeline, to track the process of the documents through the processing system and finally to record the fact that all items have been completed. The SCCF systems maintain separate totals for revenue receipt items and other items. See IRM 2.3.36, IDRS Terminal Responses - Command Code SCFTR, on how to read this report.

  4. The tax return may not always be necessary to review the case. A return is not necessary in the following situations:

    • TC71X, misapplied (IMF TC430/610/640/660/670 and BMF TC650/660/670) is causing a refund. (If you cannot determine where it belongs, check RTR to view the taxpayer' intent.)

    • An extension payment was processed as a TC610 payment with a return (IMF U-140 and BMF U-399 and Unpostable 381-2 and certain 305-4 conditions).

    • A prior year Credit Elect is not claimed on the return.

    • Other payment problems identified using RTR or SCRIPS documents.

    • Pending (PN) TC976 subsequent or amended return.

    • Credit interest is paid on an offset, (TC826), to a balance due module on the sample spreadsheet received from Planning and Analysis (P&A), check listing category of "Offset of Principle" to determine if the refund met the 45 day interest free period. this can be done by looking at the column titled "Timely Refund" . If the value is this column is equal to 1, the offset is the only reason for the interest paid. Code this case as systemic due to the offset.

    Otherwise, request the return to determine why the 45-day interest free period was not met.

3.0.275.8.3.13  (10-01-2010)
IMF and BMF Refund Interest Case Review

  1. The purpose of the IMF and BMF review is to determine the causes of credit interest being paid and to take action to reduce these amounts in the future. Actions taken can include feedback to the various functional areas, (either in general or for specific cases), Memoranda of Understanding (MOU's), SERP Alerts, and other measures.

  2. The sample is produced weekly for each cycle that refunds generate. This is normally every cycle except for the "dead cycles" that occur in January of each year. The Program Analyst extracts the sample weekly from Control-D file (IMF 702-71-XX) and (BMF 161-01-XX)

  3. Review the case per the functional areas IRM procedures. The return is an important source document for the review, and in most cases, needed for a complete and accurate evaluation. Review IRM 3.0.275.8.3.12, IMF and BMF Research Tools.

  4. Verify the return was timely filed. If not, compare the received date stamp on return against what was entered by Data Conversion.

  5. Check the return for correspondence. If correspondence is for anything other than W-2s, there should be a correspondence Received Date stamped by Receipt and Control and edited on an edit sheet by Code and Edit (Form 3471).

  6. If return indicates correspondence was sent but no reply was received, "No Reply" should be stamped on the front of the return and no Return Processable Date (RPD) should be shown on the return. Since RPD is blank on these returns, if is essential that Computer Condition Code (CCC) "U" be present, except as noted in the IRMs of Code and Edit and Input Correction.

  7. Determine if the taxpayer is expecting a refund. If the dollar amount of any Estimated Tax Payments posted to the module is greater than the dollar amount claimed by the Taxpayer, check CC IMFOLT/BMFOLT and the Remittance Transaction Research (RTR), to make sure all payments on the module have posted correctly. Check the refund section of the return to determine if an entry is shown on the "Refunded to you" or "Amount you owe" line. If an entry is shown on the "Amount you owe line" then determine if the taxpayer paid the balance, if so this is considered a full paid return. If zero is shown then the return is considered even balance return.

  8. Code the case per "Who, What and Why" using the following: Exhibit 3.0.275-20, Exhibit 3.0.275-21, and Exhibit 3.0.275-22. When multiple defects are identified, code the DCI according to the following priorities:

    1. The last functional area able to correct a defect, (i.e., omitted credit transfers),

    2. The longest period of time spent in a functional area through no fault of the Taxpayer,

    3. Taxpayer defects.

  9. Input case to SMART on the Refund Interest Database.

3.0.275.8.3.13.1  (10-01-2011)
Refund Interest Data Collection Instrument (DCI) Input Instructions

  1. To open the Business Results Measures Home Page:
    http://balmeas.enterprise.irs.gov

  2. Click on the Refund Interest tab.

  3. Refund Interest Home Page is shown: http://balmeas.enterprise.irs.gov/RefundInt/RefundIntHome.asp

  4. Click on DCI Input Form Key and follow the "Business Results Measures for Submission Processing Functions, Job Aid," (Catalog number 37697B, Training 6804-701), Section 7. To obtain a copy of the Job Aid go to: http://coursebooks.enterprise.irs.gov and select Business Measures which will bring up the training 6804-701. Click on the training number.

3.0.275.8.3.14  (10-01-2005)
Reporting the Problem

  1. After case analysis is completed on each return, provide the results of the review to the Pipeline Operations Managers and Pipeline Department Managers. Follow local reporting procedures.

3.0.275.8.4  (10-01-2010)
Productivity Business Results Measure

  1. The Productivity Business Results Measure quantifies how productive Submission Processing Campus are with the staff hours they are budgeted.

  2. Productivity is defined as the "measure of work units (a weighted measure of returns processed) per staff year expended."

  3. The Submission Processing Productivity Measure is a multi-factor measure used to quantify the productivity of the tax processing centers by measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of converting inputs to outputs. Staff-hours relating to Processing and Post Processing and associated programs are incorporated in the calculations.

  4. The calculation of the Productivity measure defines inputs to and outputs from the Submission Processing Campus. Outputs are a defined as a specified universe of returns and documents that represent the significant workload (volumes associated with returns and documents) that flows through the tax processing centers. The volumes of these returns and documents are weighted in relation to statistics derived from a specific "base year" allowing for year-to-year comparisons. Inputs are defined as the staff-years utilized by the centers to process the specified universe of returns and documents. The end result calculation is weighted volume per staff year .

  5. The data source for the Productivity measure reports is the Work Plan and Control (WP&C) reports. This data is downloaded into Excel spreadsheets from Business Objects on a monthly basis. These spreadsheets undergo a series of database manipulations using the software, FoxPro. These manipulations are the data source used to calculate the results Weighted Volume per Staff Year (WVPSY).

  6. Productivity reports are currently produced by a Headquarters analyst and posted to the Submission Processing web site monthly. The measure is in the process of being automated and upon completion, reports will be generated through the application residing on the Submission Processing Balanced Measures web site. The Productivity portion of the Business Results Measures will be updated to include guidelines for generating the Productivity reports.

3.0.275.9  (10-01-2010)
Submission Processing Lockbox Processing Procedures

  1. The Lockbox information contained in this section is not to be used by the Business Results Measures.

  2. This section has been moved from the IRM 3.0.230, Submission Processing Campus Quality Review of Lockbox.

3.0.275.9.1  (10-01-2010)
Submission Processing Campus Quality Review of Lockbox

  1. The reviews were established to ensure that IRS Lockbox Sites work meets the standards in the Lockbox Processing Guidelines (LPG). Each review examines critical elements that are used to provide information to the Lockbox Processing sites. It is imperative that the reviews are completed daily. They will be used to assess the overall performance of each Lockbox sites.

    Note:

    SPC's with multiple Lockbox Sites are required to perform daily review of work received from each Lockbox site.

  2. Each review is associated with a data collection instrument (DCI) created in Microsoft Excel. Results from these reviews will be incorporated into the Lockbox Performance Standard. General and specific guidelines for the review process and use of DCIs can be found in the sections below.

3.0.275.9.2  (10-01-2010)
General Guidelines

  1. The DCIs reflect the work to be sampled, sample size, error descriptions and other review information. Read both the instruction and the DCI carefully before beginning.

  2. Document all pertinent comments relating to charged errors in the "other" column. Write them in the comments area on the DCI or on the main comments sheet.

    Note:

    Ensure corrective action is taken on the taxpayer's account when identified during the Service Center Review..

  3. Forward completed DCIs to the Lockbox Field Coordinator (LFC) by the third working day of the following month. The LFC will maintain these reports for the length of the contract.

3.0.275.9.3  (10-01-2010)
Mail Out Package Review

  1. A 100 percent review of the mail-out package must be performed daily upon receipt.

  2. In the column entitled "Package Contents," answer "complete" if all the required items were included in the packages, answer "Incomplete" if any of the required items were missing.

  3. In the column entitled "Received timely," answer "YES" if the mail-out package was received on time and answer "NO" if it was not.

  4. In the column entitled "Lockbox Document Transmittal (LDT) correct," answer "YES" if the LDT was correct and answer "NO" if it was not.

    Note:

    The Lockbox site should not be penalized if acts of nature delay delivery of the package. If this happens, mark the package as timely received. Notate in the comments column "An act of nature delayed delivery."

  5. For any "Incomplete" or "NO" provide an explanation in the comments column.

  6. Forward the DCI to the LFC by the third working day of the following month.

3.0.275.9.4  (10-01-2010)
Unprocessable Items Review

  1. An employee from the Improvement Team function will perform sample reviews on all unprocessable (with remittance and non-remittance) work in Receipt & Control on a daily basis.

  2. To sample, randomly select 15 with remittance documents and 15 non-remittance documents to review.

  3. Record the number of processable items found. Also record the number of common processing requirements not met among the unprocessable items. The DCI has a list of the codes and corresponding processing requirements.

  4. If the "other" category is selected, explain the error in the comments column.

  5. Forward the DCI to the LFC by the third working day of the following month.

3.0.275.9.5  (10-01-2011)
Return Sort Review

  1. IMF returns will only be reviewed January through April at IMF sites. BMF work will be reviewed year round at BMF sites.

  2. An employee from the Improvement Team function will perform a sample review from each category of returns in Receipt and Control on a daily basis.

  3. To sample, randomly select six batches from each category. Randomly select three returns from each sampled batch. If six batches are not available in a category, randomly select three returns from each batch. If sampled batches have less than three returns, review all returns available, do not sample another batch

    Note:

    After the returns have been pulled for sample, the returns are individual items and are subject to individual error. No matter what batch they came from.

    .

  4. Record the number of returns found in error on the DCI. An error will result when:

    • Return is mis-routed (e.g., Form 1040A sorted as Form 1040).

