Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2022-46

November 14, 2022


HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE

These synopses are intended only as aids to the reader in identifying the subject matter covered. They may not be relied upon as authoritative interpretations.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Announcement 2022-21, page 464.

The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) announces recent disciplinary sanctions involving attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, enrolled retirement plan agents, and appraisers. These individuals are subject to the regulations governing practice before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which are set out in Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 10, and which are published in pamphlet form as Treasury Department Circular No. 230. The regulations prescribe the duties and restrictions relating to such practice and prescribe the disciplinary sanctions for violating the regulations.

The IRS Mission

Provide America’s taxpayers top-quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and enforce the law with integrity and fairness to all.

Introduction

The Internal Revenue Bulletin is the authoritative instrument of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for announcing official rulings and procedures of the Internal Revenue Service and for publishing Treasury Decisions, Executive Orders, Tax Conventions, legislation, court decisions, and other items of general interest. It is published weekly.

It is the policy of the Service to publish in the Bulletin all substantive rulings necessary to promote a uniform application of the tax laws, including all rulings that supersede, revoke, modify, or amend any of those previously published in the Bulletin. All published rulings apply retroactively unless otherwise indicated. Procedures relating solely to matters of internal management are not published; however, statements of internal practices and procedures that affect the rights and duties of taxpayers are published.

Revenue rulings represent the conclusions of the Service on the application of the law to the pivotal facts stated in the revenue ruling. In those based on positions taken in rulings to taxpayers or technical advice to Service field offices, identifying details and information of a confidential nature are deleted to prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy and to comply with statutory requirements.

Rulings and procedures reported in the Bulletin do not have the force and effect of Treasury Department Regulations, but they may be used as precedents. Unpublished rulings will not be relied on, used, or cited as precedents by Service personnel in the disposition of other cases. In applying published rulings and procedures, the effect of subsequent legislation, regulations, court decisions, rulings, and procedures must be considered, and Service personnel and others concerned are cautioned against reaching the same conclusions in other cases unless the facts and circumstances are substantially the same.

The Bulletin is divided into four parts as follows:

Part I.—1986 Code. This part includes rulings and decisions based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Part II.—Treaties and Tax Legislation. This part is divided into two subparts as follows: Subpart A, Tax Conventions and Other Related Items, and Subpart B, Legislation and Related Committee Reports.

Part III.—Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous. To the extent practicable, pertinent cross references to these subjects are contained in the other Parts and Subparts. Also included in this part are Bank Secrecy Act Administrative Rulings. Bank Secrecy Act Administrative Rulings are issued by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Assistant Secretary (Enforcement).

Part IV.—Items of General Interest. This part includes notices of proposed rulemakings, disbarment and suspension lists, and announcements.

The last Bulletin for each month includes a cumulative index for the matters published during the preceding months. These monthly indexes are cumulated on a semiannual basis, and are published in the last Bulletin of each semiannual period.

Part IV

Announcement of Disciplinary Sanctions From the Office of Professional Responsibility

Announcement 2022-21

The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) announces recent disciplinary sanctions involving attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, enrolled retirement plan agents, appraisers, and unenrolled/unlicensed return preparers (individuals who are not enrolled to practice and are not licensed as attorneys or certified public accountants). Licensed or enrolled practitioners are subject to the regulations governing practice before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which are set out in Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, Subtitle A, Part 10, and which are released as Treasury Department Circular No. 230. The regulations prescribe the duties and restrictions relating to such practice and prescribe the disciplinary sanctions for violating the regulations. Unenrolled/unlicensed return preparers are subject to Revenue Procedure 81-38 and superseding guidance in Revenue Procedure 2014-42, which govern a preparer’s eligibility to represent taxpayers before the IRS in examinations of tax returns the preparer both prepared for the taxpayer and signed as the preparer. Additionally, unenrolled/unlicensed return preparers who voluntarily participate in the Annual Filing Season Program under Revenue Procedure 2014-42 agree to be subject to the duties and restrictions in Circular 230, including the restrictions on incompetent or disreputable conduct.

The disciplinary sanctions to be imposed for violation of the applicable standards are:

Disbarred from practice before the IRS—An individual who is disbarred is not eligible to practice before the IRS as defined at 31 C.F.R. § 10.2(a)(4) for a minimum period of five (5) years.

