SubscribeOn June 20, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Large Business and International Division (LB&I) hosted its final webinar regarding LB&I Campaigns. Our previous coverage of LB&I Campaigns can be found here. The webinar focused on two campaigns: (1) Section 48C Energy Credits and (2) Land Developers – Completed Contract Method.
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You Must Comply: IRS LB&I Reveals Details of Its Inbound Distributor and OVDP Decline-Withdrawal Campaigns
On Wednesday, May 10, 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Large Business and International Division (LB&I) hosted a webinar with the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) regarding LB&I’s recently-announced campaigns targeting inbound distributors and taxpayers who either were declined by, or withdrew from, the IRS’s Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP). Our previous coverage of LB&I’s campaign initiatives can be found here. The slides from the presentation are available here.
Inbound Distributors
As described by the IRS, this campaign is intended to address transfer pricing in the context of United States distributors of goods sourced from foreign-related parties that may have reported gains or losses that are not commensurate with the functions performed and the risk assumed.
As discussed in Wednesday’s webinar, this campaign is somewhat unique in that the IRS is still evaluating whether this issue presents an actual—rather than a mere potential—threat of noncompliance. The IRS has identified a series of returns to be sent into the field for examination, but is currently holding them to evaluate whether a genuine threat of noncompliance exists. The IRS also stated that the campaign is being designed to allow for flexibility to release returns quickly, if compliance can be readily ascertained. (more…)
Understanding LB&I “Campaigns” – The Second Webinar
On March 28, 2017, EY and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) held a joint webcast presenting the Large Business & International’s (LB&I) new “Campaign” examination process. This was the IRS’s second in a planned eight-part series about Campaigns. The IRS speakers for the presentation were Tina Meaux (Assistant Deputy Commissioner Compliance Integration) and Kathy Robbins (Enterprise Activity Practice Area). We previously blogged about Campaigns on February 1, 2017 (link), and the first Campaigns webinar on March 8, 2017 (link).
Understanding LB&I “Campaigns”
On March 3, 2017, KPMG and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) held a joint webcast presentation regarding the Large Business & International’s (LB&I) new “Campaign” examination process. The IRS speakers for the presentation were Tina Meaux (Assistant Deputy Commissioner Compliance Integration) and Kathy Robbins, Director (Enterprise Activities Practice Area). On February 1, 2017, we blogged about this new IRS program.
The IRS explained that Campaigns are a fundamental change in the way the IRS will conduct examinations in the future, and are the result of the IRS’s ever-shrinking resources. The Campaigns reflect the LB&I Division’s need to focus on risks, drive compliance objectives, and efficiently and effectively respond with a variety of work streams.
The general principles that guide the Campaign program are:
- Flexible and well-trained work force. Because of funding cuts, the IRS has not been able to hire examiners in recent years. In connection with the Campaigns, the IRS will implement additional training, including “just-in-time” training, to help the IRS react to a dynamic examination environment.
- Better selection of work. The IRS is using data analytics and internal and external feedback to assist in shaping Campaigns.
- Tailored treatment. The IRS is developing an integrated process to identify compliance risks, and identify the work streams needed to address those risks.
- Integrate feedback loop. This is the cornerstone of the Campaign program. The IRS admitted that it cannot implement an effective and efficient process without feedback from both internal and external stakeholders. To be successful the feedback needs to be “just-in-time,” not merely post-audit.
