Notice -2007-31 Statute of Limitations and Exchange of Information Concerning Certain Individuals Filing Income Tax Returns with the U.S. VI.

Part III. Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous
Statute of Limitations and
Exchange of Information
Concerning Certain
Individuals Filing Income
Tax Returns With the U.S.
Virgin Islands
Notice 2007–31
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
This notice announces that for taxable
years ending on or after December 31,
2006, the U.S. federal statute of limitations
for all U.S. citizens and residents claiming
to be bona fide residents of the U.S. Virgin
Islands generally will commence upon the
filing of an income tax return with the U.S.
Virgin Islands.
This notice amends and supplements
Notice 2007–19, 2007–11 I.R.B. 689,
which the Treasury Department and the
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued on
February 21, 2007. Notice 2007–19 provided interim rules under sections 932(c)
and 7654(e) concerning the statute of limitations on assessment of the U.S. income
tax liability (if any) of a U.S. citizen or
resident alien who takes the position that
he or she is a bona fide resident of the
U.S. Virgin Islands and the U.S. filing
obligations of such an individual. It also
announced that the Treasury Department
and the IRS were studying the feasibility
of an automatic exchange of information
program with the U.S. Virgin Islands and
the elimination of the reporting requirements set forth in the notice.
Since the issuance of Notice 2007–19,
the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal
Revenue (BIR) and the IRS have entered
into a new working arrangement concerning the routine (automatic) exchange of
information (the “Working Arrangement”)
under the Tax Implementation Agreement
between the United States of America
and the Virgin Islands dated February 24,
1987 (the “Implementation Agreement”).
In light of the Working Arrangement,
this notice also provides new interim
rules under sections 932(c) and 7654(e)
concerning the statute of limitations on
assessment and U.S. filing obligations of

April 16, 2007

certain individuals who file returns with
the U.S. Virgin Islands. Finally, this notice
announces that the Treasury Department
and the IRS intend to issue regulations
under sections 932(c) and 7654(e) that
incorporate these new interim rules. Until
the regulations are issued, taxpayers may
rely on this notice (and when appropriate,
may also rely on Notice 2007–19).
SECTION 2. EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION
On March 21, 2007, the IRS and BIR
officials serving as the competent authorities of the United States and the U.S.
Virgin Islands, respectively, entered into
the Working Arrangement, which provides guidelines and procedures for the
routine exchange of information under the
Implementation Agreement. The Working Arrangement applies to taxable years
ending on or after December 31, 2006.
The Working Arrangement will be terminated if for any reason the Implementation
Agreement is terminated. The Working
Arrangement may also be terminated upon
written notice by either the IRS or the BIR.
The text of the Working Arrangement is
attached.
SECTION 3. INTERIM RULES
Under the authority of section 7654(e),
an individual income tax return filed under section 932(c)(2) with the U.S. Virgin
Islands by a U.S. citizen or resident alien
(USVI Form 1040) who takes the position
that he or she is a bona fide resident of the
U.S. Virgin Islands for the entire taxable
year (or an individual who files a joint return for the taxable year with such an individual) will be deemed to be a U.S. income
tax return of that individual for purposes of
section 6501(a), provided that the IRS and
BIR have entered into an agreement for
the routine exchange of information satisfying the requirements of the Commissioner of the IRS. The Working Arrangement announced in section 2 of this notice
satisfies this condition. Therefore, a return filed with the U.S. Virgin Islands under section 932(c)(2) will be deemed to be
a U.S. income tax return for purposes of

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section 6501(a) as described in this paragraph. In the event that the Working Arrangement is terminated and in the absence
of a successor agreement, the interim rules
provided in Notice 2007–19 will apply.
For example, assume that N, a U.S. citizen and calendar year taxpayer, takes the
position that he is a bona fide resident of
the U.S. Virgin Islands for the 2006 taxable
year. On March 30, 2007, N files USVI
Form 1040 (2006) with the U.S. Virgin Islands. N does not file Form 1040, U.S.
Individual Income Tax Return (U.S. Form
1040), with the IRS (as described previously in Notice 2007–19). Under these
circumstances and the rules provided in
this notice, the 3-year period of limitations under section 6501(a) will expire on
April 15, 2010, and the IRS will make no
further assessment of income tax for N’s
2006 taxable year after that date except as
otherwise authorized by section 6501.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE
This notice applies for taxable years
ending on or after December 31, 2006.
With respect to taxable years ending before December 31, 2006, the interim rules
provided in Notice 2007–19 are still effective if a taxpayer so chooses. Consequently, a “non-covered person” within the
meaning of Notice 2007–19 may choose
to apply the interim rules of that notice
to a taxable year ending before December 31, 2006, by filing U.S. Form 1040
with the IRS as provided in the notice. A
“covered person” within the meaning of
Notice 2007–19 who chooses to apply the
interim rules of that notice to a taxable year
ending before December 31, 2006, need
only provide the documentation specified
in the notice upon examination.
SECTION 5. DRAFTING
INFORMATION
The principal author of this notice
is J. David Varley of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (International). For
further information regarding this notice,
contact Mr. Varley at (202) 435–5262 (not
a toll-free call).

2007–16 I.R.B.

