Disclosure of Returns and Return Information in Connection With Written Contracts or Agreements for the Acquisition of Property or Services for Tax Administration Purposes

This document contains final regulations relating to the disclosure of returns and return information pursuant to section 6103(n) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The final regulations describe the circumstances under which officers or employees of the Treasury Department, a State tax agency, the Social Security Administration, or the Department of Justice, may disclose returns and return information to obtain property or services for tax administration purposes, pursuant to a written contract or agreement. The final regulations also set forth safeguard requirements that are designed to protect the confidentiality of returns and return information in the hands of contractors, agents, and subcontractors, and their officers and employees, and notification requirements that must be provided, in writing, to officers and employees of the contractors, agents, and subcontractors to inform them that any returns or return information they receive pursuant to these regulations may only be used for the purpose for which it is disclosed to them and that they are subject to the civil and criminal provisions of sections 7431, 7213, and 7213A for the unauthorized inspection or disclosure of the returns or return information. The final regulations will affect officers and employees of the Treasury Department, a State tax agency, the Social Security Administration, or the Department of Justice, who disclose returns or return information in connection with a written contract or agreement for the acquisition of property or services for tax administration purposes. The final regulations also will affect any person, or officer, employee, agent, or subcontractor of the person, or officer or employee of the agent or subcontractor, who receives returns or return information in connection with a written contract or agreement for the acquisition of property or services.