    • A check is found on the first page, the balance due page, or with the W-2 on the front.

    • A Form 9465 (Installment Agreement Request) attached to the front of the return and not date stamped.

    • A Form 9465 attached to the front of a return sorted as "Full Paid" (should be Part Paid or Non Remit).

    • A refund return sorted as "Full Paid" (should be Part Paid or Non Remit).

  5. Review the cover sheets associated with each sampled batch. On the DCI, record the number of cover sheets reviewed and the number of cover sheets in error. Cover sheets with the wrong received date or wrong form are considered in error. Each cover sheet can only be charged one error, even if it contains multiple errors. Use the additional columns to show the number of each error type found. Results will filter to the cover sheets summary tab in the worksheet.

    Note:

    The review of full-paid returns may be delayed during April peak because some work is shelved. Once work resumes on the shelved returns, they should then be sampled for this review.

  6. Forward the DCI to the Lockbox Field Coordinator by the third working day of the following month.

3.0.275.9.6  (10-01-2011)
Return Sort 1040X Review (April Only)

  1. An employee from the Improvement Team function will perform a sample review of 1040X returns daily in Receipt and Control the month of April only at IMF sites only.

  2. To sample, randomly select six batches of 1040X returns. Randomly select three returns from each sampled batch. If there are not six batches available, randomly select three returns from each batch that is available. If sampled batches have less than three returns, review all returns available. Do not sample another batch.

  3. Record the number of returns in error on the DCI. Use the error codes on the DCI to identify the types of errors. If the "other" category is selected, explain the error using the comments column.

    Note:

    The number of errors cannot exceed the number of sampled returns. One return can have multiple errors but only count one error. Detail the multiple errors in the "type of errors section."

    Note:

    After the returns have been pulled for sample, the returns are individual items and are subject to individual error. No matter what batch they came from.

  4. Review the cover sheets associated with each sampled batch. On the DCI, record the number of cover sheets reviewed and the number of cover sheets in error. Cover sheets with the wrong received date or wrong form are considered in error. Each cover sheet can only be charged one error, even if it contains multiple errors. Use the additional columns to show the number of each error type found. Results will filter to the cover sheets summary tab in the workbook.

  5. Forward the DCI to the Lockbox Field Coordinator no later than the third working day of the following month.

3.0.275.9.7  (10-01-2011)
Prior Year and Delinquent Return Sort Reviews

  1. An employee from the Improvement Team function will review a sample of prior year and delinquent returns in Receipt and Control.

  2. To sample, randomly select a total of six batches of prior year returns and a total of six batches of delinquent returns. Randomly select three returns from each sampled batch. If there are not six batches available within a category, randomly select three returns from each batch that is available. If sampled batches have less than three returns, review all returns available. Do not sample another batch.

  3. Record the number of returns in error on the appropriate DCI to identify the types of errors. If the "other" category is selected, explain the error using the comments column.

    Note:

    The number of errors cannot exceed the number of sampled returns. One return can have multiple errors but only count one error. Detail the multiple errors in the "type of errors" section.

    Note:

    After the returns have been pulled for sample, the returns are individual items and are subject to individual error. No matter what batch they came from.

  4. Review the cover sheets associated with each sampled batch. On the DCI, record the number of the cover sheets reviewed and the number of cover sheets in error. Cover sheets with the wrong received date or wrong form are considered in error. Each cover sheet can only be charged one error, even if it contains multiple errors. Use the additional columns to show the number of each error type found. Results will filter to the cover sheets summary tab in the workbook.

  5. Forward the DCI 's to the Lockbox Field Coordinator no later than the third working day of the following month.

3.0.275.9.8  (10-01-2010)
Deposit Error Review

  1. Each lockbox will pull a random sample of 8 envelopes for each day that they receive mail.

  2. All copies will be placed in a larger envelope labeled "Deposit Error Sample, Improvement Team Staff," along with the appropriate Mail Stop number. This package will be put in Box #1 of the daily Lockbox Shipment.

  3. An employee from the Improvement Team Function will review the selected samples provided by the lockbox. The sample could include either IMF or BMF items.

    Note:

    This review must be performed throughout the year for each day the lockbox receives mail.

    Note:

    The following procedures provide basic instructions for performing the Service Center DCI Lockbox Deposit Error Review utilizing the RTR system.

  4. RTR Instructions:

    1. Access RTR

    2. Click on "Research" in tool bar at top of screen.

    3. RTR Research: enter criteria screen will come up. Query by entering a Deposit Date 'range' (note: the range should be the "received date" plus five calendar days), enter the TIN, Name Control, and payment amount. Near the bottom of the screen click "Lockbox Only" . After entering this information press enter or click "Submit."

    4. When the payment is found the following screen will come up: Filter results: 1 Transaction Found.

    5. Click on the date in the Deposit Date cell (e.g., 02/14/2005). The following screen will come up: ISR1340 Document Remittance Register Details - print this screen (landscape). Using the information on the print verify that the payment was processed accurately (i.e., verify that the payment was processed with the correct MFT, TIN, Name Control, Money Amount, Transaction Date, (should be the date notated by the lockbox bank on the case file) Tax Period, Transaction Code(s). Special instructions for split payments or multiple payments Verify all data available. Charge only one error per case.

      Note:

      If a payment was not processed accurately notate the correct information on the RTR ISR1340 screen print below the incorrect date in error. Attach the screen print to each case file.

    6. When an error is found place an "X" on the DCI in the column that best describes the error. Provide copies of the RTR ISR1340 and copies of the sampled case to the Lockbox Coordinator.

3.0.275.9.9  (10-01-2010)
Deposit Error Review DCI Instructions

  1. Record the number of cases received on the DCI using the received date from the sample.

  2. Do not enter zeros for days when the review is not performed.

  3. Record the number of cases found in error on the DCI. Use the "Lockbox Error" column to document these errors.

  4. Use the error codes on the DCI to identify the types of errors found.

  5. If the "other" category is used, record an error and use the Comment column to explain the error.

    Note:

    A case may have more than one error code identified, but only one error per case may be charged.

  6. Provide a copy of the case that is in error and the associated RTR data screen print to the Lockbox Field Coordinator.

  7. Forward the DCIs to the LFC no later than the third working day of the following month.

  8. Retain all sample Lockbox Deposit Error Rate (DER) cases for a rolling six month.

3.0.275.9.10  (10-01-2010)
DCI Column Explanations

  1. Taxpayer Error - Used when an error occurred due to information provided by the taxpayer. This may include illegible or unclear information. For taxpayer errors, no errors will be notated in the categories under "Types of Errors" .

  2. Unprocessable - Used when a case is a true with/remittance unprocessable and was handled correctly by the bank. If the bank incorrectly sent the case to the center as an unprocessable, the case should not be entered in this column. It should instead be marked as a "Lockbox Error" .

  3. Residual - Used when the sample case does not involve a remittance. No errors will be notated on residual cases.

  4. Taxpayer Impact - Used when a case that is marked as a lockbox error will result in a notice, letter, penalty, and/or interest charge to the taxpayer. The type of impact must be described in the comments column.

3.0.275.9.11  (10-01-2010)
Automatic Extension of Time to File Review Form 4868 (April 20th - May 10th IMF Only)

  1. Each IMF Lockbox Site will pull a daily random sample of twelve envelopes from the Form 4868 PO Box if available.

  2. The Lockbox site will place all photocopied items in a larger envelope labeled with: Improvement Team, appropriate Mail Stop, and "Lockbox Form 4868 Review" . This package will be put in the daily Mail-out package.

  3. An employee from the "Improvement Team" will review the selected samples provided by the Lockbox Site.

    Note:

    Sampling will only be done at the IMF Lockbox sites.

3.0.275.9.12  (10-01-2010)
Form 4868 Review DCI instructions

  1. Errors will be charged when an extension has been processed incorrectly as approved or incorrectly as unapproved or if an extension has been processed as approved with a RTR transaction date later than 4/22/2010 (or 4/15 for items received 4/23 through 5/7 subject to the postmark review) or processed with an incorrect transaction date.

  2. All other errors identified (SSN, name control, etc.) may be recorded in the comments column, but will not be recorded in the "Lockbox Error" column.

  3. On a daily basis, whenever an error is identified or suspected notify the LFC IMMEDIATELY via their cell phone. It will be necessary to contact your LFC on their cell phone as they will be at the bank site during the review period.

3.0.275.9.13  (10-01-2011)
DCI Explanations

  1. Sample Date - The "Sample Date" is the received date of the sample case received.

  2. Lockbox DLN - For each case, enter the Lockbox DLN (xxxxx-xxx-xxxxx). The Lockbox DLN can be determined via Remittance Transaction Research System (RTR) research and will have a valid Lockbox File Location Code (FLC) from the chart below. If the case is a 'residual' enter the taxpayer's name control in place of the DLN.

    LOCKBOX FILE LOCATION CODES
    SPC Lockbox Bank Scan Scan Overflow Non-Scan Non-Scan Overflow
    AUSPC JP Morgan 73 50 75 53
    CSPC USB - Cincinnati 35   31  
    FSPC BOA-Union City 68 15 94 24
    FSPC -1 USB - Cincinnati 33 80 77 90
    KCSPC USB-St. Louis 36   39  
    KCSPC - 1 BOA-Windsor 47   48  
    KCSPC BOA-College Park 40   42  
    OSPC BOA-Tucker 91   92  

    Note:

    Consider the following as residual: a non-remit Form 4868 or any form other than a Form 4868. However, if a form other than a Form 4868 was actually processed as a Form 4868, this is NOT a residual and the information should be captured on the DCI (e.g., a Form 1040ES that was processed as a Form 4868). A "check only" annotated by the taxpayer anywhere on the check as payment for an extension should be processed as unapproved.

  3. Lockbox Error - Place an "X" in the "Lockbox Error" column for the following error conditions:

    • Processed incorrectly as approved.

    • Processed incorrectly as unapproved.

    • Processed as approved with a transaction date of 4/23 or later. (For samples with received dates 4/20 through 4/22.)

