The Internal Revenue Service is facing budget cuts that may cause the agency to make drastic changes to the Office of Chief Counsel. The total number of lawyers in the office, the time it can spend speaking with the public, and its ability to issue guidance and private rulings have all already been affected.
In 2014, the number of public letter rulings issued by the office dropped by 10 percent from the previous year. Speaking to press at an event earlier this week held by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, IRS Deputy Chief Counsel Erik Corwin told Bloomberg reporters that part of that was by design, telling press that the rulings “are less efficient than published guidance.” The agency may consider shaping its annual guidance plan to reflect the cuts. NABL President Tony Martini has written to the Chief Counsel’s office urging continued attendance by staff of the Chief Counsel’s office at NABL conferences. President Martini’s letter is available here.