AGENCY: Department of Justice
ACTION: Notice
SUMMARY: This Directive delegates the authority to approve requests seeking to
expand nontax grand jury investigations to include inquiry into possible federal
criminal tax violations from the Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division, to any
United States Attorney, Attorney-In-Charge of a Criminal Division Organization
Strike Force or Independent Counsel. The Directive also sets forth the scope of
the delegated authority and the procedures to be followed by designated field
personnel in implementing the delegated authority.
EFFECTIVE DATE:October 1, 1986
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward M. Vellines, Senior Assistant Chief,
Office of Policy & Tax Enforcement Analysis, Tax Division, Criminal Section
(202-633-3011). This is not a toll fee number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This order concerns internal Department management
and is being published for the information of the general public.
TAX DIVISION DIRECTIVE NO. 86-59
By virtue of the authority vested in me by Part O, Subpart N of Title 28
of the Code of Federal Regulations, particularly Section 0.70, delegation of
authority with respect to approving requests seeking to expand a nontax grand
jury investigation to include inquiry into possible federal criminal tax
violations is hereby conferred on the following individuals:
- Any United States Attorney appointed under Section 541 or 546 of Title
28, United States Code.
- Any Attorney-In-Charge of a Criminal Division Organization Strike Force
established pursuant to Section 510 of Title 28, United States Code.
- Any Independent Counsel appointed under Section 593 of Title 28, United
States Code.
The authority hereby conferred allows the designated official to
approve, on behalf of the Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division, a request
seeking to expand a nontax grand jury investigation to include inquiries into
potential federal criminal tax violations in a proceeding which is being
conducted within the sole jurisdiction of the designated official's office.
(Section 301.6103(h)(2)-1(a)(2)(ii) (26 C.F.R.)). Provided, that the
delegated official determines that--
- There is reason to believe, based upon information developed during the
course of the nontax grand jury proceedings, that federal criminal tax violations
may have been committed.
- The attorney for the Government conducting the subject nontax grand jury
inquiry has deemed it necessary in accordance with F.R.Cr.P. 6(e)(A)(ii) to seek
the assistance of Government personnel assigned to the Internal Revenue Service
to assist said attorney in his/her duty to enforce federal criminal law.
- The subject grand jury proceedings do not involve a multijurisdictional
investigation, nor are the targets individuals considered to have national
prominence--such as local, state, federal, or foreign public officials or
political candidates; members of the judiciary; religious leaders;
representatives of the electronic or printed news media; officials of a labor
union; and major corporations and/or their officers when they are the targets
(subjects) of such proceedings.
- A written request seeking the assistance of Internal Revenue Service
personnel and containing pertinent information relating to the alleged federal
tax offenses has been forwarded by the designated official's office to the
appropriate Internal Revenue Service official (e.g., Chief, Criminal
Investigations).
- The Tax Division of the Department of Justice has been furnished by
certified mail a copy of the request seeking to expand the subject grand jury to
include potential tax violations, and the Tax Division interposes no objection
to the request.
- The Internal Revenue Service has made a referral pursuant to the provisions
of 26 U.S.C. Section 6103(h)(3) in writing stating that it: (1) has determined,
based upon the information provided by the attorney for the Government and its
examination of relevant tax records, that there is reason to believe that federal
criminal tax violations have been committed; (2) agrees to furnish the personnel
needed to assist the Government attorney in his/her duty to enforce federal
criminal law; and (3) has forwarded to the Tax Division a copy of the referral.
- The grand jury proceedings will be conducted by attorney(s) from the
designated official's office in sufficient time to allow the results of the tax
segment of the grand jury proceedings to be evaluated by the Internal Revenue
Service and the Tax Division before undertaking to initiate criminal
proceedings.
The authority hereby delegated includes the authority to designate: the
targets (subjects) and the scope of such tax grand jury inquiry, including the
tax years considered to warrant investigation. This delegation also includes the
authority to terminate such grand jury investigations, provided, that
prior written notification is given to both the Internal Revenue Service and the
Tax Division. If the designated official terminates a tax grand jury
investigation or the targets (subjects) thereof, then the designated official
shall indicate in its correspondence that such notification terminates the
referral of the matter pursuant to 26 U.S.C. Section 7602(c).
This delegation of authority does not include the authority to file an
information or return an indictment on tax matters. No indictment is to be
returned or information filed without specific prior authorization of the Tax
Division. Except in Organized Crime Drug Task Force Investigations, individual
cases for tax prosecution growing out of grand jury investigations shall be
forwarded to the Tax Division by the United States Attorney, Independent Counsel
or Attorney-in-Charge of a Strike Force with a special agent's report and
exhibits through Regional Counsel, (Internal Revenue Service) for evaluation
prior to transmittal to the Tax Division. Cases for tax prosecutions growing out
of grand jury investigations conducted by an Organized Crime Drug Task Force
shall be forwarded directly to the Tax Division by the United States Attorney
with a special agent's report and exhibits.
The authority hereby delegated is limited to matters which seek either to:
(1) expand nontax grand jury proceedings to include inquiry into possible federal
criminal tax violations; (2) designate the targets (subjects) and the scope of
such inquiry; or (3) terminate such proceedings. In all other instances,
authority to approve the initiation of grand jury proceedings which involve
inquiries into possible criminal tax violations, including requests generated by
the Internal Revenue Service, remains vested in the Assistant Attorney General
in charge of the Tax Division as provided in 28 C.F.R. 0.70. In addition,
authority to alter any actions taken pursuant to the delegations contained herein
is retained by the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Tax Division in
accordance with the authority contained in 28 C.F.R. 0.70.
Roger M. Olsen
Assistant Attorney General
Tax Division
Approved to take effect on October 1, 1986
| October 1997
| Tax Resource Manual 14
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