    • Processed as approved with a transaction date later than 4/15 (this is for samples with received dates 4/23 through 5/7 that have a timely postmark of 4/15 or earlier).

    • Processed with an incorrect transaction date.

  4. Postmark Date - Enter the earliest date (if "missing" or "illegible" ) from the envelope.

  5. RTR Transaction Date - Input the transaction date from RTR. Use the RTR instructions below to locate the transaction on RTR.
    RTR

    1. Access RTR

    2. Click on "Research" in tool bar at top of screen.

    3. RTR Research: Enter criteria, screen will come up. Query by entering a Deposit Date Range.

      Note:

      The range should be the "received date" plus 5 calendar days, enter the TIN, name control, and payment amount. Near the bottom of the screen click "Lockbox Only." After entering this information press enter or click "Submit."

    4. When the payment is found the following screen will come up: Filter results: 1 Transaction found.

    5. Click on the date in the "Deposit Date" cell (e.g., 04/16/2011). The following screen will come up: ISR1340 Document Remittance Register Details - print this screen (landscape). Using the information on the print, verify that the payment was processed accurately with the correct MFT, TIN, name control, money amount, transaction date, (should be the date notated by the Lockbox bank on the case file) tax period and transaction code(s).

      Note:

      If a payment was not processed accurately notate the correct information on the RTR ISR1340 screen print below the incorrect data. Attached the screen print to each case file.


      Special instructions for split payments or multiple payments

    • Verify all data available.

  6. Transaction Date Correct - Select "yes" or "no" from the dropdown menu. Items received April 23 through May 7 are subject to a postmark review and should have a 4/15 transaction date if the earliest postmark is timely. Items with missing, illegible, and untimely postmarks should carry the transaction date annotated on the sample.

  7. IDRS Date - Enter the IDRS date of the Lockbox transaction. Use the IDRS instructions below to determine how the extension was processed.
    IDRS

    1. Access IDRS

    2. Research payment via Command Code IMFOLT (other command codes may be used if necessary). Use the SSN from the RTR report to research the payment. Be sure the payment you review is the posted Lockbox Payment which will have a Lockbox FLC.

  8. Processed as approval/not approved - Place an "X" in the appropriate column indicating how the extension was processed. If the payment was processed as approved, there will a transaction code 460 and transaction code 670 with the Lockbox DLN present on the module.

  9. Comments - Any pertinent comments, including transactions processed with an incorrect TIN, name control, etc.

    SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

    1. If processing errors are identified or suspected contact your LFC immediately! It will be necessary to contact the LFC on their cell as they will be at the Lockbox site during the review period.

    2. Please take appropriate steps to ensure that any errors identified during the review, the Planning and Analysis Staff should be notified.

    3. At the end of the review period, provide all copies to your LFC, this includes: all photocopy envelope and contents, IDRS prints, and RTR prints. Each sample case should be stapled together including backup research data (RTR and IDRS prints).

3.0.275.9.14  (10-01-2011)
After Completing the Review

  1. On a daily basis, whenever an error is identified or suspected NOTIFY the Lockbox Coordinator IMMEDIATELY via their cell phone. At the end of the review period, provide all copies to your LFC, this includes: all photocopied envelopes and contents, IDRS prints, and RTR prints even if no error was charged. Each sample case should be stapled together including backup research data (RTR and IDRS prints).

3.0.275.10  (10-01-2007)
Correspondence Error Rate Business Result Measure

  1. The purpose of the Correspondence Error Rate Business Results Measure is to determine the combined percentage of incorrect correspondences (letters and notices) issued to taxpayers by Submission Processing.

3.0.275.10.1  (10-01-2007)
Definition of Correspondence Error Rate

  1. The Correspondence Error Rate is defined as the percentage of incorrect letters and notices issued to taxpayers by Submission Processing. The number of correspondences that are inaccurate, unprofessional or unclear, as a direct result of an employee's action and/or the result of an automation/computer generated/IRM process is divided by the sample size to determine the percentage of inaccurate correspondence. This sample is comprised of 60 percent notices and 40 percent letters.

3.0.275.10.2  (10-01-2007)
Sampling, Data Gathering and Reports for Correspondence Error Rate

  1. The Letter and Notice Error sampling, review procedures, data gathering, and data entry will be based upon the current guidelines established for these measures.

  2. After the data has been entered into the Letter and Notice Error Rate SMART databases an extract of the combined data will be loaded into the Correspondence Error Rate Reports.

  3. There will be four reports that will provide information on the Correspondence Error Rate. They are:

    • Correspondence Error Rate Report by Site, IMF, BMF, and National Accuracy with Systemic Errors Counted as Errors

    • Correspondence Error Rate Report by Site, IMF, BMF, and National Systemic Errors Not Counted as Errors

    • Correspondence Error Rate Fiscal Year Report - Accuracy Errors with Systemic Errors Counted as Errors

    • Correspondence Error Rate Fiscal Year Report - Accuracy - Systemic Errors not Counted as Errors

  4. The Headquarters Analyst will be responsible for reporting the results to management. The sites will still prepare their monthly reports and narratives using the current Letter and Notice Error Rate procedures.

3.0.275.11  (10-01-2010)
Business Return Error Rate (BRER)
Business Result Measure

  1. The purpose of the BRER is to measure overall quality of BMF Submission Processing Pipeline processing. Errors are recorded if there are any defects in Entity, Tax, Credits, Balance Due or Refund amounts after the return has been processed. The measure includes both Non-Systemic Errors and Systemic Errors.

3.0.275.11.1  (10-01-2009)
Definition of Business Return Error Rate

  1. Business Return Error Rate is defined as the percentage of current year Form 1065, 1120, 1041, and 94X family paper returns that have an error in the entity, tax, credits or balance due/refund.

3.0.275.11.2  (10-01-2010)
Sample Instructions for Business Return Error Rate

  1. The measure will use the Standardized Normal sample size calculation to achieve a 95 percent confidence level and a sample precision not greater than 5 percent. Initially, the calculation will use the individual error and accuracy rates as reported during the baseline test period.

  2. Samples are generated through a system of automated Generalized Mainline Framework (GMF) runs at Martinsburg and Tennessee Computing Centers. The sample is generated once each week and output files are sent to the Submission Processing Campus. These runs also automate document requests. See Document 6209, IRS Processing Codes and information, for GMF Processing Cycles.

  3. A standard sample size of 160 cases per month for each center was established by Statistics of Income (SOI). This sample size represents a total of all BRER from types.

  4. If you discover problems with the sampling runs, report the problem on ITAMS following local procedures.

3.0.275.11.3  (10-01-2010)
Formula/Methodology

  1. The calculation of the BRER is a ratio of incorrect BMF returns compared against the total number of BMF returns reviewed in a sample. The result of the ratio is weighed against the entire volume of paper returns a center has processed on a monthly basis. The monthly results are tabulated to determine the performance rating for the corporate and site levels. Returns requiring correspondence or additional data from taxpayers are excluded from the sample. IMF returns and electronically filed returns are not included in this measure.

3.0.275.11.4  (10-01-2011)
Data Sources

  1. The following GMF runs obtain data listings, daily and weekly totals, charge outs, summary and parameter information.

    1. GMF 1611

      The GMF 1611 is an output file from GMF 16 and provides a listing of data from each sampled return. Data from GMF 1611 is loaded into the SMART database each week.

      • DLN

      • Service center abbreviation

      • BMF form number

      • EIF/NAP response indicator

      • CADE indicator

      • Tax period

      • Posting date

      • Sample date

      • Sample DCI number

    2. BMF 1612

      The GMF 1612 is an output file from GMF 16 and provides weekly totals data for each sampled BRER return. Data from GMF 1612 is loaded into the SMART database each week.

      • Service center abbreviation

      • BMF form number

      • Skip Interval

      • Posting date

      • Start number

      • Sample count

      • Population Count

      The Skip Interval is from a particular form and indicates the number of available forms to be passed over before another type of this form is selected for the sample during the weekly posting cycle. Posting date is the last day of the posting cycle. The Start Number is the first form of this type to sample during the next cycle. The Sample Count is the total number of samples of this form that were selected during the cycle. The Population Count is the total paper population of this form that successfully posted during the weekly cycle.

    3. BMF 1619

      The daily GMF 1619 contains data for the BRER Chargeouts file found on Control-D.

    4. GMF 1650

      The GMF 1650 is the daily summary of BMF paper processing covering all BMF returns that are of interest to BRER. Processing volumes are broken down by Form family (940, all other 94X, 1041, 1065, and 1120). Each Form family's page lists (by Form Number) the daily total paper population of a particular form and the daily total samples of the form, for each BMF Service Center. The GMF 1650 must be reviewed by the Improvement Team and the hard copy counts compared with the BRER sample count of each form type that was received from Files.

      Review the GMF 1650 on Control-D each day to verify sampling has been completed. If you identify any sample problems, open an ITAMS ticket following local procedures and inform BRER HQ analyst.

    5. GMF 1781

      The GMF 1781 is an annual file generated by GMF 87. It is used to edit the parameter file that sets service center skip intervals. This file contains:

      • The employee's SEID of the Improvement Team analyst who reviews Form Family,

      • The Mail Stop of the Improvement Team analyst who reviews Form Family,

      • The Start Number and Skip Interval for each particular Form.

    6. BRER Chargeouts

      The BRER Chargeouts file is generated from the GMF 1619. This is the BRER Return Charge-out report. Each page is a Form 4251 for a BRER sampled return. Each Form 4251 contains the return DLN, the BMF form number, and the tax period. Printing of this file should be coordinated by the local Improvement Team analyst with their sites Print Room. Photocopies of the Form 4251 should be made by the Improvement Team for inventory control records. Forward the original Form 4251 to Files for BRER sample return retrieval.

      Note:

      The Forms 4251 are also numbered with the BRER Sample's Case DCI number. This will make it convenient for the Improvement Team analyst or clerk to match the paper case document with the same case's GMF 1611 data that was pre-loaded into SMART, thus assisting the Improvement Team in managing the inventory.

