Federal Tax Procedure Book - Acronyms and Initialisms (8/27/23)

I formerly presented a list of various acronyms (including initialisms and other short-handisms) as Appendix B to the Federal Tax Procedure Book.  I decided to put the list on the blog. I will update these as appropriate during the year.

I sometimes refer to these collectively as acronyms.  Purists on the English language often articulate a difference between (i) acronyms and (ii) initialisms and other short-handisms). An initialism is a word made up of initial letters that are pronounced separately as letters rather than as a word (e.g., IRS or FBI); an acronym is a word that is also made of up of initial letters that are spoken as a word rather than separate letters (e.g., NATO).    See Bryan Garner’s Law Prose Lesson #260: Acronyms and Initialisms (here, viewed 7/31/22).  Abbreviations are analogous short-hand techniques.  Similar short-hand techniques are encountered and may be variations on the theme–e.g., (i) FBAR (for Foreign Bank Account Report), pronounced F-BAR which combines initialism (the “F”) with acronym (the “BAR”) and (ii) FinCEN for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network which combines two abbreviations. 

Of course, these techniques are often overused, but a necessary evil.

I present the acronyms without periods.  Often, they are presented with periods.  For example, IRB or I.R.B.; or FBI or F.B.I.  I have not gone back through the text to see whether I am consistent in using periods or not using periods.

AAG

Assistant Attorney General (generally in reference to DOJ Tax AAG)

ABA

American Bar Association

ACA

Affordable Care Act P.L. 111-148

ACM

Appeals Case Memorandum

ACS

Automated Collection System

ADR

Alternative Dispute Resolution

AEOI

Automatic Exchange of Information Program

AGI

Adjusted Gross Income

AIA

Anti-Injunction Act (§ 7421(a))

AICPA

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

AJAC

IRS Appeals Judicial Approach and Culture Project

ALJ

Administrative Law Judge (Some agencies have, but not IRS)

AOD

IRS Action on Decision

APA

IRS Advance Pricing Agreement

ARI

Appeals Referral Investigation (in CDP Cases)

ASED

Assessment Statute Expiration Date

ASFR

Automated Substitute for Return

ATAT

Abusive Tax Avoidance Transaction (now ATTI)

ATG

IRS Audit Techniques Guides

ATTI

Abusive Transaction and Technical Issues

AUR

Automated Underreporter Program (Computer Matching Information Returns to Related Tax Returns)

AUSA

Assistant U.S. Attorney

BBA

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Public Law 114-74 (enacted CPAR)

BBA Partnerships

Partnerships Subject to CPAR Enacted by BBA

BFP

Bonafide Purchaser

BFS

U.S. Treasury Bureau of Fiscal Services

BIA

Board of Immigration Appeals

BLIPS

Bond Linked Investment Premium Structure (an abusive tax shelter)

BSA

Bank Secrecy Act 31 U.S.C. § 5311 et seq

BTA

Board of Tax Appeals (Predecessor to U.S. Tax Court)

CAF

IRS Centralized Authorization File (for taxpayer representative identification)

CAP

Compliance Assurance Process

CAP

IRS Collection Appeals Program

CAU

Caution Upon Contact (IRM Vaccination)

CB

IRS Cumulative Bulletin (previously used for IRS important guidance)

CBI

Caribbean Basin Initiative (treaties Between U.S. and Caribbean Basin Countries)

CBT

Citizenship Based Taxation

CCA

IRS Chief Counsel Advice

CCN

IRS Chief Counsel Notice

CDP

Collection Due Process (IRS appeal and litigation of IRS collection procedures)

CES

DOJ Tax Criminal Enforcement Section

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

CI

IRS Criminal Investigation (formerly CID)

CIC

IRS Coordinated Issue Case (renamed LCC in 2019)

CID

IRS Criminal Investigation Division (Current Name is CI)

CMIR

Currency and Monetary Instruments Report (FinCEN Form 105)

CNC

Currently Not Collectible (for unpaid assessed tax)

COA

Change of Address

COD

Cancellation of Indebtedness

CPA

Certified Public Accountant

CPAR

Centralized Partnership Audit Regime (also BBA Regime)