Suspended from practice before the IRS—An individual who is suspended is not eligible to practice before the IRS as defined at 31 C.F.R. § 10.2(a)(4) during the term of the suspension.

Censured in practice before the IRS—Censure is a public reprimand. Unlike disbarment or suspension, censure does not affect an individual’s eligibility to practice before the IRS, but OPR may subject the individual’s future practice rights to conditions designed to promote high standards of conduct.

Monetary penalty—A monetary penalty may be imposed on an individual who engages in conduct subject to sanction, or on an employer, firm, or entity if the individual was acting on its behalf and it knew, or reasonably should have known, of the individual’s conduct.

Disqualification of appraiser—An appraiser who is disqualified is barred from presenting evidence or testimony in any administrative proceeding before the Department of the Treasury or the IRS.

Ineligible for limited practice—An unenrolled/unlicensed return preparer who fails to comply with the requirements in Revenue Procedure 81-38 or to comply with Circular 230 as required by Revenue Procedure 2014-42 may be determined ineligible to engage in limited practice as a representative of any taxpayer.

Under the regulations, individuals subject to Circular 230 may not assist, or accept assistance from, individuals who are suspended or disbarred with respect to matters constituting practice (i.e., representation) before the IRS, and they may not aid or abet suspended or disbarred individuals to practice before the IRS.

Disciplinary sanctions are described in these terms:

Disbarred by decision, Suspended by decision, Censured by decision, Monetary penalty imposed by decision, and Disqualified after hearing—An administrative law judge (ALJ) issued a decision imposing one of these sanctions after the ALJ either (1) granted the government’s summary judgment motion or (2) conducted an evidentiary hearing upon OPR’s complaint alleging violation of the regulations. After 30 days from the issuance of the decision, in the absence of an appeal, the ALJ’s decision becomes the final agency decision.

Disbarred by default decision, Suspended by default decision, Censured by default decision, Monetary penalty imposed by default decision, and Disqualified by default decision—An ALJ, after finding that no answer to OPR’s complaint was filed, granted OPR’s motion for a default judgment and issued a decision imposing one of these sanctions.

Disbarment by decision on appeal, Suspended by decision on appeal, Censured by decision on appeal, Monetary penalty imposed by decision on appeal, and Disqualified by decision on appeal—The decision of the ALJ was appealed to the agency appeal authority, acting as the delegate of the Secretary of the Treasury, and the appeal authority issued a decision imposing one of these sanctions.

Disbarred by consent, Suspended by consent, Censured by consent, Monetary penalty imposed by consent, and Disqualified by consent—In lieu of a disciplinary proceeding being instituted or continued, an individual offered a consent to one of these sanctions and OPR accepted the offer. Typically, an offer of consent will provide for: suspension for an indefinite term; conditions that the individual must observe during the suspension; and the individual’s opportunity, after a stated number of months, to file with OPR a petition for reinstatement affirming compliance with the terms of the consent and affirming current fitness and eligibility to practice (i.e., an active professional license or active enrollment status, with no intervening violations of the regulations).

Suspended indefinitely by decision in expedited proceeding, Suspended indefinitely by default decision in expedited proceeding, Suspended by consent in expedited proceeding—OPR instituted an expedited proceeding for suspension (based on certain limited grounds, including loss of a professional license for cause, and criminal convictions).

Determined ineligible for limited practice—There has been a final determination that an unenrolled/unlicensed return preparer is not eligible for limited representation of any taxpayer because the preparer violated standards of conduct or failed to comply with any of the requirements to act as a representative.

A practitioner who has been disbarred or suspended under 31 C.F.R. § 10.60, or suspended under § 10.82, or a disqualified appraiser may petition for reinstatement before the IRS after the expiration of 5 years following such disbarment, suspension, or disqualification (or immediately following the expiration of the suspension or disqualification period if shorter than 5 years). Reinstatement will not be granted unless the IRS is satisfied that the petitioner is not likely to engage thereafter in conduct contrary to Circular 230, and that granting such reinstatement would not be contrary to the public interest.