3.0.275.11.5  (10-01-2011)
Clerical Procedures for BRER

  1. The Improvement Team employee(s) should prepare folders for each week's sample. The folders should be clearly labeled with the extract (month-week) and the cycle number. The daily GMF 1650 and photocopied Forms 4251 should be placed in the folder awaiting the returns.

  2. Check the return received from Files against the GMF 1650 listing to verify that all documents have been received.

    Charge Out Information
    If: Then:
    charge out information indicates the document is charged out, contact the area to get a copy of the document.
    charge out information indicates the document is not in file, review IDRS to see if the return was re-numbered.
    a reply has not been received from Files and 10 days have passed, Input a 2nd request using CC ESTABD "F."
    document cannot be located and 21 days have passed, input a 3rd request using CC ESTABD "V."

  3. If the Improvement Team is contacted by another IRS function requesting an original sample document be forwarded to them, and the original document is currently in the team's inventory, input ESTABDT with the requesting employee's IDRS number to re-charge the document. Photocopy the return and place it in the case file. The original may then be forwarded to the requesting employee.

3.0.275.11.6  (10-01-2010)
General Case Review for BRER

  1. The Improvement Team analyst will fully review each sample case for Entity, Tax, Credit and Balance Due/Refund errors.

  2. Refer to the appropriate SP IRMs for procedural instructions.

    1. Record a Systemic error whenever IRM instructions have been followed and there is a discrepancy in the Entity, Tax, Credits, or Balance Due/Refund.

    2. Record a Non-Systemic error whenever established IRM instructions have not been followed.

  3. Research each sample case using the following IDRS Command Codes and research tools.

    Note:

    Other tools and command codes may be necessary to properly research your case.

    1. BRTVU to determine how the taxpayer filed the return. Compare transcribed data with what is printed on the return. Compare the Received Date, if present. Check for coding/transcription errors and any TPNC's.

    2. BMFOLT to compare the TC150 amount with the Total Tax line on the return. If the return has not yet posted, check for an unpostable condition.

    3. TXMOD to check for pending transactions and employee case assignments.

    4. UPTIN to check for unpostable conditions.

    5. TRDBV use in researching Error Resolution System (ERS) case history.

    6. RTR to research for correct posting of questionable remittance and payments.

  4. If the sampled return is a pending, subsequent or amended return, (Pending TC 976 on TXMOD), verify the document was sent to the correct campus area for processing. If the document was processed in SP ICO, review for accuracy and completeness. If the returns was routed to campus Accounts Management, review for correct document routing procedures.

3.0.275.11.6.1  (10-01-2011)
Entity Review for BRER

  1. The purpose of the Entity Index File processing is to save key strokes during Distribution Input system/Remittance Processing (DIS/RPS) data entry if the name and address information already exists on Master File.

  2. The Entity Index File is created from entity data extracted from the Business Master File, the Employee Plans Master File and the Individual Master File, as well as Social Security Administration data. The Entity Program determines whether the operator must transcribe the name and address data.

  3. The NAP/EIF Response indicator is loaded to the SMART database from GMF 1611 for each sample case. Use this information to focus on the root causes of entity discrepancies.

  4. For BRER, the entity Index File only verifies the "in care of" name line and the address on Business Returns. No other name lines are verified.

  5. When reviewing either the Entity or Address, and a defect results from the Entity Index File Response a systemic defect should be charged.

  6. Route cases requiring entity corrections to the Entity Team following local procedures.

3.0.275.11.6.2  (10-01-2010)
Address Review for BRER

  1. When accessing the BMF Entity Index file, the data transcriber inputs the EIN, the first 6 characters or spaces of the address line and the zip code. If this information matches master file, the Entity section will not display for updating. If ENMOD or BRTVU prints differ from the tax form in the name lines or address other than the first 6 characters/spaces of an address or in the zip code, the error should be charged as Systemic.

  2. Common abbreviations for "Street" "Avenue," etc., are acceptable. Do not code as a defect.

  3. Abbreviation of the literal "Apartment" as "APT" or "Suite" as "Ste" is acceptable. Do not code as a defect.

  4. Incorrect or omitted apartment or suite number is a non-systemic accuracy error (a defect resulting from accessing the Entity Index File is charged as a systemic error).

3.0.275.11.6.3  (10-01-2011)
Tax Review for BRER

  1. Compare all transcribed entries leading to the Total Tax line of the return under review. Ensure that all supporting schedules and forms are attached to the document. Code a processing error if an entry is present, there is no support documentation and correspondence or missing schedule procedures have not been followed.

  2. Verify the tax computation to ensure any manual or special computations are correct.

3.0.275.11.6.4  (10-01-2010)
Credit Review for BRER

  1. Verify all credits claimed are correctly transcribed. Ensure any necessary support documentation is attached and any missing schedule/correspondence procedures have been followed.

  2. Verify all payments claimed on the return are consistent with those posted to the account.

3.0.275.11.6.5  (10-01-2010)
Balance Due/Refund Review for BRER

  1. Verify the return was correctly batched. Record a SP error if a refund return was batched as a non-refund return. Record an error for any incorrect DLN blocking series.

  2. Do not record an error for incorrect Balance Due/Refund if the difference can be attributed to a prior error in Credits or Tax.

3.0.275.11.6.6  (10-01-2010)
Signature review for BRER

  1. A signature and jurat are required on most returns. See the Signature Area reference of the specific SP IRMs for the return under review for exceptions. Code a processing error if a signature is not present and the document does not meet any of these exceptions.

3.0.275.11.7  (10-01-2011)
DCI Coding for BRER

  1. Identify all submission processing errors using the WHO, WHAT, WHERE and EXPOE codes. See the following EXHIBITS for coding of BRER cases: Exhibit 3.0.275-24. for Who Codes, Exhibit 3.0.275-25 for What Codes, Exhibit 3.0.275-26 for Where Codes, Exhibit 3.0.275-27 for EXPOE Codes
    and BRER Appendix B portion of the Business Results Measures Job Aid, Catalog Number 37697B

  2. Record the review results on the BRER DCI.

  3. A "Local Use" field is provided on the BRER DCI and may be used at the option of local Improvement Teams to track processing conditions and attributes that may be informative to their particular management officials. It is a maximum of three digits. Input is numeric only.

  4. A "National Office Use" field is provided on the BRER DCI. This field is input by local Improvement Teams at the direction of the HQ analyst. The codes are intended to track conditions and attributes that may be informative on a national scale. Codes for this field will be furnished to the local sites by the HQ BRER analyst.

  5. WHO Codes 1 through 26 are considered Non-systemic Internal Operation errors - always the primary defect, since SP caused the error. WHO Codes 27 through 39 are considered IRS Internal Systemic errors - may be a primary defect, SP had no control over causing the error and may not have been able to detect, prevent or correct before the return posted. WHO Codes 40 through 45 are considered External Systemic Errors secondary Defect ONLY - Must be accompanied by at least one chargeable Internal Primary Defect on the DCI, since SP should identify and correct External errors before the return posts to Master File. .

  6. Input the record to the SMART database.

3.0.275.11.7.1  (10-01-2010)
Reporting the BRER Results

  1. After case analysis is completed on each return, provide the results of the review to the Pipeline Operations and Pipeline Department Managers. Follow local reporting procedures.

  2. See IRM 3.0.275.1.10 for SMART Database Cut-Off dates and report information for all measures.

Exhibit 3.0.275-1 
Business Results Measures Communication Record

Business Results Measures Communication Record
RESPONSE DUE DATE:
THIS CASE CONTAINS ONE OR MORE INACCURATE CONDITIONS
OPERATION RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECT:
 
DATE:
CASE NUMBER:
SPECIFIC DEFECT:
PROCEDURAL REFERENCE (if applicable):
 
 
BRANCH COORDINATOR RESPONSE*
 
DATE:
SIGNATURE:
PHONE:
COMMENTS:
 
 
 

Note:

No response is required if you agree with the defect. The correction of the case must be made within 2 weeks of receipt. If not, the Improvement team will follow-up. A rebuttal must be received by the Response Due Date indicated above. If you have any questions, please call Ext. XXXX. Send responses to: Improvement Team Review, Team XX, Stop#XXXX.

Exhibit 3.0.275-2 
SMART Database Cut-Off Dates and Report Due Dates for all Business Measure Results

The following table shows the FY 2012 cut-off dates.

Sample Month Data Cut-Off Monthly Report Run Narrative to HQ Results Posted by HQ
OCT. 2011 11/22/2011 11/23/2011 11/28/2011 12/01/2011
NOV. 2011 12/22/2011 12/23/2011 01/03/2012 01/06/2012
DEC. 2011 01/20/2012 01/23/2012 01/24/2012 01/27/2012
JAN. 2012 02/22/2012 02/23/2012 02/24/2012 02/29/2012
FEB. 2012 03/22/2012 03/23/2012 03/26/2012 03/29/2012
MAR. 2012 04/20/2012 04/23/2012 04/24/2012 04/27/2012
APR. 2012 05/22/2012 05/23/2012 05/24/2012 05/30/2012
MAY 2012 06/22/2012 06/23/2012 06/26/2012 06/29/2012
JUNE 2012 07/20/2012 07/23/2012 07/24/2012 07/27/2012
JULY 2012 08/22/2012 08/23/2012 08/24/2012 08/29/2012
AUG. 2012 09/21/2012 09/23/2012 09/25/2012 09/28/2012
SEPT. 2012 10/22/2012 10/23/2012 10/24/2012 10/29/2012

Exhibit 3.0.275-3 
Check list for Entity, Letters, Greenies, RAIVS and R&C

Analyze all of the following items, if applicable, when doing your review.