CPEO

Certified Professional Employer Organization (§§ 3511 and 7794)

CRA

Congressional Review Act (5 USC 801-808)

CRS

Common Reporting Standard (OECD Standard, akin to FATCA)

CRS

Congressional Research Service (Branch of the Library of Congress)

CSED

Collection Statute Expiration Date (assessed tax last collect date))

CT Counsel

IRS Chief Counsel Criminal Tax Counsel

CTA

Corporate Transparency Act

CTM

DOJ Tax Criminal Tax Manual

CTR

Currency Transaction Report (FinCEN Form 112)

CWAR

Combined Annual Wage Reporting

DAS

Discriminant Analysis System (LB&I model for audit potential)

DATC

Doubt as to Collectibiliity (Basis for Compromise)

DATCSC or DATC-SC

Doubt as to Collectibility with Special Circumstances

DATL

Doubt as to Liability (Basis for Compromise)

DAWSON

Docket Access Within a Secure Online Network)

DCC

IRS Detroit Computing Center

DIF

Discriminant Index Function (IRS scoring potential for audit)

DISC

Domestic International Sales Corporation

DJA

Declaratory Judgment Act (28 U.S.C. § 2201(a))

DMS

BFS Debt Management Services (Used for, inter alia, FBAR Debt Collection)

DOE

Department of Energy

DOJ

Department of Justice

DOJ Tax

Department of Justice Tax Division

ECS

Electronic Communications Services (see SCA)

E-File

IRS procedure for electronic filing of returns

EFIN

Electronic Filer Identification Number

EITC

Earned Income Tax Credit

EO

Presidential Executive Order

EO

IRS Exempt Organization Branch

EOIR

Specific Exchange of Information Program

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

ERO

Electronic Return Originator

ESOP

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

ETA

Effective Tax Administration (Basis for Compromise)

FAQ

Frequent Asked Question(s) (used sometimes for IRS guidance)

FATCA

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (enacted by HIRE)

FATF

Financial Action Task Force (a Global Org, with U.S. as Member)

FATP

Federally Authorized Tax Practitioner Privilege - § 7525

FBAR

Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCEN Form 114)

FDAP

Fixed and Determinable Annual or Periodical Income

FDCPA

Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1601 note, 1692-1692o)

FDR

Foreign Document Request (§ 982)

FEA

Fraud Enforcement Advisor (formerly Fraud Technical Advisor)

FFTF

Fraudulent Failure to File Penalty (§ 6651(f)

FinCEN

U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

FISC

Foreign International Sales Company

FLIP

Foreign Leveraged Sales Company (an abusive tax shelter)

FLP

Family Limited Partnership

FMS

Financial Management Services (former Treasury Branch, now merged into BFS)

FOIA

Freedom of Information Act

FP

Foreign Parent (used in examples)

FPA

Final Partnership Adjustment under CPAR

FPAA

Final Partnership Administrative Adjustment (under TEFRA Partnership Procedures)

FRAP

Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure

FRCP

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

FRCrP

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure

FRE

Federal Rules of Evidence

FSC

Foreign Sales Corporation

Fsub

Foreign Subsidiary (used in examples)

FTA

Fraud Technical Advisor (Now Fraud Enforcement Advisor)

FTA

First Time Abate (Penalty Relief)

FTCA

Federal Tort Claims Act (28 USC § 1346(b))

FTCP

Fair Tax Collection Practices, § 6304

FTF

Failure to File Penalty (§ 6651(a))

FTL

Federal Tax Lien

FTMC

IRS Fast Track Mediation-Collection

FTPB

Townsend Federal Tax Procedure Book

FTS

Fast Track Settlement

FY

Fiscal Year

GAO

Government Accountability Office

GATT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (a multilateral trade agreement)

GCM

General Counsel Memo (Chief Counsel Guidance document No Longer Used)

GHW

Global High Worth (an IRS audit initiative)

GP

General Partner

GPO

Government Printing Office

HIRE

Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act (2010)

HITS

High Income Taxpayer Strategy (an IRS audit initiative)

