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The IRS announced the CAP pilot in Announcement 2005-87, 2005-50 I.R.B. 1144.
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The CAP pilot was designed to evaluate a process for achieving tax compliance through pre-filing review and resolution of
issues. -
Fast Track Settlement under Rev. Proc. 2003-40 is available when the parties are unable to resolve a dispute.
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The IRS expects CAP to improve issue resolution by working with the taxpayer to determine the tax treatment of items and transactions
prior to filing.-
Specific corporations are assigned an Account Coordinator (AC), who works with the taxpayer and coordinates additional IRS
resources as needed, to review items, events and material tax transactions in a contemporaneous manner to resolve issues prior
to filing. -
The Account Coordinator and the taxpayer identify and resolve material issues during the tax year rather than several years
after a return is filed. -
When agreement on the proper tax treatment is reached, the Taxpayer receives an acceptance letter from the IRS, minimizing
the need for post-filing review of specific items, transactions or issues.
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CAP is comprised of several key components:
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Collaborative relationship between the taxpayer and the AC, the IRS point of contact to identify and resolve issues during
the year. -
Comprehensive and contemporaneous disclosure environment to identify issues.
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Issue-driven approach focusing on significant items and events, and material tax transactions. Timely identification, evaluation
and resolution of issues prior to filing the tax return. -
Determination of acceptance prior to filing. e) Joint post-filing review of return.
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Issues that arise in the CAP process are resolved by the CAP Team and the taxpayer using Issue Resolution Agreements (IRA).
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Fast Track Settlement is available as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program during CAP on an issue by issue basis.
See Rev. Proc. 2003-40, 2003-1 C.B. 1044, for the Fast Track Settlement procedures.-
Fast Track Settlement is designed to help Large and Mid-Size Business (LMSB) taxpayers expeditiously resolve disputes during
an examination while their case is still in LMSB jurisdiction. Fast Track Settlement brings Appeals resources to the audit
site to resolve the disputed tax treatment of identified transactions. -
Rev. Proc. 2003-40 provides that the FTS Appeals Official, serving as a neutral participant in the FTS process, assists LMSB
and the taxpayer to understand the nature of the dispute and to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution consistent with applicable
law. -
In the FTS process, a specially trained Appeals Official facilitates the Fast Track settlement discussions between the taxpayer
and LMSB, to reach and execute a settlement with which both agree. -
The prohibition against ex parte communications between Appeals employees and other Service employees provided by section
1001(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 does not apply to the communications when
facilitating an agreement between the taxpayer and LMSB during Fast Track Settlement because the Appeals employees are not
acting in their traditional Appeals settlement role. -
The Team Manager starts the process by submitting the Application for Fast Track Settlement to the LMSB and Appeals Fast Track
Settlement Program Managers. -
In addition to the LS feature code, Appeals uses the CP feature code on Appeals Centralized Database System (ACDS ) for CAP
cases requesting Fast Track Settlement. The feature codes are selected from a drop down menu on ACDS. Appeals Officers (AOs
) or Appeals Team Case Leaders (ATCLs ) add the feature code to the case on ACDS, either by adding it themselves through the
update function in CARATS or by requesting Appeals Processing Services (APS ) add the feature code. The feature code field
in ACDS is critical for Appeals data accuracy on all cases. -
If the parties reach agreement, Form 906, Closing Agreement on Final Determination Covering Specific Matters, is executed
to finalize the resolution.
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If the Fast Track Settlement Program is used in a CAP case, the Account Coordinator (AC) should follow the procedures outlined
in Rev. Proc. 2003-40.-
The AC prepares the application package and forwards it to the Team Manager for approval. The Team Manager reviews, approves,
signs the application and obtains the taxpayers signature and forwards it to the LMSB and Appeals Fast Track Settlement Program
Managers. -
The AC forwards the issue positions for both parties to Appeals for consideration, prior to the opening conference and arranges
any meetings. The Team Manager and appropriate team personnel, including specialists, their managers and Technical Advisors
from LMSB participate in the Fast Track Settlement process with taxpayers, which includes attending meetings, discussions,
and providing necessary information to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the issue. -
If necessary, the appropriate Territory Manager and Director, Field Operations – LMSB, participates in the Fast Track Settlement
process. -
If an issue is resolved during Fast Track Settlement, the agreed resolution is incorporated into the applicable closing agreement.
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Fully developed but unagreed issues not resolved using Fast Track Settlement during pre-filing are incorporated into a 30-day
letter once the return is filed and the case is forwarded through the traditional Appeals process.
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Binding arbitration is not an option that is available in CAP.
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If Fast Track Settlement does not occur prior to return filing, taxpayers have the option of electing to use Fast Track Settlement
during the post-filing examination process. Once the taxpayer elects Fast Track Settlement in CAP, the taxpayer retains all
of its otherwise available appeal rights, however, FTS number can not be used for the same issue. An exception is a change
in facts and circumstances that the parties subsequently agree merits the use of Fast Track Settlement.
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Upon completion of the Fast Track Settlement in a CAP case, the FTS Appeals Official prepares a Fast Track Settlement Session
Report, to be signed by the parties. -
If an issue is settled during Fast Track Settlement, the agreed settlement is documented in Form 14000, Fast Track Session
Report, and the applicable Form 906, Closing Agreement on Final Determination Covering Specific Matters, is prepared by Appeals.
The FTS Appeals Official also prepares a brief Appeals Case Memorandum (ACM). -
If an issue is resolved using LMSB resolution authority during Fast Track Settlement, the original IRA is attached to the
final signed Fast Track Settlement Session Report. The FTS Appeals Official does not prepare an Appeals Case Memorandum. If
the parties desire, the agreed resolution is incorporated into the applicable Form 906 prepared by the AC and executed by
the appropriate LMSB official upon completion of CAP. Appeals assists the parties in drafting the Form 906. -
Where a Joint Committee report is required for a CAP case, Appeals delays execution of the closing agreement until LMSB completes
the Joint Committee procedures. LMSB is responsible for preparing the Joint Committee report. When Appeals settlement authority
is utilized on a Joint Committee case, the Appeals Official involved in the settlement is available to respond to inquiries
from the Joint Committee regarding the settlement. -
Appeals follows the established closing procedures for Fast Track Settlement.
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Appeals sends a closing letter and copies of the Fast Track Settlement closing documents to the taxpayer, AC and LMSB Team
Manager.