Entity Review
1. Is the TIN correct and legible?
2. Are all name lines correct and legible?
3. Is the street name, house number/letter, apartment number/letter, city, state and zip code correct?
4. Is the MFT in the reference area of the letter (top right hand side of IDRS letter) correct?
5. Is the form number correct?
6. Is the tax period correct?
Letters, Greenies, RAIVS and R&C Review
1. Are the chosen fill-ins correct and complete?
2. Was the case appropriately referred?
3. Were Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) cases identified and handled correctly?
4. Was letter/taxpayer contact necessary? If not, code error for letter not necessary. No additional coding is necessary.
5. Was the required IRS telephone number provided on the letter?
6. Was a timeframe given for the taxpayer response?
7. When responding to a taxpayer correspondence or inquiry, were all taxpayer issues addressed?
8. Were all IRS issues addressed, including advising the taxpayer of the current balance due when appropriate?
9. Were all appropriate attachments/enclosures included in the Correspondence and letter request?

Note:

If the enclosure was omitted or incorrect an Accuracy error should be charged. See IRM 21.3.3, "Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence/Letters" for enclosure information. If the letter does not indicate enclosed but refers taxpayer to IRS Office, and enclosure is shown, no defect (e.g., 510C- enclosures Notice 363 or 609).

10. Was the letter sent to an authorized Power Of Attorney (POA) or representative?
11. Were all appropriate disclosure regulations and procedures followed?
12. Is the language correct in an open paragraph? No IRS jargon, courteous tone.
13. Were all words capitalized appropriately? Example: The different Operations within Submission Processing should be capitalized (e.g., Customer Service). Code as a Professionalism error.
14. Was proper grammar used?
15. Was correct punctuation used?
16. Was the proper salutation used? Is it in the correct format?
17. Was correct spacing used?
18. Were there any spelling or typographical errors?
19. On hand-written letters or greenies, was all text legible?
20. Were the correct paragraphs selected?
21. Was an apology to the taxpayer included when appropriate?
22. When responding to a taxpayer correspondence or inquiry, does the letter state "this letter is in response to your inquiry of MMDDYYYY?"
23. Was the appropriate closing paragraph used?

Exhibit 3.0.275-4 
Letter Error Rate What and Where Codes

Letter Error Rate What Codes
What Codes Descriptions Explanations
101 Omitted Information is missing - (e.g., para., Name Line, contact name is not complete-showed last name when a courtesy title or first and last name was necessary. Codes to use: WHERE CODE 210, and/or WHERE CODE 214).
102 Incorrect Information is wrong - money amount, (e.g., fill-in amount showed 1,381.00, should be 1,381.03 per return. Street address - apartment number is incorrect).
103 Illegible Unreadable - (e.g., greenies, bad photocopy).
104 Reserved  
105 Unclear Language (not content) used is confusing or not specific - (e.g., systemic error on 12C letter for the para. that shows 1040 or 1040A. We received your correspondence referencing the removal of Form 730 filing requirement).
106 Reserved  
107 Unnecessary Use when letter is not needed, or contains extraneous spacing, punctuation, capitalization or multiple paragraphs providing same information.
108 Incomplete Only use when sentence or paragraph is incomplete. Only WHERE Code 225 or 219 can be used if WHAT Code 108 is used. (validity check will be returned if incorrect WHERE Code is used).
109 Unauthorized Use to identify disclosure issues.
110 Other (Comments requires) (e.g., inappropriate language used/tone)
Letter Error Rate Where Codes
Where Codes Descriptions Explanations/Clarifications
201 TIN Taxpayer Identification Number
202 Name Line 1 1st Name Line
203 Name Line 2/3/4 2/3/4 Name Line
204 Address Address
205 MFT Master File Tax Class
206 Form/Schedule Form and Schedule
207 Tax Period Tax Period
208 Fill-in Use to designate fields within a selective paragraph or other fields that require manual entries, other than contact point, money amounts and date information (there is a code for this).
209 Letter Use to designate a specific letter (e.g., 86C should be 12C, or letter should not have been sent at all).
210 Contact Point Use to designate name/phone number used within a selective/open paragraph.
211 Timeframes/Time Zone Use to designate hours of service for your area.
212 Taxpayer Issues All taxpayer issues not addressed.
213 IRS Issues If used, comments are required (e.g., date stamp on Greenies or advising the taxpayer of the current balance due.)
214 Attachments/Enclosures Attachments or enclosures
215 POA/Personal Rep. Power of Attorney or Rep.
216 Disclosure Disclosure
217 Language/Grammar Language/Grammar
218 Capitalization Capitalization
219 Open Paragraph Use when an open paragraph was manually composed.
220 Punctuation Punctuation
221 Salutation Salutation
222 Spacing Spacing
223 Spelling/Typographical Spelling/Typographical
224 Money amount(s)/Format(s) Use to designate an error in a money amount, includes dollar sign and commas (IRM 2.4.6, covering Command Codes, and see Exhibit 2, for additional clarification).
225 Paragraph Selected/canned paragraphs.
226 Apology Apology
227 Date (Comments required) Includes taxpayer inquiry date, received date, response date (IRM 3.30.123, Processing Timeliness: Cycles, Criteria and Critical Dates).
228 Closing Ending
229 Request for Signature Signature paragraph missing or signature code is incorrect.
230 Other (Comments required) Other
231 Acronyms/IRS Jargon Acronyms/IRS Jargon

Exhibit 3.0.275-5 
Deposit Error Rate Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What if I am unable to locate the payment after IDRS research has been completed?
Answer: Research the Remittance Transaction Research (RTR) Subsystem for the Form 813 listing. Research the SCCF database using Command Code SCFTR to retrieve posting information. Research for the payment on the Automated Non-Master File (ANMF).

Question: Is it an error if the payment I'm reviewing goes Unpostable?
Answer: If the payment went Unpostable due to a systemic condition and no internal processing error was made, code the case as accurate. If the payment goes Unpostable due a transcription or other internal error, code the case as inaccurate.

Note:

Please see note under IRM 3.0.275.5.3. (1).

Question: How do I code the case if the payment has been placed in Unidentified?
Answer: If the payment could have been properly applied with the information provided by the taxpayer or by further research, charge an error to Receipt and Control.

Question: How do I review a split payment?
Answer: Photocopy all available documents. Enter the earliest Master File tax period information on the DCI; however, show the entire remittance in the Deposit Amount field. When payments are intended for more than one Payment Category (i.e., User Fee and Installment Payment), enter the Master File account information on the DCI. Consider the case accurate only if the entire remittance is applied correctly. Indicate "split payment" in the Payment Category field. If you determine that any portion of the payment was misapplied, use What Code "M" on the DCI.

Question: If the posting document is a return, do I need to wait for the return to post to IDRS to consider the case review complete?
Answer: No. The Deposit Error Rate review is focused on the application and deposit of the remittance only.

Exhibit 3.0.275-6 
Non-Master File (NMF) Accounts for Deposit Error Rate

100% penalty

Preparer's penalty

53'd Accounts

Social Security Number ending with the letter "N"

23C date (on notices)

Any of the NMF MFT codes and/or Form numbers listed below:

NMF MFT Form Number NMF MFT Form Number
07 1066, 8736 42 4735
12 1042, 1042S 44 990PF
14 8613, 2758 45 720
17 941, 941NMI, 2749 46 3354VP, 5734
18 942 48 4638
19 943 49 3780, 3780A
20 1040, 1041NMI 50 4720
21 1041 53 706, 706A, 706B, 706NA, 706QDT
22 1041PR 54 709
23 1120-DISC, 8404, 1120-IC-DISC 56 990BL, 2758
24 957 57 6069
25 958 59 Child Support
26 959 66 4720
27 8725 67 990
28 FCVPN 69 8697
29 5329 70 5811 Penalty
31 1120S 71 FTC-1
32 1120(L, M, ND, F) 72 FTC-2
33 990C 74 5500, 5500C
34 990T 76 5330
35 1065 80 940
36 1041A, 2758 81 926
37 5227 89 8612, 2758
38 2438 90 2137, 2617, 3071
40 2034, 2050, 2052 93 2290
41 2521, 2522, 2523, 2527, 4077 96 11C
    97 730

Exhibit 3.0.275-7 
Deposit Error Rate Who and What Codes

Deposit Error Rate Who Codes
Who Codes Descriptions
1 Taxpayer (you must enter a description of this type of error in the Comments field)
2 Receipt and Control
3 Data Conversion
4 Input Correction
5 Other
6 Reserved
7 Data Conversion or Receipt & Control -
IRM 3.0.275.5.4. for Data Input Instructions.
Deposit Error Rate What Codes
What Codes Descriptions
A Incorrect MFT
B Not applied to earliest CSED
C Incorrect TIN
D Incorrect money amount
E Incorrect tax period
F Incorrect date
G Reserved
H TC incorrect
I Secondary TC Omitted/Incorrect
J Reserved
K Insufficient Research
L Incorrect Name Control
M Incorrect posting of split payment
N Incorrect posting of multiple payments
O Non-IRS Payee
 

Note:

When evaluating the transaction code...
If your sample does not include a copy of a return or an indication that there was a return, AND it is not obvious there would be a negative impact on the taxpayer, consider either a TC 610 or a TC 670 as being correct.

