Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-110

§7123 Appeals Dispute Resolution Procedures

Title 26 › Subtitle F — Procedure and Administration › CHAPTER 74 — CLOSING AGREEMENTS AND COMPROMISES › § 7123

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must create rules so a taxpayer can ask to move one or more unresolved issues from an examination or collection case to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals early. The Secretary must also set up non‑binding mediation that a taxpayer or the Appeals office can ask for after appeals end or after failed attempts at a closing agreement (section 7121) or a compromise (section 7122). The Secretary must run a pilot program for binding arbitration in those same situations. The Secretary must also allow an organization claiming 501(c) status to ask Appeals (and request a conference) to review an adverse decision about its exemption under 501(a) or 170(c)(2), its private foundation classification under 509(a), or its private operating foundation status under 4942(j)(3).

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §7123

Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Early referral to appeals procedures
The Secretary shall prescribe procedures by which any taxpayer may request early referral of 1 or more unresolved issues from the examination or collection division to the Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals.
(b)Alternative dispute resolution procedures
(1)Mediation
The Secretary shall prescribe procedures under which a taxpayer or the Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals may request non-binding mediation on any issue unresolved at the conclusion of— (A)
(B)unsuccessful attempts to enter into a closing agreement under section 7121 or a compromise under section 7122.
(2)Arbitration
The Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which a taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals may jointly request binding arbitration on any issue unresolved at the conclusion of— (A)
(B)unsuccessful attempts to enter into a closing agreement under section 7121 or a compromise under section 7122.
(c)Administrative appeal relating to adverse determination of tax-exempt status of certain organizations
(1)In general
The Secretary shall prescribe procedures under which an organization which claims to be described in section 501(c) may request an administrative appeal (including a conference relating to such appeal if requested by the organization) to the Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals of an adverse determination described in paragraph (2).
(2)Adverse determinations
For purposes of paragraph (1), an adverse determination is described in this paragraph if such determination is adverse to an organization with respect to—
(A)the initial qualification or continuing qualification of the organization as exempt from tax under section 501(a) or as an organization described in section 170(c)(2),
(B)the initial classification or continuing classification of the organization as a private foundation under section 509(a), or
(C)the initial classification or continuing classification of the organization as a private operating foundation under section 4942(j)(3).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 7123 was renumbered section 7124 of this title.

Amendments

2019—Pub. L. 116–25 substituted “Internal Revenue Service Independent Office of Appeals” for “Internal Revenue Service Office of Appeals” wherever appearing. 2015—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–113 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 Amendment Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title IV, § 404(b), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3118, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to determinations made on or after May 19, 2014.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 7123

Title 26, Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110