IDR

Information Document Request (IRS Form 4564)

IIR

IRS Industry Issue Resolution Program

IIR

International Information Return

ILM

Internal Legal Memorandum (IRS internal guidance document)

INA

U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act

IR

IRS Information Release

IRB

IRS Internal Revenue Bulletin (an IRS public guidance publication)

IRC

Internal Revenue Code (Currently IRC 1986 compiled into 26 USC)

IRC 1986

Internal Revenue Code (Currently IRC 1986 compiled into 26 USC)

IRM

Internal Revenue Manual (an IRS internal guidance publication)

IRP

Internal Revenue Procedure (IRS public guidance document for procedures)

IRS

Internal Revenue Service (a bureau of the U.S. Treasury)

JCT

Joint Committee on Taxation (U.S. Congress joint committee)

JCX

JCT Publication

JDS

John Doe Summons (§ 7609(f))

JITSIC

OECD Joint International Taskforce on Shared Intelligence and Collaboration

LAFA

Legal Advised Issued by Field Attorneys (IRS internal guidance document)

LB&I

IRS Branch for Large Business and International

LCCI

Large Corporate Compliance Program (2019 renaming of CIC)

LCCI

IRS Last Clear Chance Initiative (voluntary disclosure foreign accounts in 1990s)

LITC

Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics (§ 7526)

LLC

Limited Liability Company

LP

Limited Partner

LPC

Large Partnership Compliance Program (Under CPAR/BBA)

LTA

Local Taxpayer Advocate

MAP

Mutual Agreement Procedure (sharing info under a Tax Treaty)

MLAT

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty

MSSP

Market Segment Specialization Program

NAP

Notice of Audit of Partnership under CPAR

NBAP

TEFRA Procedure Notice of Beginning Administrative Proceeding

NBIG

Not In Best Interest of Government (Collection Term)

NCND

Neither Confirm Nor Deny - Glomar Response to FOIA

NCOA

USPS National Change of Address Database

NDWC

Notice of Determination of Worker Classification

NFTL

Notice of Federal Tax Lien (Form 668(Y)(c))

NOD

Statutory Notice of Deficiency (§ 6212) (also SNOD); sometimes Notice of Determination.

NOL

Net Operating Loss

Nonacq

Nonacquiesence (IRS statement of disagreement with court case)

NOPA

Notice of Proposed Adjustment

NOPPA

Notice of Proposed Partnership Adjustment (under CPAR)

NPRM

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (a step in the regulations approval process)

NRP

National Research Program (an IRS audit program)

NTA

IRS National Taxpayer Advocate

OAS

Organization of American States

OBR

Offset Bypass Refund (under § 6402)

OECD

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

OFE

Office of Fraud Enforcement

OIC

Offer in Compromise

OIC-DATC

Offer in Compromise-Doubt as to Collectibility

OIC-DATC-SC

Offer in Compromise-Doubt as to Collectibility Special Circumstances

OIC-DATL

Offer in Compromise-Doubt as to Liability

OIC-ETA

Offer in Compromise-Effective Tax Administration

OLD

DOJ Office of Legal Counsel

OMB

Office of Management and Budget (an office within the Executive Branch for budget and management)

OPA

IRS Office of Penalty Administration

OPI

Office of Promoter Investigations

OPR

IRS Office of Professional Responsibility

OSDI

Old-age, survivors and disability insurance

OTSA

IRS Office of Tax Shelter Analysis (in LB&I)

OVCI

Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative

OVDI

Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative

OVDP

Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program

PAM

Post-Appeals Mediation

PCA

Private Collection Agencies

PDC

Private Debt Collection

PDT

Potentially Dangerous Taxpayer (see IRM 25.4.1)

PEO

Professional Employer Organization

PFA

IRS Pre-Filing Agreement

PLR

Private Letter Ruling

PMTA

Program Manager Technical Assistance (IRS internal guidance)

PPIA

Partial Payments Installment Agreement

PSP

Payroll Service Provider

PTIN

IRS Preparer Identification Number

PTP

Publicly Traded Partnership (taxed as corporation § 7704)

QAR

Qualified Amended Return

QO

Qualified Offer (for attorneys' fees  § 7430))

RA

Revenue Agents  (Examination Agents)

RAF

Reporting Agent

RAP

IRS Rapid Appeals Process

RAP

Rapid Appeals Process

RAR

Revenue Agents Report

RBA

Restitution Based Assessment under § 6201(a)(4) and § 6213(b)(5)

RBT

Residence Based Taxation

RCP

Reasonable Collection Potential (Doubt as to Collectibility Offers)

REIT

Real Estate Investment Trust

Rev. Proc.

