Tax Exempt Bonds (TEB) is a division of the Governmental Entities (GE) division of the Tax Exempt and Governmental Entities Division (TE/GE) of the Internal Revenue Service.

The mission of TEB is to administer Federal tax laws applicable to tax-advantaged bonds and to provide our customers with top quality service by applying tax laws with integrity and fairness.

Our Compliance Program Management (CPM) and Field Operation (FO) programs focus on providing participants in the tax-advantaged bond industry with quality service and assistance to members of the tax-advantaged bond community in understanding their tax responsibilities. TEB develops tailored education programs focused on tax-advantaged bond industry segments; monitors non-compliance trends to design pro-active education and outreach products; and designs and implements compliance programs and projects that foster voluntary resolution of infractions of the tax rules related to tax-advantaged bonds.

Rebecca L. Harrigal, Director

Under the direction of Rebecca L. Harrigal, TEB works closely with the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (TE/GE). other offices within the Internal Revenue Service, other regulatory agencies, state and local government officials, and others in the tax-advantaged bond community to encourage and achieve the highest degree of voluntary compliance with Federal tax laws.

Karen A. Skinder, Acting CPM Manager

The Compliance and Program Management Program (formerly, Outreach, Planning, and Review), under the direction of Karen A. Skinder, is primarily responsible for the development and coordination of the Tax Exempt Bond Voluntary Compliance/Closing Agreement Program (TEB VCAP) as well as the development of ongoing outreach programs designed to effectively identify, provide guidance to, and address the needs of the various customer groups that comprise the tax-advantaged bond community. The CPM program also develops project initiatives; updates the Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) and Revenue Procedures; prepares taxpayer and employee education and training materials; handles general information requests and referrals; coordinates with the Office of Associate Chief Counsel to provide legal guidance; and performs program planning and evaluation functions.

Bob C. Griffo, Acting FO Manager

The Field Operations Program, under the direction of Bob C. Griffo, is primarily responsible for identifying and correcting noncompliance with Federal tax laws applicable to tax-advantaged bonds. The FO office conducts examinations, with fairness and the highest level of integrity, at the issuer level. The goal of the program is to pro-actively assist issuers in their tax-advantaged bond compliance with the Federal tax laws. FO personnel throughout the country are active not only in conducting examinations but also in assisting with the delivery of outreach programs to the tax-advantaged bond community. FO concentrates its efforts on the many emerging issues and focus areas in the tax-advantaged bond community.

Voluntary Compliance Agreement Program

To promote voluntary compliance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to tax-advantaged bonds, TEB expanded its voluntary closing agreement program (TEB VCAP). In expanding TEB VCAP. the IRS seeks to encourage issuers, conduit borrowers and other parties to bond transactions to exercise due diligence and to attempt to correct any issuance and post-issuance infractions of the applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations. This expansion reflects the IRS’s continuing policy of taxing bondholders only as a last resort and it’s desire to resolve tax-advantaged bond infractions with other parties to the bond transactions.

Voluntary closing agreement requests from anonymous parties as well as requests on behalf of multiple issuers and issues are encouraged if a sufficient description of the appropriate facts and circumstances leading to the infraction are provided to the Service.

We welcome your interest in the CPM function and participation in the TEB VCAP program. We also welcome your suggestions about how we can improve the program and encourage up-front voluntary compliance. If you have any questions about the TEB VCAP or wish to discuss or submit a closing agreement request, please contact Karen A. Skinder, Acting Manager, Compliance and Program Management by phone at (216) 706-8285 or FAX your inquiry to (855) 238-8645. You may also mail closing agreement requests to CPM at the following address:

Internal Revenue Service

SE:T:GE:TEB:CPM

TEB Room 128

1122 Town & Country Commons

Chesterfield, MO 63017-8293

It is TEB’s highest priority to communicate effectively with the diverse membership of the tax-advantaged bond community. TEB looks forward to working in partnership with state and local government officials, regulatory agencies, national governmental, industry, and professional associations, as well as your state and local affiliates and members. Please let us know if you have any requests for technical assistance or if you would like a speaker or panelist for your meeting, workshop, seminar or conference. We would also welcome the opportunity to assign a staff person to coordinate with your task forces or subcommittees or provide information for your newsletters or similar publications. Please feel free to link any of our materials to your websites as well. We welcome your suggestions concerning the type of materials you would like to see on this website in the future and the type of newsletters or publications that would be useful to you.