Exhibit 3.0.275-8 
Refund Timeliness and Error Rate Who, What, and Why Codes

WHO CODES
Who Codes Descriptions
A Taxpayer
B Receipt & Control
C Code & Edit
D ISRP (Data Conversion)
E Error Correction
F Entity Control
G SCRIPS
H Unpostables
I EIF Systemic
J Other Systemic
K IRM/Handbook/Forms
L Tax Practitioner
M Service Sites
N Other
O Unable to determine
P Other Campus
R ITIN (AUSPC only)
Z Not included in sample
WHAT CODES
What Codes Descriptions
1 Return
2 First Name Line
3 Second Name Line
4 Address Line
5 City
6 State
7 Zip Code
8 Primary SSN
9 Secondary SSN
10 Primary and Secondary SSN
11 Filing Status
12 Exemptions
13 Dependent SSN
14 Dependent Name
15 Wages
16 Total Income
17 Adjustments to Income
18 Adjusted Gross Income
19 Standard Deduction
20 Itemized Deductions
21 Taxable Income (TXI)
22 Tax Amount
23 Form 2441
24 Child Tax Credit
25 Federal Withholding
26 Backup Withholding Amount
27 EIC
28 Non-Taxable Income Amount
29 Additional Child Tax Credit
30 Refund Amount
31 Direct Deposit Information
32 Credit Elect
33 Signature
34 Form(s) W-2
35 Taxpayer Notice Code
36 Computer Condition Code
37 Offset/Freeze
38 Other
39 Non Refundable Credit
40 Return Processable Date
41 IRS Received Date
42 Excluded from Sample
43 Estimated Payments
WHY CODE
Why Codes Descriptions
AA Omitted
BB Entered in Error
CC Entered Incorrectly
DD Misapplied
EE Not Removed/Routed
FF Computed in Error
GG Incomplete
HH Not Corresponded For
II Incorrect
JJ Entered Illegibly
KK Worked Untimely
LL Other
MM Unnecessary Entry
ZZ Not Included in Sample
NN Offset/Freeze
Professionalism WHO CODES
Who Codes Descriptions
A Taxpayer
C Code & Edit
D ISRP (Data Conversion)
E Error Correction
F Entity Control
G SCRIPS
H Unpostables
I EIF Systemic
J Other Systemic
L Tax Practitioner
N Other
Professionalism WHAT CODES
What Codes Descriptions
2 First Name Line
3 Second Name Line
4 Address Line
5 City
Professionalism WHY CODES
Why Codes Descriptions
AA Omitted
BB Entered in Error
CC Entered Incorrectly
II Incorrect
JJ Entered Illegibly
LL Other
MM Unnecessary Entry

Exhibit 3.0.275-9 
Refund Timeliness and Error Rate EIF/NAP Access Codes


EIF-ACCESS-INDICATOR Codes and Descriptions		 NAP-ACCESS-INDICATOR Codes and Descriptions
0 = EIF not accessed 0 = NAP not accessed
1 = EIF was inoperable 1 = NAP was inoperable
2 = Account does not reside on EIF 2 = TIN mismatch on invalid segment (no account)
3 = Name control mismatch on valid segment 3 = Name control mismatch on valid segment
4 = Address mismatch 4 = Address mismatch
5 = Marital filing status different 5 = Marital filing status different
6 = Name control mismatch on the Taxpayer Information File (TIF) 6 = Spouse TIN mismatch
7 = No account on the TIF 7 = 2nd name line is significant
8 = TIF not accessed or inoperable 8 = Name control mismatch on the invalid segment
0 = ERS bypass  
NAP-EIF-RESPONSE INDICATOR
Indicators Description
S Short entity (account present at Master File and a match was made)
P Partial entity (mismatch on IMF Name Control on EIF)
I Intermediate entity (account exists on Master File and only the address information is different)
L Long entity (no account present on Master File or mismatch on name control at Master File or no match on DM-1 tape)
D No tax module or entity exists on Master File, but TIN and Name Control match the DM-1 tape
N Match made on TIN, but Name Control matched on other than current Name Control
F Match made on TIN/Name Control, but filing status code on EIF Access Key is 2 or 7 and EIF/NAP filing status code is 2 or 7

Exhibit 3.0.275-10 
EFT and Direct Deposit Reject Reason Codes

EFT Codes
EFT Codes Description
0 No EFT (for non-ELF filers) or an ELF filer and the refund has been completed using EFT
1 EFT number failed input processing validity checks
2 EFT denied for this module
3 EFT denied because actual refund differs from taxpayer amount
4 EFT refused by financial institution
5 EFT denied because the credit is frozen by an account or module freeze
6 EFT refund after settlement cycle
9 EFT return not requesting a direct deposit
DIRECT DEPOSIT REJECT CODES
Reject Codes Description
Blank Direct Deposit not requested
10 Valid Direct Deposit
21 Missing Routing Transit Number (RTN)
22 Invalid RTN—non-numeric characters present
23 Invalid RTN—first two digits not in a valid range
24 Invalid RTN—RTN not on FOMF-RTN-FILE
25 Invalid RTN—failed internal RTN algorithm check
31 Missing depositor account number
32 Invalid depositor account number—non-alphanumeric characters present (other than hyphen)
33 Missing account number checksum (ELF returns only)
34 Invalid account number checksum (ELF returns only)—account number checksum contains non-numeric characters or less than three characters
35 Invalid account number checksum (ELF returns only)—account number checksum does not match account number when algorithm is applied
41 Prior year return
42 Centralized Authorization File (CAF) indicator switching refund recipient present
43 Computer Condition Code L present
44 The refund transcript situation exists as describe in (2)(h)2 on page 8–01 of PRP460, Example: Taxpayer has zero tax liability with over $10,000 in withholding. Direct Deposit is not allowed.
50 Direct Deposit rejected by bank
60 Miscellaneous condition

Exhibit 3.0.275-11 
Notice Error Submission Processing Notice CP Numbers

The following Submission Processing notices will be included in the accuracy computation of the Notice Business Results Measure. No Spanish Notices will be reviewed.

IMF CP Numbers
CP 01H 12E&G 23R 51B
08 13 24 51C
09 13A 24R 52
10 13M 24U 53
10A 13R 25 54B
10R 14 25R 54E
11 14I 27 54G
11A 16 30 54Q
11M 16R 30A 565
11R 17 39 566
12 18 42 567
12A 20 45  
12M 20G 49  
12R 23 51A  
BMF CP Numbers
101 134B 279A
102 134R 280
103 138 281
104 145 284
105 153 285
106 153 A - H 286
107 161 287
108 162 288
109 173 290
110 180 291
111 181 292
112 182  
113 183  
114 209  
115 211 A - E  
116 250 A - C  
117 259E  
118 259H  
118E 261  
123 262  
124 264  
125 265  
126 266  
127 267  
128 268  
131 275  
131A 277  
132 278  
133 279  

Exhibit 3.0.275-12 
Notice Error Rate Cycles for Monthly Volumes — 2011/2012

MONTH CYCLE 23C DATE CYCLE 23C DATE CYCLE 23C DATE CYCLE 23C DATE CYCLE 23C DATE
Oct. 201138
10/03/11 		201139
10/10/11 		201140
10/17/11 		201141
10/24/11 		201142
10/31/11
Nov. 201143
11/07/11 		201144
11/14/11 		201145
11/21/11 		201146
11/28/11 		 
Dec. 201147
12/05/11 		201148
12/12/11 		201149
12/19/11 		201150
12/26/11 		 
Jan. 201151
01/02/12 		201152
01/09/12 		201201
01/16/12 Dead Cycle IMF and BMF 		201202
01/23/12 Dead Cycle IMF and BMF 		201203
01/30/12 Dead Cycle IMF Only
Feb. 201204
02/06/12 		201205
02/13/12 		201206
02/20/12 		201207
02/27/12 		 
Mar. 201208
03/05/12 		201209
03/12/12 		201210
03/19/12 		201211
03/26/12 		 
Apr. 201212
04/02/12 		201213
04/09/12 		201214
04/16/12 		201215
04/23/12 		201216
04/30/12
May 201217
05/07/12 		201218
05/14/12 		201219
05/21/12 		201220
05/28/12 		 
June 201221
06/04/12 		201222
06/11/12 		201223
06/18/12 		201224
06/25/12 		 
July 201225
07/02/12 		201226
07/09/12 		201227
07/16/12 		201228
07/23/12 		201229
07/30/12
Aug. 201230
08/06/12 		201231
08/13/12 		201232
08/20/12 		201233
08/27/12 		 
Sept. 201234
09/03/12 		201235
09/10/12 		201236
09/17/12 		201237
09/24/12 		 

Exhibit 3.0.275-13 
Notice Error Monthly Cut Off Chart- 2011/2012

Monthly Input Cut-Off Date Current Month Cycles Drop Dead Cycles
11/22/11 38 39 40 41 42          
12/22/11 43 44 45 46            
01/20/12 47 48 49 50   38 39 40 41 42
02/22/12 51 52 01 02 03 43 44 45 46  
03/22/12 04 05 06 07   47 48 49 50  
04/20/12 08 09 10 11   51 52 01 02 03
05/22/12 12 13 14 15 16 04 05 06 07  
06/22/12 17 18 19 20   08 09 10 11  
07/20/12 21 22 23 24   12 13 14 15 16
08/22/12 25 26 27 28 29 17 18 19 20  
09/21/12 30 31 32 33   21 22 23 24  
10/22/12 34 35 36 37   25 26 27 28 29
            30 31 32 33  
            34 35 36 37  

Exhibit 3.0.275-14 
Notice Error WHO Codes

WHO CODES
1) Taxpayer
2) Receipt and Control
3) Code and Edit
4) ISRP (Data Conversion)
5) Error Correction
6) Suspense Rejects
7) Computer Program/Hardware* (not EIF, or SCRIPTS)
8) SCRIPS Operator
9) IRM/PRP/Forms Instructions*
10) RPS Processing
11) Unpostables
12) Notice Review
13) Accounting (except Accounts Management, Entity Control, Federal Tax Deposit (FTD) Processing)
14) ITIN (AUSPC only)
16) Entity Control
23) Area Office
24) Submission Processing Area Unknown*
25) EIF or NAP systemic problems
26) SCRIPS/ELF/MAG Tape*
27) Quality Review
28) Post Office
29) FMS/RFC
30) SC FTD Processing
31) Outside Processing (Lockbox, etc.)
34) Other Government Agency*
35) Other Accounts Management/Compliance/Campus SC Unknown*
41) Foreign Investment Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) (OSPC (Form 8288) or AUSPC (Form 1040NR) Only)
42) Windfall Profit Tax (WPT) (AUSPC Only)
43) Files
45) Notice Review Released Not Reviewed
46) E-File
47) NABR - Postal Data Base

Note:

*Comments are mandatory

Exhibit 3.0.275-15 
Notice Error WHAT Codes

WHAT CODES
101) Omitted/Incomplete
Information/action missing that caused the notice to be wrong. (e.g., TPNC omitted, label, exemption, EITC). Something else was necessary to make the notice accurate.
102) Incorrect
Information/action is wrong on notice. (e.g., wrong TPNC, wrong notice generated, MFT, tax period, Estimated Tax (ES) payment). The notice was wrong based upon the action taken.
103) Illegible
Unreadable (e.g., Name Line, money amounts caused ISRP to enter incorrectly, TIN, tax period). Incorrect action on the notice was due to the return/schedules/forms being illegible.
107) Unnecessary
Something was not needed (e.g., spacing on notice, paragraph within the notice, redundancy).
109) Unauthorized
Disclosure (e.g., notice going to wrong taxpayer, wrong business, wrong spouse).