Reinstatement decisions are published at the individual’s request, and described in these terms:

Reinstated to practice before the IRS—The individual’s petition for reinstatement has been granted. The agent, and eligible to practice before the IRS, or in the case of an appraiser, the individual is no longer disqualified.

Reinstated to engage in limited practice before the IRS—The individual’s petition for reinstatement has been granted. The individual is an unenrolled/unlicensed return preparer and eligible to engage in limited practice before the IRS, subject to requirements the IRS has prescribed for limited practice by tax return preparers.

OPR has authority to disclose the grounds for disciplinary sanctions in these situations: (1) an ALJ or the Secretary’s delegate on appeal has issued a final decision; (2) the individual has settled a disciplinary case by signing OPR’s “consent to sanction” agreement admitting to one or more violations of the regulations and consenting to the disclosure of the admitted violations (for example, failure to file Federal income tax returns, lack of due diligence, conflict of interest, etc.); (3) OPR has issued a decision in an expedited proceeding for indefinite suspension; or (4) OPR has made a final determination (including any decision on appeal) that an unenrolled/unlicensed return preparer is ineligible to represent any taxpayer before the IRS.

Announcements of disciplinary sanctions appear in the Internal Revenue Bulletin at the earliest practicable date. The sanctions announced below are alphabetized first by state and second by the last names of the sanctioned individuals.

City & State Name Professional Designation Disciplinary Sanction Effective Date(s)
California
Corona Egli, David T. Attorney Suspended by decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 23, 2022
Los Angeles Oganesyan, Gevork Attorney Suspended by decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from July 11, 2022
San Rafael Blecka, John C. CPA Suspended by decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 29, 2022
Florida
Homestead Rios, Jr., Alfredo CPA Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from July 26, 2022
  Wiggins, Brian M., see Ohio      
Idaho
Meridian Roach, Steven L. Enrolled Agent Suspended by decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from July 11, 2022
Kansas
Stillwell Vohs, Joy P. CPA Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from July 20, 2022
Overland Park Brenton, Robert O. Attorney   Reinstated to practice before the IRS, effective July 14, 2022
Missouri
Lebanon Howe, Meagan M. Attorney Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 30, 2022
St. Louis Fisher, Jennifer H. Attorney Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from September 13, 2022
  Vohs, Joy P., see Kansas      
Nevada
Las Vegas Santa Ana, Anita E. Enrolled Agent Suspended by decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 9, 2022
New Jersey
Marlboro Gibson, Daniel M. CPA Suspended by decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from July 19, 2022
Jersey City Tan, Jr., Lincoln L. Attorney Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 9, 2022
New York
Hartsdale Costello, Irene M. Attorney Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 24, 2022
  Gibson, Daniel M., see New Jersey      
  Tan, Lincoln L., see New Jersey      
Sunnyside Abdelhalim, Ahmed CPA Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. section 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 30, 2022
Ohio
Enon Wiggins, Brian M. Attorney Suspended by decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 30, 2022
Pennsylvania
  Costello, Irene M., see New York      
Montoursville Zeigler, Matthew J. Attorney Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 23, 2022
Tennessee
Hendersonville Guenther, David P. CPA Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from September 20, 2022
Texas
Katy Trappio, Mark J. CPA Suspended by decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 29, 2022
Virginia
Warrenton Hoffman, David G. Attorney Suspended by default decision in expedited proceeding under 31 C.F.R. § 10.82(b) Indefinite from August 9, 2022

Definition of Terms

Revenue rulings and revenue procedures (hereinafter referred to as “rulings”) that have an effect on previous rulings use the following defined terms to describe the effect:

Amplified describes a situation where no change is being made in a prior published position, but the prior position is being extended to apply to a variation of the fact situation set forth therein. Thus, if an earlier ruling held that a principle applied to A, and the new ruling holds that the same principle also applies to B, the earlier ruling is amplified. (Compare with modified, below).

Clarified is used in those instances where the language in a prior ruling is being made clear because the language has caused, or may cause, some confusion. It is not used where a position in a prior ruling is being changed.

Distinguished describes a situation where a ruling mentions a previously published ruling and points out an essential difference between them.

