The IRS Office of Professional Responsibility

As many criminal practitioners are acutely aware, the Internal Revenue Service has recently ramped up compliance and enforcement efforts with budget increases and enhanced resources. A lesser-known component of this revitalized enforcement is the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which is charged with regulating professionals - mostly lawyers and accountants -- who practice before the IRS. OPR enforces ethical rules that govern practice before the Service, commonly known as "Circular 230," and may sanction practitioners who violate those rules. Because OPR matters can interact with the criminal process in many respects, conscientious white-collar practitioners and corporate tax counsel should familiarize themselves with OPR and its power over tax professionals.

16 minute readNovember 29, 2004 at 02:10 PM
By
Scott D. Michel
Justin A. Thornton
The IRS Office of Professional Responsibility

As many criminal practitioners are acutely aware, the Internal Revenue Service has recently ramped up compliance and enforcement efforts with budget increases and enhanced resources. A lesser-known component of this

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