Code of Federal Regulations · Section
§ 301.7603-2 — -2 Third-party Recordkeepers
26 C.F.R. § 301.7603-2
(a) Definitions—(1) Accountant. A person is an accountant under section 7603(b)(2)(F) for purposes of determining whether that person is a third-party recordkeeper if, on the date the records described in the summons were created, the person was registered, licensed, or certified as an accountant under the authority of any state, commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, or of the District of Columbia.
(2) Attorney. A person is an attorney under section 7603(b)(2)(E) for purposes of determining whether that person is a third-party recordkeeper if, on the date the records described in the summons were created, the person was registered, licensed, or certified as an attorney under the authority of any state, commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, or of the District of Columbia.
(3) Credit cards—(i) Person extending credit through credit cards. The term person extending credit through the use of credit cards or similar devices under section 7603(b)(2)(C) generally includes any person who issues a credit card. The term does not include a seller of goods or services who honors credit cards issued by other parties but who does not extend credit through the use of credit cards or similar devices.
(ii) Devices similar to credit cards. An object is a device similar to a credit card under section 7603(b)(2)(C) only if it is physical in nature, such as a charge plate or similar device that may be tendered to obtain an extension of credit. Thus, a person who extends credit by requiring customers to sign sales slips without requiring the use of, or reference to, a physical object issued by that person is not a third-party recordkeeper under section 7603(b)(2)(C).
(iii) Debit cards. A debit card is not a credit card or similar device because a debit card is not tendered to obtain an extension of credit.
(4) Enrolled agent. A person is an enrolled agent under section 7603(b)(2)(I) for purposes of determining whether that person is a third-party recordkeeper if the person is enrolled as an agent authorized to practice before the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Circular 230, 31 CFR Part 10.
(5) Owner or developer of certain computer code and data. An owner or developer of computer software source code under section 7603(b)(2)(J) is a third-party recordkeeper when summoned to produce a computer software source code (as defined in section 7612(d)(2)), or an executable code and associated data described in section 7612(b)(1)(A)(ii), even if that person did not make or keep records of another person's business transactions or affairs.
(b) When third-party recordkeeper status arises—(1) In general. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, a person listed in section 7603(b)(2) is a third-party recordkeeper for purposes of section 7609(c)(2)(E) and § 301.7603-1 only if the summons served on that person seeks records (or testimony regarding such records) of a third party's business transactions or affairs and such recordkeeper made or kept the records in the capacity of a third-party recordkeeper. For instance, an accountant is not a third-party recordkeeper (by reason of being an accountant) with respect to the accountant's records of a sale of property by the accountant to another person. Similarly, a credit card issuer is not a third-party recordkeeper (by reason of being a person extending credit through the use of credit cards or similar devices) with respect to—
(i) Records relating to non-credit card transactions, such as a cash sale by the issuer to a holder of the issuer's credit card; or
(ii) Records relating to transactions involving the use of another issuer's credit card.
(2) Examples. The rules of paragraph (b)(1) of this section are illustrated by the following examples:
V issues a credit card (the V card) that is honored by R, a retailer. When using the V card, C, a customer, signs a sales slip in triplicate. C, R, and V each retain one copy. Only the copy held by V is held by a third-party recordkeeper under section 7603(b)(2), even though R may issue its own credit card.
R, a retailer, issues its own credit card (the R card) to C, a customer. When C makes a credit purchase from R using the R card, C signs a sales slip in duplicate. C and R each retain one copy. Because R keeps the copy in its capacity as credit card issuer, as well as in its capacity as a retailer, it is a third-party recordkeeper under section 7603(b)(2) with respect to its copy of the sales slip.
(c) Effective/applicability date. This section is applicable on April 30, 2008.
Authorizing Statute
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Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information26 U.S.C. § 6103
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Restrictions applicable to deficiencies; petition to Tax Court26 U.S.C. § 6213
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Signing of returns and other documents26 U.S.C. § 6061
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Assessment, collection, and payment26 U.S.C. § 6232
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Period of limitations on making adjustments26 U.S.C. § 6235
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Validity and priority against certain persons26 U.S.C. § 6323
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Definitions26 U.S.C. § 7701
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Partner’s return must be consistent with partnership return26 U.S.C. § 6222
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Alternative to payment of imputed underpayment by partnership26 U.S.C. § 6226
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Notice of qualification as executor or receiver26 U.S.C. § 6036
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Partners bound by actions of partnership26 U.S.C. § 6223
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Abatements26 U.S.C. § 6404
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Commissioner of Internal Revenue; other officials26 U.S.C. § 7803
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Extension of time for filing returns26 U.S.C. § 6081
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Treaty-based return positions26 U.S.C. § 6114
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Timely mailing treated as timely filing and paying26 U.S.C. § 7502
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Interest and penalties26 U.S.C. § 6233
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Certified professional employer organizations26 U.S.C. § 7705
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Accelerated cost recovery system26 U.S.C. § 168
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General requirement of return, statement, or list26 U.S.C. § 6011
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Disclosure of reportable transactions26 U.S.C. § 6111
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Rules and regulations26 U.S.C. § 7805
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Persons required to make returns of income26 U.S.C. § 6012
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Return of S corporation26 U.S.C. § 6037
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Reimbursement to State and local law enforcement agencies26 U.S.C. § 7624
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Determination at partnership level26 U.S.C. § 6221
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Partnership adjustment by Secretary26 U.S.C. § 6225
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Authority to release levy and return property26 U.S.C. § 6343
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Disclosure or use of information by preparers of returns26 U.S.C. § 7216
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Departmental regulations5 U.S.C. § 301
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Tax imposed26 U.S.C. § 1
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Notice of proceedings and adjustment26 U.S.C. § 6231
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Payment of tax by commercially acceptable means26 U.S.C. § 6311
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Sale of seized property26 U.S.C. § 6335
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Procedural requirements26 U.S.C. § 6751
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Low-income housing credit26 U.S.C. § 42
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Special rules26 U.S.C. § 1474
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Returns by exempt organizations26 U.S.C. § 6033
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Definitions and special rules26 U.S.C. § 6241
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Administrative appeal of liens26 U.S.C. § 6326
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Expenses of detection of underpayments and fraud, etc.26 U.S.C. § 7623
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Information concerning resident status26 U.S.C. § 6039E
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Identifying numbers26 U.S.C. § 6109
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Administrative adjustment request by partnership26 U.S.C. § 6227
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Authority to make credits or refunds26 U.S.C. § 6402
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Judicial review of partnership adjustment26 U.S.C. § 6234
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Failure to file notice of redetermination of foreign tax26 U.S.C. § 6689
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Income from discharge of indebtedness26 U.S.C. § 108