Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73
§7605 Time and place of examination
Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— - Procedure and Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 78— - DISCOVERY OF LIABILITY AND ENFORCEMENT OF TITLE › Subchapter Subchapter A— - Examination and Inspection › § 7605
Summary
The Secretary decides when and where tax exams or required appearances will take place, and those arrangements must be reasonable. If a summons orders someone to appear, the appearance date cannot be less than 10 days after the summons is issued. Taxpayers must not face unnecessary investigations. Their books may be inspected only once per tax year unless the taxpayer asks for more or the Secretary, after reviewing the situation, sends written notice that another inspection is needed. Rules limiting church tax inquiries are handled separately.
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §7605
Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The time and place of examination pursuant to the provisions of section 6420(e)(2), 6421(g)(2), 6427(j)(2), or 7602 shall be such time and place as may be fixed by the Secretary and as are reasonable under the circumstances. In the case of a summons under authority of paragraph (2) of section 7602, or under the corresponding authority of section 6420(e)(2), 6421(g)(2), or 6427(j)(2), the date fixed for appearance before the Secretary shall not be less than 10 days from the date of the summons.
(b)No taxpayer shall be subjected to unnecessary examination or investigations, and only one inspection of a taxpayer’s books of account shall be made for each taxable year unless the taxpayer requests otherwise or unless the Secretary, after investigation, notifies the taxpayer in writing that an additional inspection is necessary.
(c)For provisions restricting church tax inquiries and examinations, see section 7611.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–647, § 1017(c)(12), made technical correction to language of Pub. L. 99–514, § 1703(e)(2)(G), see 1986 Amendment note below. Pub. L. 100–647, § 1017(c)(9), substituted “6421(g)(2)” for “6421(f)(2)” in two places. 1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–514, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, § 1017(c)(12), substituted “6427(j)(2)” for “6427(i)(2)” in two places. 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–369, § 911(d)(2)(G), substituted “6427(i)(2)” for “6427(h)(2)” in two places. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–369, § 1033(c)(1), amended subsec. (c) generally, substituting a cross reference relating to church tax inquiries for provisions relating to church tax inquiries. 1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–424 struck out “6424(d)(2),” after “6421(f)(2),” wherever appearing. 1980—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–223 substituted “6427(h)(2)” for “6427(g)(2)” wherever appearing. 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–599 substituted “6427(g)(2)” for “6427(f)(2)” wherever appearing. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–530 substituted “6427(f)(2)” for “6427(e)(2)” wherever appearing. Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”. 1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–258 inserted references to section 6427(e)(2). 1969—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 91–172 added subsec. (c). 1965—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–44 inserted references to section 6424(d)(2). 1956—Subsec. (a). Act June 29, 1956, inserted references to section 6421(f)(2). Act Apr. 2, 1956, inserted references to section 6420(e)(2) in second sentence.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1986 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to gasoline removed (as defined in section 4082 of this title as amended by section 1703 of Pub. L. 99–514) after Dec. 31, 1987, see section 1703(h) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 4081 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by section 911(d)(2)(G) of Pub. L. 98–369 effective Aug. 1, 1984, see section 911(e) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 6427 of this title. Amendment by section 1033(c)(1) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable with respect to inquiries and examinations beginning after Dec. 31, 1984, see section 1033(d) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 7611 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1983 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–424 applicable with respect to articles sold after Jan. 6, 1983, see section 515(c) of Pub. L. 97–424, set out as a note under section 34 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–223 effective Jan. 1, 1979, see section 232(h)(2) of Pub. L. 96–223, set out as a note under section 6427 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–599 effective Jan. 1, 1979, see section 505(d) of Pub. L. 95–599, set out as a note under section 6427 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–530 effective Oct. 1, 1976, see section 1(d) of Pub. L. 94–530, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–258 effective July 1, 1970, see section 211(a) of Pub. L. 91–258, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1969 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–172 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1969, see section 121(g) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 511 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1965 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 89–44 effective Jan. 1, 1966, see section 701(a)(1), (2), of Pub. L. 89–44, set out as a note under section 4161 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1956 AmendmentAmendment by act
June 29, 1956, effective
June 29, 1956, see section 211 of act
June 29, 1956, set out as a note under section 4041 of this title.
Regulations
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6228(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3732, provided that: “The Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate shall issue
Regulations
to implement subsection (a) of section 7605 of the 1986 Code (relating to time and place of examination) within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1988].”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 7605
Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73