Exhibit 3.0.275-16 
Notice Error WHERE Codes

WHERE CODES
1) SSN/EIN/ITIN
2) Dependent SSN
3) Name Control
4) First Name Line
5) Second Name Line/AIL (Additional Information Line)
6) APT#/Letter/Suite#
7) Street Line
8) City/State/Zip Code
9) Complete Address Change (entire address)
10) CAF Name
11) CAF Address
12) Blocking Series
13) Received/Correspondence Date
14) Tax Period*
15) Return Processing Code(s) (RPC)*
16) Computer Condition Code(s) (CCC)*
17) Filing Status
18) Dependency Status Indicator
19) Wages
20) Interest/dividends
21) IRA/Pension (IRA - Individual Retirement Account)
22) Unemployment Compensation
23) Social Security Benefit
24) Other Income
25) Total Income
26) Adjustment to Income
27) Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
28) Age/Blindness Indicator
29) Standard Deduction
30) Exemption(s)
31) Non-Taxable Income
32) Taxable Income (TXI)
33) Child Tax Credit
34) Non-Refundable Credit
35) Advance EIC
36) Federal Withholding
37) Estimated Tax Payment(s)
38) Estimated Tax Voucher
39) Extension to File
40) EITC
41) FICA (Federal Insurance Contribution Act)
42) Additional Child Tax Credit
43) Refundable Credit
44) Tax Amount
45) Overpaid amount
46) Refund
47) Direct Deposit Information
48) Credit Elect
49) Balance Due
50) Payment
51) Check
52) Signature
53) Form(s)**
54) Schedule(s)**
55) Qualifying Dependent Code*
56) Penalty/interest
57) Offset
58) Backup Withholding
59) FTD
60) FTD Coupon
61) Record of Federal Tax Liability
62) Notice Suppression Indicator (BMF ONLY)
63) Schedule Indicator Code (SIC) (BMF ONLY)
64) Notice (Who Code 12 only)*
65) Label*
66) Standard Text (automated) (Who Code 7 only)
67) TPNC (input text)*
68) Punctuation/Spacing/Indentation
69) Hold/Voiding Notice (intercepting) (Who Code 12 only)
70) Tax Return**
71) Other (EXPOE Code or Comments mandatory)
72) Credit Reduction Amount
73) Reserved
74) Special Processing Code*

Note:

*Comments Mandatory
**EXPOE Code and Comments Mandatory

Exhibit 3.0.275-17 
Notice Error EXPOE Codes

EXPOE CODES
1) DECD (deceased) 27) Form 1120C 53) Filing Requirements
2) Form 2106 28) Form 990PF 54) Credit Interest
3) Form 2210 29) Form 990T 55) Form 1065
4) Form 2220 30) Form 1041 56) Reserved
5) Form 2441 31) Form 1120 57) Preparer
6) Form 6251 32) Form 1120S 58) Form 943
7) Form 8615 33) Form 1128 59) Form 8752
8) Form 8814 34) Form 2290 60) Header Info.
9) Schedule A 35) Form 2553 61) RTN (routing transit number)
10) Schedule C 36) Form 6627 62) DAN (depositor account number)
11) Schedule D 37) Form 8716 63) Unnecessary Notice
12) Schedule E 38) Form 8832 64) Additional Child Tax Credit Worksheet
13) Schedule EIC 39) Form 8869 65) Stimulus Unnecessary Notice
14) Schedule F 40) Untimely 66) Form CT-1
15) Schedule SE 41) Stub 67) Education Credit Recaptured
16) CIV PEN (Civil Penalty) 42) Form Type 68) Form 4972
17) Form 11-C 43) Form Title 69) Form 8889
18) Form 706 44) Wrong Type of Notice (comments mandatory) 70) Check Digits (entity)
19) Form 709 45) Form 941SS 71) Form 944
20) Form 720 46) Estimated Tax Penalty 72) Rebate Recovery 2009
21) Form 721 47) FTD Penalty 73) Form 8863, Education Credit
22) Form 940 48) Failure to File Penalty (01) 74) Form 945
23) Form 990EZ 49) Failure to Pay Penalty (07) 75) Form 1042
24) Form 941 50) Dishonored Check 76) Schedule M
25) Form 941-PR 51) Interest (09)  
26) Form 990 52) Earned Income  

Exhibit 3.0.275-18 
Notice Error Type of Error Codes

TYPE OF ERROR CODES
A) Accuracy Error
B) Professionalism Error

Exhibit 3.0.275-19 
Professionalism Errors

The following situations are considered Professionalism errors for the Letter Error Rate, Notice Error Rate, and Refund Error Rate measures. Consider all other errors Accuracy errors, unless otherwise instructed.

Codes Description Letter Error Rate Notice Error Rate Refund Error Rate
1P Punctuation errors (e.g., misplaced or missing comma, period, quotation marks, sentence ends in A.M. or P.M. and a double period is shown, etc.) X X X
2P Extraneous Characters (e.g., "#" , ">" ) present that do not affect interpretability. X X N/A
3P Spacing errors (e.g., no space or more than one space between words, no blank line or too many blank lines between paragraphs, large white spaces in letter body, misaligned dollar signs).

Note:

For the Letter Error Measure, do not charge an error for the 12C signature systemic spacing error.

 X X N/A
4P Blocking errors (e.g., paragraphs or columns that don't line up properly). X X N/A
5P Date format. Charge a Professionalism error if date is not in one of the following acceptable formats:
Month, date, year (e.g., May 9, 2001), mm/dd/yy or mm/dd/yyyy. Letter Error coding -WHAT 102, WHERE 227 and comments are mandatory. Also, code a Professionalism error if the format is not consistent throughout the letter

Note:

CRX letters require no entries of slashes or dashes. If other than a CRX letter then one of the formats above should be used.

 X X N/A
6P Incorrect telephone number format. Charge a Professionalism error if the telephone number is not in one of the following acceptable formats—
(202) 283–0000, (202)283–0000, 202–283–2000. 		X X N/A
7P Discrepancy in designations of "St." , "Rd." , "Ave. " , etc., (e.g., return shows "123 7th St.," notice/letter shows "123 7th Rd." ) if research indicates only one of the addresses exist. For the example above, if research indicates that only 7th St. or 7th Rd. exist in the taxpayer's city, code a Professionalism defect. If both addresses exist, code an Accuracy defect. If you have access to the Internet, you can access a Post Office ZIP Code look-up screen at http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/ . If you do not have access to the Internet, Post Office ZIP Code books can be used for research. X X X
8P Minor spelling errors in the street name (e.g., "Greene St." on the return, with "Green St." on notice/letter.) A garbled street name, such as "Gener St." , is an Accuracy defect. X X X
9P Minor spelling errors in city name, when the zip code is correct. (Examples of minor spelling errors: "Carmel" on the return, "Carmell" on the notice/letter; "Spring Vale" on the return, "Springvale" on the notice/letter.) Incorrect city abbreviations, when the zip code is correct. (Examples of incorrect abbreviations: "Fort Walton Beach" on the return, "Fort Walton Bea," on the notice/letter, "Brooklyn, NY" on the return, "Brlyn, NY" on the notice/letter.) Professionalism errors are limited to incorrect spelling. A copy of IRS Document 12019, IRS Addressing Standards, may be obtained by accessing the Media & Publications Intranet web site at http://publish.no.irs.gov/ X X X
10P Mismatches due to shortened first names (e.g., Joe instead of Joseph).

Note:

If name was shortened following IRM guidelines to meet IRS space limitations, do not charge an error.

 X X N/A
11P Capitalization errors (e.g., any incorrect use/non-use of capitalization, salutation all caps). X N/A X
12P Undefined Acronyms (other than IRS or IRC). Enter 12P in the comments section. However, if the Acronym was incorrectly defined (e.g., TIN - Taxpayer Identification Number was shown as Tax Identification Number), code an accuracy error. X X N/A
13P MISC-Includes Missing Time designations (e.g., AM/PM), incorrect signature code on letters, Time Zone not capitalized (e.g., CST), incorrect DLNs, minor grammatical errors (e.g., a/an, run on sentence - only if all issues were addressed). If all issues were not addressed/content misleading, code an Accuracy error. For the Letter Error Measure, include specific error information in the Comments section. X X N/A
14P Floating Paragraph — If all information was present, just in the wrong order code a Professionalism error. If an employee number is printed in the middle of the letter/notice without an explanation for what the number represented, code as a Professionalism error. X X N/A
15P Misspelled name line and incorrect middle initial. Exception: If the first four characters of the last name (primary or secondary) is incorrect, code as an accuracy error. X X X

Interchangeable city-suburban names will not be coded as Professionalism or Accuracy errors. If during the entity review, the city is different than what is shown on the return, but the zip code matches, review the Zip Code Directory to determine if the city is acceptable. The main Post Office could have a list of associated stations and branches. Determine if the city is listed under a main Post Office. If research of the specific PO Box or street address reflects the same zip code, no error will be coded. For example: Under the main Post Office of Cincinnati, Ohio, there is a list of associated stations and branches. These stations and branches are broken down into specific zip codes. A letter to a specified St. Bernard address (PO Box or street) uses either St. Bernard or Cincinnati with the zip code 45216 on the envelope. The letter can be correctly delivered. No error or Professionalism error should be charged.