Modified is used where the substance of a previously published position is being changed. Thus, if a prior ruling held that a principle applied to A but not to B, and the new ruling holds that it applies to both A and B, the prior ruling is modified because it corrects a published position. (Compare with amplified and clarified, above).

Obsoleted describes a previously published ruling that is not considered determinative with respect to future transactions. This term is most commonly used in a ruling that lists previously published rulings that are obsoleted because of changes in laws or regulations. A ruling may also be obsoleted because the substance has been included in regulations subsequently adopted.

Revoked describes situations where the position in the previously published ruling is not correct and the correct position is being stated in a new ruling.

Superseded describes a situation where the new ruling does nothing more than restate the substance and situation of a previously published ruling (or rulings). Thus, the term is used to republish under the 1986 Code and regulations the same position published under the 1939 Code and regulations. The term is also used when it is desired to republish in a single ruling a series of situations, names, etc., that were previously published over a period of time in separate rulings. If the new ruling does more than restate the substance of a prior ruling, a combination of terms is used. For example, modified and superseded describes a situation where the substance of a previously published ruling is being changed in part and is continued without change in part and it is desired to restate the valid portion of the previously published ruling in a new ruling that is self contained. In this case, the previously published ruling is first modified and then, as modified, is superseded.

Supplemented is used in situations in which a list, such as a list of the names of countries, is published in a ruling and that list is expanded by adding further names in subsequent rulings. After the original ruling has been supplemented several times, a new ruling may be published that includes the list in the original ruling and the additions, and supersedes all prior rulings in the series.

Suspended is used in rare situations to show that the previous published rulings will not be applied pending some future action such as the issuance of new or amended regulations, the outcome of cases in litigation, or the outcome of a Service study.

Abbreviations

The following abbreviations in current use and formerly used will appear in material published in the Bulletin.

A—Individual.

Acq.—Acquiescence.

B—Individual.

BE—Beneficiary.

BK—Bank.

B.T.A.—Board of Tax Appeals.

C—Individual.

C.B.—Cumulative Bulletin.

CFR—Code of Federal Regulations.

CI—City.

COOP—Cooperative.

Ct.D.—Court Decision.

CY—County.

D—Decedent.

DC—Dummy Corporation.

DE—Donee.

Del. Order—Delegation Order.

DISC—Domestic International Sales Corporation.

DR—Donor.

E—Estate.

EE—Employee.

E.O.—Executive Order.

ER—Employer.

ERISA—Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

EX—Executor.

F—Fiduciary.

FC—Foreign Country.

FICA—Federal Insurance Contributions Act.

FISC—Foreign International Sales Company.

FPH—Foreign Personal Holding Company.

F.R.—Federal Register.

FUTA—Federal Unemployment Tax Act.

FX—Foreign corporation.

G.C.M.—Chief Counsel’s Memorandum.

GE—Grantee.

GP—General Partner.

GR—Grantor.

IC—Insurance Company.

I.R.B.—Internal Revenue Bulletin.

LE—Lessee.

LP—Limited Partner.

LR—Lessor.

M—Minor.

Nonacq.—Nonacquiescence.

O—Organization.

P—Parent Corporation.

PHC—Personal Holding Company.

PO—Possession of the U.S.

PR—Partner.

PRS—Partnership.

PTE—Prohibited Transaction Exemption.

Pub. L.—Public Law.

REIT—Real Estate Investment Trust.

Rev. Proc.—Revenue Procedure.

Rev. Rul.—Revenue Ruling.

S—Subsidiary.

S.P.R.—Statement of Procedural Rules.

Stat.—Statutes at Large.

T—Target Corporation.

T.C.—Tax Court.

T.D.—Treasury Decision.

TFE—Transferee.

TFR—Transferor.

T.I.R.—Technical Information Release.

TP—Taxpayer.

TR—Trust.

TT—Trustee.

U.S.C.—United States Code.

X—Corporation.

Y—Corporation.

Z—Corporation.

