D.C Circuit: 'The IRS is Not Special'

Tax Analysis, 2011

10 Pages Posted: 31 Aug 2011 Last revised: 29 Jan 2012

Date Written: August 29, 2011

Abstract

The D.C. Circuit’s recent en banc decision in Cohen allowed a challenge to a tax refund procedure established in an IRS notice to proceed as a free-standing suit under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), outside the traditional framework for challenging IRS actions through tax refund suits or Tax Court petitions. Because that result depended on the highly unusual circumstances presented in the case, it is unlikely that taxpayers will often be able to take advantage of the holding.

More broadly significant, however, is the fact that, in its analysis, the D.C. Circuit confirmed that the IRS is subject to the requirements of the APA. That confirmation is a welcome application in the APA context of the Supreme Court’s more general holding in Mayo that the IRS is subject to the same general requirements of administrative law that apply to all other federal agencies.

Keywords: Mayo, Cohen, Administrative Procedure Act, IRS

Suggested Citation

Smith, Patrick J., D.C Circuit: 'The IRS is Not Special' (August 29, 2011). Tax Analysis, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1920212

Patrick J. Smith (Contact Author)

Ivins, Phillips & Barker ( email )

1717 K Street, NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
United States

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