§601.522. Power of attorney. — Inbound Citations

(a) The rules prescribed in this subpart concern, among other things, the representation of taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service under the authority of a power of attorney. These rules apply to all offices of the Internal Revenue Service in all matters under the jurisdiction of the Internal Revenue Service and apply to practice before the Internal Revenue Service (as defined in 31 CFR 10.2(a) and 10.7(a)(7). For special provisions relating to alcohol, tobacco, and firearms activities, see §§ 601.521 through 601.527. These rules detail the means by which a recognized representative is authorized to act on behalf of a taxpayer. Such authority must be evidenced by a power of attorney and declaration of representative filed with the appropriate office of the Internal Revenue Service. In general, a power of attorney must contain certain information concerning the taxpayer, the recognized representative, and the specific tax matter(s) for which the recognized representative is authorized to act. (See § 601.503(a).) A “declaration of representative” is a written statement made by a recognized representative that he/she is currently eligible to practice before the Internal Revenue Service and is authorized to represent the particular party on whose behalf he/she acts. (See § 601.502(c).)

(a) A copy of the power of attorney must be filed in each office (that is, office of a regional regulatory administrator and Office of the Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms), in which a document specified in § 601.522, covered by the power of attorney, is required to be filed, or in which the representative desires to perform one or more of the acts enumerated in paragraph (c)(1) of § 601.502. If a power of attorney covering an act otherwise requiring the filing of a tax information authorization has not been filed, a copy of the tax information authorization must be filed in each office in which the representative inspects or receives confidential information, or, where acts requiring a power of attorney or a tax information authorization are handled by correspondence, the representative should enclose a copy of the power or authorization with the initial correspondence. However, where a power of attorney or tax information authorization is on file with the regional regulatory administrator in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, an additional copy thereof will not be required in the office of the regional counsel of the same region.

The provisions of paragraph (e) of § 601.504 with respect to certification of copies are applicable to a power of attorney or a tax information authorization required to be filed under § 601.522 or § 601.523.

An applicant or certificate holder may be represented by an attorney, certified public accountant, or other person recognized to practice before TTB as provided in 31 CFR part 8 (Practice Before the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms). The applicable requirements of 26 CFR 601.521 through 601.527 (conference and practice requirements for alcohol, tobacco, and firearms activities) shall apply.

If the application for permit or any report, return, notice, schedule, or other document required to be executed is to be signed by an individual (including one of the partners for a partnership or one of the members of an association) as an attorney in fact for any person, or if an individual is to otherwise officially represent such person, power of attorney on TTB F 5000.8 shall be furnished to the appropriate TTB officer. (For power of attorney in connection with conference and practice requirements see 26 CFR 601.501 through 601.527.) Such power of attorney is not required for persons whose authority is furnished with the corporate documents as required by § 40.63. TTB F 5000.8 does not have to be filed again with an appropriate TTB officer where such form has previously been submitted to that appropriate TTB officer and is still in effect.

A respondent or applicant may be represented by an attorney, certified public accountant, or other person enrolled to practice before the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau under 31 CFR part 8—Practice before the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. The representative shall file in the proceeding a duly executed power of attorney to represent the applicant or respondent. See 26 CFR 601.501 through 601.527 (conference and practice requirements). The appropriate TTB officer shall be represented in proceedings under this part by the attorney for the Government who is authorized to execute and file motions, briefs, and other papers in the proceeding, on behalf of the appropriate TTB officer, in his own name as “Attorney for the Government”.

Applicants or licensees may represent themselves or be represented by an attorney, a certified public accountant, or any other person, specifically designated in a duly executed power of attorney that shall be filed in the proceeding by the applicant or licensee. The applicant or licensee shall file waivers, if applicable, under the Privacy Act of 1974 and 26 U.S.C. 6103(c) (confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information). The Director of Industry Operations may be represented in proceedings under §§ 478.72 and 478.74 by an attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel who is authorized to execute and file motions, briefs, and other papers in the proceeding, on behalf of the Director of Industry Operations, in the attorney's own name as “Attorney for the Government.”

An applicant, licensee, or permittee may represent himself, or be represented by an attorney, a certified public accountant, or any other person, specifically designated in a duly executed power of attorney that shall be filed in the proceeding by the applicant, licensee, or permittee. The applicant, licensee, or permittee shall file waivers, if applicable, under the Privacy Act of 1974 and 26 U.S.C. 6103(c) (confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information). The Director of Industry Operations may be represented in proceedings under §§ 555.73 and 555.75 by an attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel who is authorized to execute and file motions, briefs and other papers in the proceeding, on behalf of the Director of Industry Operations, in the attorney's own name as “Attorney for the Government.”