Revenue Procedure (IRS guidance on tax law published in the IRB)

Rev. Rul.

Revenue Ruling (IRS guidance on procedures published in the IRB)

RFA

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

RFA

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. § 601 ff.)

RO

Revenue Officers (Collection Agents)

RPO

IRS Return Preparer Office

RRP

Return Review Program

RRP

Return Review Program

RSED

Refund Statute Expiration Date

SA

IRS CI Special Agent

SAC

Special Agent in Charge (for IRS CI)

SAUSA

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (IRS attorneys are sometimes designated)

SB/SE

Small Business/Self-Employed

SCA

Stored Communications Act (18 USC §§ 2701 et seq.)

SCIP

IRS Simultaneous Criminal Investigation Program

SDNY

Southern District of New York

SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission

SECA

Self Employment Contributions Act

SFC

Senate Finance Committee

SFR

Substitute for Return (§ 6020(a) & §6020(b)-different procedures)

SG

Solicitor General of the U.S. (an office in DOJ)

SNOD

Statutory Notice of Deficiency (§ 6212)

SOP

Settlement Option Procedure

SOX

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-204, 116 Stat. 745

Stat.

Statutes at Large

STJ

Tax Court Special Trial Judge

T.D.

Treasury Decision - document that contains final or temporary regulations

T.O.

Treasury Order (by Secretary of Treasury)

TAM

Technical Advice Memorandum

TAO

Taxpayer Advocate Taxpayer Assistance Order

TAS

Taxpayer Advocate Service

TBOR

Taxpayer Bill of Rights (several successive statutory iterations of TBOR; usually refers to § 7803(a)(3)

TBOR I

§ 7433 Remedy for Unauthorized Collection Actions

TBOR II

1996 amendment to § 7433

TBOR III

§ 7803(a)(3)

TC

Tax Court

TCJA

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (unofficial name for Publ. L. 115-97

TCMP

Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program (replaced by NRP)

TCO

Tax Coompliance Officer (Examination Function)

TD

Treasury Decision - document that contains final or temporary regulations

TE

Tax Examiners (Examination function)

TEAM

Technical Expedited Advice Memorandum

TEFRA

Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (Replaced after 2017 by CPA)

TFA

Taxpayer First Act

TFRP

Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (§ 6672)

TIA

Tax Information Exchange Agreements (treaties for information exchange)

TIEA

Tax Information Exchange Agreements (treaties for information exchange)

TIGTA

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

TIN

Taxpayer Identification Number (e.g., for individuals, the SSN)

TIPRA

The Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-222, 120 Stat. at 362

TMP

Tax Matters Partner (the person designated by partnership to handle audits)

TNT

Tax Notes Today, a prominent tax publication by Tax Analysts

TOP

Treasury Offset Program (offsets Government debts due)

TPC

Third Party Contact (§ 7602(c))

TPI

Total Positive Income

TY

Tax Year

UIDIF

Unreported Income DIF

USA

U.S. Attorney

USAO

U.S. Attorney Office

USC

U.S. Code (Compiled Law; Title 26 is IRC 1986)

USP

US Parent Company

USPS

U.S. Postal Service

USSub

US Subsidiary Company (used in examples)

UTP

Uncertain Tax Positions reported by corporate taxpayers on Schedule UTP

VCSP

Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (2012-45, 2012-51 I.R.B. 724) for Employee/Independent Contractor settlements

WB

Whistleblower

WBO

IRS Whistleblower Office

WSLA

Wartime Suspension of Limitations Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3287

 


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