ATTACHMENT TO NOTICE 2007–31
WORKING ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (INTERNATIONAL), LMSB
AND
BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS
CONCERNING ROUTINE (AUTOMATIC) EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
I. Introduction
This Working Arrangement between the competent authorities of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands (the “parties”)
sets forth the agreement of the parties with respect to an initiative to facilitate information sharing for tax administration purposes
in conjunction with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notices 2007–19 and 2007–31.
II. Authority
The authority for this Working Arrangement is the Tax Implementation Agreement between the United States of America and
the Virgin Islands dated February 24, 1987 (the “Implementation Agreement”). Pursuant to Article 4(2)(c) of the Implementation
Agreement, this Working Arrangement expands the information to be routinely (automatically) exchanged by the U.S. Virgin Islands to the IRS under Article 4(2)(b) of the Implementation Agreement.
III. Purpose
This Working Arrangement serves to carry out the purposes of Notices 2007–19 and 2007–31, by establishing a new routine
exchange of information program between the IRS and the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) concerning income
tax information of certain taxpayers who file an income tax return with U.S. Virgin Islands under section 932(c)(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The IRS will use the information to identify and examine such taxpayers and
to encourage those taxpayers to comply with U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations. This Working Arrangement and any
requests for information or information exchanged pursuant to it and the Implementation Agreement constitute tax convention
information under Code section 6105.
IV. Procedures and Requirements
Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties or specified in the request for information, the parties agree as follows:
A. The IRS will specify the information to be provided by the BIR in a written request for information to the BIR.
B. The BIR will provide electronic files of the requested information, including all income tax returns with schedules,
statements, and attachments. The electronic files will be saved, indexed, and transmitted by the BIR to the IRS in accordance
with instructions provided in the request for information.
C. All income tax returns will be date stamped by the BIR in a clearly legible manner that does not obstruct any taxpayer
information on the return.
D. The BIR will provide all requested information in accordance with the following schedule:
1.

With respect to all income tax returns that are timely filed with the BIR, within 90 days after the original due date or,
to the extent the taxpayer timely files pursuant to a valid extension, within 90 days after the extended due date.

2.

With respect to all delinquent returns, amended returns, and any other requested information filed with the BIR and
not covered by paragraph D.1. (above), within 90 days after the end of the calendar-year quarter during which
the requested information was received by the BIR.

V. Disclosure, Safeguards, and Recordkeeping Requirements
A. All information obtained under this Working Arrangement must be safeguarded in accordance with the Implementation
Agreement as well as the safeguards described in IRS Publication 1075, Tax Information Security Guidelines for Federal,
State, and Local Agencies.
B. Nothing in this Working Arrangement will cause the IRS or BIR to disclose information that is normally protected by
governmental, attorney/client, or attorney work product privileges consistent with applicable laws, or any other information
that is prohibited from disclosure. See IRM Section 11.3.32.17, Restrictions on Disclosure of Returns and Return Information.
C. Neither the IRS nor the BIR will disclose return information that would identify a confidential informant or seriously
impair any civil or criminal tax investigation.

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April 16, 2007

D. To the extent the BIR withholds a tax return and/or return information pursuant to paragraphs B. or C. (above), the BIR
will provide the IRS with a privilege log that explains in sufficient detail the reason(s) for withholding the information.
VI. Costs
Pursuant to Article 5(3) of the Implementation Agreement, the IRS and the BIR agree not to charge each other for the costs
of reproduction of information routinely exchanged. Further, prior to making any claim for reimbursement of extraordinary costs
incurred in providing assistance, the BIR will consult with and provide an estimate of such costs to the IRS.
VII. Third Party Rights
This Working Arrangement does not confer any rights or benefits on any third party.
VIII. Taxable Periods
This Working Arrangement applies to income tax returns and other information filed with the USVI for taxable years ending on
or after December 31, 2006.
IX. Amendment or Termination
This Working Arrangement will become effective on the date of the last signature below and will remain in force until terminated.
This Working Arrangement will terminate on the first of the following to occur:
A. Termination of the Implementation Agreement, in which event this Working Arrangement will automatically terminate
on the date on which termination of the Implementation Agreement becomes effective pursuant to Article 9 of the
Implementation Agreement; or
B. Mailing or other delivery of written notice of termination by the IRS or the BIR to the other party. However, not less than
30 days prior to delivering such written notice, the terminating party must advise the other party in writing of its reasons for
wishing to terminate this Working Arrangement. A notice of termination will be effective with respect to taxable years ending
on or after December 31st of the following year. For example, if the BIR provides written notice to the IRS on August 31,
2009, that it is exercising its rights under this termination clause, then the BIR will be relieved of its responsibilities under this
Working Arrangement with respect to taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2010.
X. Limitations
The terms of this Working Arrangement are not intended to alter, amend, or rescind any provisions of U.S. federal law. Any
provision of this Working Arrangement that conflicts with U.S. federal law will be null and void. Nor are the terms of this Working
Arrangement intended to alter, amend, or rescind any provisions of the Implementation Agreement now in effect. In any situation
where a conflict arises between the provisions of this Working Arrangement and the Implementation Agreement, the provisions of
the latter will govern.
XI. Approvals
For the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue:
By: Gizette L. Thomas
Acting Director
U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue
, this
day of
Signed at

, 2007.

For the Internal Revenue Service:
By: Frank Y. Ng
Deputy Commissioner (International), LMSB
Internal Revenue Service
day of
Signed at Washington, DC this

April 16, 2007

, 2007.

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2007–16 I.R.B.