Missing middle Initial will not be coded as an Accuracy or Professionalism error. If incorrect, code as a Professionalism error.

Exhibit 3.0.275-20 
IMF and BMF Refund Interest WHO Codes

WHO CODES
1. Taxpayer
2. Receipt and Control
3. Code and Edit
4. ISRP (Data Conversion)
5. Error Correction
6. Entity Control
7. Rejects
8. Unpostables
9. EIF Systemic
10. Other Systemic
11. IRM/Handbook/Forms
12. Tax Practitioner
13. Service Sites
14. Other
15. Unable to Determine
16. FP (Full Paid changed to Refund Return)
17. QRDT (Questionable Refund Detection Team) (Criminal investigation Branch)
18. Lockbox
19. Numbering
20. Notice Review
21. Field Office/Area Office
22. Multiple Functions could be Responsible
23. Other Campus Area
24. Other Service Center/Campus
25. Mail/Post Office
26. Files
27. Accounting
28. SCRIPS

Exhibit 3.0.275-21 
IMF and BMF Refund Interest WHAT Codes

WHAT CODES
1. Return 44. 1st Quarter ES payments
2. First Name Line 45. Previous Tax Year Credit
3. Second Name Line 46. Return Processable Date
4. Address Line 47. Alternative Minimum Tax
5. City 48. Other
6. State 49. Payment
7. Zip Code 50. Entity
8. Primary SSN 51. EIN
9. Secondary SSN 52. MFT
10. Primary and Secondary SSN 53. Tax Period
11. Filing Status 54. FYM (Fiscal Year Month)
12. Exemptions 55. DLN
13. Dependent SSN 56. Action Code
14. Dependent Name 57. Transaction Code
15. Taxable Wages 58. Correspondence Received Date
16. Total Income 59. Mail Delivery
17. Adj/Deductions to Income 60. Routing
18. Adjusted Gross Income 61. Batching
19. Standard Deductions 62. Social Security/Wages/Tips
20. Itemized Deductions 63. Medicare Wages
21. Taxable Income (TXI) 64. Credit Reduction Amount
22. Tax Amount 65. Tentative FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act) Credit
23. Form 2441 66. Fuel Claims
24. Child Tax Credit 67. State Death Tax Deduction
25. Federal Withholding 68. EFTPS (Electronic Fraud Detection System)
26. Backup Withholding Amount 69. Extension Payment
27. Advanced EIC 70. Reply to Correspondence
28. Non-Taxable Income Amount 71. FTD Penalty
29. Additional Child Tax Credit 72. Manual Refund
30. Refund Amount 73. Manual Tax Computation
31. Direct Deposit Information 74. Schedule/Form
32. Credit Elect 75. Dead Cycles
33. Signature 76. Credit Transfer
34. Form(s) W-2 77. Case Closure
35. Estimated Tax Payments/FTD's 78. Filing Requirements
36. Taxpayer Notice Code 79. Cobra (Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act) Payments (Form 941)
37. Computer Condition Code 80. Amended Return
38. Offset/Freeze 81. IRS Number (Form 720)
39. Received Date/Date Stamp  
40. Remittance with Refund  
41. Deceased Taxpayer Information  
42. Missing Schedule Information  
43. Estimated Tax Penalty  

Exhibit 3.0.275-22 
IMF and BMF Refund Interest WHY Codes

WHY CODES
1. Omitted Action 30. Incorrect Form Edition
2. Entered in Error 31. Untimely
3. Entered Incorrectly 32. Excess Time to Post
4. Misapplied 33. Transshipped
5. Computed in Error 34. Received Late
6. Computed Incorrectly 35. Completed in Error
7. Not Claimed 36. Offset to Balance Due Module
8. Incomplete 37. Sent to the Wrong Processing Campus
9. Corresponded for 38. Received From Another Campus/ Field Office
10. Incorrect Action 39. Other
11. Entered Illegibly 40. Program Error
12. Corresponded for (incorrectly) 41. Unclear/Conflicting IRM instructions
13. Misapplied Payment 42. No IRM Procedure to Address Issue
14. Failure to Date Stamp 43. Received Date Changed Due to Systemic Problems
15. Missort 44. Unable to Secure Return
16. Overpayment 45. Payment on Credit Not Verified
17. RPD not Input 46. Payment Transferred from X-Ref Unnecessarily
18. RPD not Edited 47. 3-CRD Not Edited
19. Late Processed 48. Changed
20. Edited Out  
21. Not Transcribed  
22. Not Included in Sample  
23. Multiple Entries  
24. Illegible  
25. Slipped Field (ISRP)  
26. Deleted in Error  
27. Incorrect Indication (of refund)  
28. Missing  
29. Unnecessary Correspondence  

Exhibit 3.0.275-23 
Fiscal Year 2012 Refund Interest Processing Cycles

Month Cycles
October 201141
201142
201143
201144
November 201145
201146
201147
201148
December 201149
201150
201151
201152
201201
January
IMF dead cycles 201201 through 201203. BMF 201201 through 201202. 		201202
201203
201204
201205
February 201206
201207
201208
201209
201210
March 201211
201212
201213
201214
April 201215
201216
201217
201218
May 201219
201220
201221
201222
201223
June 201224
201225
201226
201227
July 201228
201229
201230
201231
August 201232
201233
201234
201235
201236
September 201237
201238
201239
201240
October 201241
201242
201243
201244
November 201245
201246
201247
201248
December 201249
201250
201251
201252
201301

Exhibit 3.0.275-24 
BRER WHO Codes (All Form Families)

WHO CODES
1) Receipt and Control - (other than Sorting or Batching)*
2) Sorting
3) Batching
4) Reserved
5) Numbering
6) Code and Edit
7) Entity Code
8) Reserved
9) ISRP (Data Conversion)
10) SCRIPS Operator
11) RPS Processing
12) Reserved
13) Error Correction/ERS
14) Rejects Suspense
15) Correspondence Suspense
16) Unpostables
17) Notice Review
18) SC Files*
19) Reserved
20) Accounting (except HCPT, ANMF, Manual Refund)*
21) Accounting (Hard Core Payment Tracer)
22) Accounting (Automated Non-Master File)
23) Accounting ( Manual Refund Unit)
24) Reserved
25) Submission Processing Area Unknown*
26) Reserved
27) Pipeline Procedure Inadequacy (Internal Controls/Local Procedures)*
28) Non-SP Area - No document to review (Charged out and forwarded w/o ESTABDT)*
29) Other Non-SP Procedure Inadequacy (Internal Controls/Local Procedures)*
30) Computer Program/PRP/Hardware (not EIF, or SCRIPS)*
31) EIF or NAP systemic problems*
32) IRM/Form Instructions*
33) SCRIPS Scanner*
34) Software Inadequacy - ISRP/IDRS*
35) Other/Unknown - Combination Procedure/Software*
36) Reserved
37) Reserved
38) Reserved
39) Reserved
40) Taxpayer*
41) FMS/RFC*
42) Other - Accounts Management/Compliance/Campus*
43) Other Government Agency*
44) Outside Processing (Lockbox, etc.,)*
45) Outside Post Office (Excluding IRM Mail Room)*
46) IRS Area Office / Other IRS Campus*
47) Other - External*

Note:

If"*" is present, an entry in the corresponding DCI Comment Field is mandatory.

Exhibit 3.0.275-25 
BRER WHAT Codes

WHAT CODES
1) Incorrect
2) Omitted
3) Unnecessary
4) Misspelled
5) Illegible
6) Incomplete
7) Multiple Entries
8) Math Error
9) Reserved

Exhibit 3.0.275-26 
BRER WHERE Codes

WHERE CODES
1) Entity
2) Credits
3) Tax
4) Balance Due
5) Refund
6) Credit Elect
7) Return/Form/Schedule
8) Attached Form/Schedule except K-1
9) Schedule K-1
10) Reserved
11) Reserved

Exhibit 3.0.275-27 
BRER EXPOE Codes

EXPOE CODES
1) Name Line 1
2) Name Line 2
3) Trade Name
4) Street Address/P.O. Box
5) APT/BLDG/Floor/Suite
6) Entire Address
7) City
8) State
9) Zip Code
10) CAF Name
11) CAF Address
12) Filing Requirements
13) EIN
14) Check Digit
15) Name Control
16) EIN
17) MFT
18) Tax Period
19) Received Date
20) Employment Code
21) SIC Code
22) ABLM Code F1120
23) Fiduciary/Trust Code
24) Salary/Wage Code
25) Computer Condition Code (ID in Comments)
26) Transaction Code (ID in Comments)
27) Signature
28) Correspondence
29) Action Code (Comments)
30) Reserved
31) Reserved
32) Income Tax Withheld
33) Back-up Withholding
34) Social Security Wages
35) Social Security Tips
36) Medicare Wages & Tips
37) Credit Reduction States
38) Exempt Payments
39) Ordinary Income
40) Total Income
41) Charitable Deductions
42) Exemption Amount
43) Specific/Special Deduction
44) Total Deductions
45) Net Operating Loss
46) Taxable Income
47) Tax before Adjustments
48) Total Tax
49) Alternative Minimum Tax
50) ROFTL
51) Schedule (ID in Comments)
52) Schedule K-1
53) Reserved
54) Reserved
55) Reserved
56) Form 3800
57) Advanced EIC
58) COBRA Payments
59) HIRE Credit
60) Health Care Tax Credits
61) ES Payment
62) EFT Payment
63) FTD Payment
64) Other Payment
65) Payment Discrepancy
66) Posted to Wrong Account
67) Foreign Partners Withholding
68) Reserved
69) Reserved
70) reserved
71) Direct Deposit
72) Offset
73) Penalty / Interest
74) FTD Penalty
75) FTP Penalty
76) FTF Penalty
77) Estimated Tax Penalty
78) Dishonored Check Penalty
79) Form 4466
80) Reserved
81) Form # (ID in Comments)
82) Line # (ID in Comments)
83) Reserved
84) Batching
85) Editing
86) ERS Audit Trail

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