Numerical Finding List1

Numerical Finding List

Bulletin 2022–46

Announcements:

Article Issue Link Page
2022-14 2022-31 I.R.B. 2022-31 136
2022-15 2022-31 I.R.B. 2022-31 136
2022-16 2022-33 I.R.B. 2022-33 144
2022-17 2022-35 I.R.B. 2022-35 179
2022-18 2022-36 I.R.B. 2022-36 190
2022-19 2022-36 I.R.B. 2022-36 191
2022-20 2022-38 I.R.B. 2022-38 238
2022-21 2022-46 I.R.B. 2022-46 464
 

Notices:

Article Issue Link Page
2022-29 2022-28 I.R.B. 2022-28 66
2022-30 2022-28 I.R.B. 2022-28 70
2022-31 2022-29 I.R.B. 2022-29 85
2022-32 2022-32 I.R.B. 2022-32 137
2022-33 2022-34 I.R.B. 2022-34 147
2022-34 2022-34 I.R.B. 2022-34 150
2022-35 2022-36 I.R.B. 2022-36 184
2022-36 2022-36 I.R.B. 2022-36 188
2022-37 2022-37 I.R.B. 2022-37 234
2022-38 2022-39 I.R.B. 2022-39 239
2022-39 2022-40 I.R.B. 2022-40 264
2022-40 2022-40 I.R.B. 2022-40 266
2022-42 2022-41 I.R.B. 2022-41 276
2022-44 2022-41 I.R.B. 2022-41 277
2022-43 2022-42 I.R.B. 2022-42 303
2022-45 2022-42 I.R.B. 2022-42 307
2022-41 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 304
2022-46 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 306
2022-47 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 312
2022-48 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 316
2022-49 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 321
2022-50 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 325
2022-51 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 331
2022-52 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 337
2022-53 2022-45 I.R.B. 2022-45 437
2022-54 2022-45 I.R.B. 2022-45 439
2022-55 2022-45 I.R.B. 2022-45 443
 

Proposed Regulations:

Article Issue Link Page
REG-130975-08 2022-28 I.R.B. 2022-28 71
REG 130675-17 2022-30 I.R.B. 2022-30 104
REG-125693-19 2022-39 I.R.B. 2022-39 241
REG-110368-22 2022-44 I.R.B. 2022-44 405
REG-100719-21 2022-45 I.R.B. 2022-45 457
REG-121509-00 2022-45 I.R.B. 2022-45 463
 

Revenue Procedures:

Article Issue Link Page
2022-25 2022-27 I.R.B. 2022-27 3
2022-28 2022-27 I.R.B. 2022-27 65
2022-26 2022-29 I.R.B. 2022-29 90
2022-32 2022-30 I.R.B. 2022-30 101
 

Revenue Procedures:—(Continued)

Article Issue Link Page
2022-30 2022-31 I.R.B. 2022-31 112
2022-29 2022-33 I.R.B. 2022-33 141
2022-34 2022-33 I.R.B. 2022-33 143
2022-35 2022-40 I.R.B. 2022-40 270
2022-36 2022-40 I.R.B. 2022-40 274
2022-19 2022-41 I.R.B. 2022-41 282
2022-31 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 339
2022-37 2022-43 I.R.B. 2022-43 377
2022-38 2022-45 I.R.B. 2022-45 445
 

Revenue Rulings:

Article Issue Link Page
2022-12 2022-27 I.R.B. 2022-27 1
2022-13 2022-30 I.R.B. 2022-30 99
2022-14 2022-31 I.R.B. 2022-31 110
2022-15 2022-35 I.R.B. 2022-35 152
2022-17 2022-36 I.R.B. 2022-36 182
2022-18 2022-40 I.R.B. 2022-40 262
2022-19 2022-44 I.R.B. 2022-44 379
2022-20 2022-45 I.R.B. 2022-45 407
 

Treasury Decisions:

Article Issue Link Page
9963 2022-34 I.R.B. 2022-34 145
9964 2022-35 I.R.B. 2022-35 172
9965 2022-37 I.R.B. 2022-37 192
9966 2022-44 I.R.B. 2022-44 380
9967 2022-44 I.R.B. 2022-44 385
9968 2022-45 I.R.B. 2022-45 409
 

1 A cumulative list of all revenue rulings, revenue procedures, Treasury decisions, etc., published in Internal Revenue Bulletins 2021–27 through 2021–52 is in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2021–52, dated December 27, 2021.

Finding List of Current Actions on Previously Published Items1

Bulletin 2022–46

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