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Tax Exempt 

Bonds-

Filing Requirements

Internal Revenue Service 
and
Tax Exempt and
Government Entities
(TE/GE)
Operating Division



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Tax Exempt Bonds -                 issuing tax exempt bonds.  The
                                   issuance of tax exempt bonds
Filing Requirements
                                   benefits a wide array of 
The Internal Revenue Service,      organizations representing a
Tax Exempt & Government            significant portion of the 
Entities (TE/GE) Operating         economic sector.  These 
Division offers specialized        organizations have widely 
assistance to customers of tax     varying needs, different annual
exempt bonds. State and local      filing requirements, and 
officials can use this brochure    minimum overlap in governing
as a quick reference to some       tax law. 
of the more common filing
                                   Please see the enclosed chart on
requirement questions of tax
                                   filing requirements (types of
exempt bond customers.
                                   returns required to be filed and
An estimated $1.5 trillion is      due dates for filing), procedures
currently invested in tax exempt   for filing a late return, and
bonds, which are typically         common errors to look out for
issued by a government entity.     when you file.   Telephone
These governmental customers       numbers for assistance are also
are not subject to federal         included in this brochure.
income tax at the entity level.
They are, however, required to
file certain returns as a result of



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Filing Requirements

Use the following chart as a year-round guide to determine filing 
category, form(s) required, and due dates.

Customer                     Type of Return             Due Dates(s)                Late Payment(s)
Issuers of tax               Form 8038, Information     15th day of the 2nd 
exempt qualified             Return for Tax Exempt      calendar month after
private activity bond.       Private Activity Bond      the close of the quarter
                             Issues                     in which the bonds 
                                                        were issued.

Issuers of tax exempt        Form 8038-G,               15th day of the 2nd
government bonds of          Information Return         calendar month after
$100,000 or more.            for Tax Exempt             the close of the quarter
                             Government Obligations     in which the bonds 
                                                        were issued.

Issuers of tax exempt        Form 8038-GC,              When the return is filed as:
government bonds of          Information Return for     • For single issue-15th day 
less than $100,000.          Small Tax Exempt           of the 2nd calendar month
                             Governmental Bond          after the close of the 
The return is either filed   Issues, Leases, and        quarter in which the 
separately for each issue    Installment Sales          bonds were issued.
of less than $100,000                                   • Consolidated returns-
or as a consolidated                                    on or before Feb 15th
return for all issues of                                of the calendar year
less than $100,000 each                                 following the year in which 
within the calendar year.                               the bonds are issued.

Issuers of tax exempt        Form 8038-T,               Payments for arbitrage      A failure to timely pay
bonds to make:               Arbitrage Rebate and       rebate  are generally due   arbitrage rebate will be
• yield reduction payments   Penalty in Lieu of         60 days after the end       treated as not having
• arbitrage rebate payments  Arbitrage Rebate           of every 5th bond year      occurred if:
• payments for penalty in                               during the term of the      • the failure is not due to
lieu of rebate                                          issue and 60 days from      willful neglect, and
• the termination of the                                the date the issue is       • the issuer submits a
election to pay a penalty                               discharged.                 Form 8038-T with a 
in lieu of rebate, or                                   Yield reduction payments    payment of the rebate 
• penalty for failing to pay                            are due at the same time    amount owed, penalty 
arbitrage rebate on time                                as rebate payments.         and interest. The penalty
                                                        Payments for penalty in     may be waived under
                                                        lieu of rebate are due no   certain circumstances.
                                                        later than 90 days after 
                                                        the end of each 6-month 
                                                        period relating to the 
                                                        penalty.

Issuing authority of         Form 8328, Carry-forward   This return must be filed   Once the Form 8328 is
qualified private activity   Election of Unused Private by the earlier of:          filed, the issuer may
bonds to elect to carry-     Activity Bond Volume Cap   • Feb 15th of the calendar  not revoke the carry- 
forward any unused                                      year following the year in  forward election or 
volume cap for one or                                   which the excess            amend the carry-forward
more purposes.                                          amount arises, or           amounts shown on
                                                        • the date of issue of      the return.
                                                        bonds pursuant to the
                                                        carry-forward election.



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Procedures for Returns             Where to File
Filed Late
                                   File all tax exempt bond
You may be granted an exten-       returns and requests for recov-
sion of time to file Forms 8038,   ery of overpayment of arbitrage
8038-G, or 8038-GC as long as      rebate with the Internal
the failure to file on time is not Revenue Service Center at the
due to willful neglect.  Please    following address.
adhere to the following guide-     Internal Revenue Service Center
lines:                             Ogden, UT  84201

• Write on the top of the form:
This Statement is Submitted in
Accordance with IRS Revenue
Procedure 88-10.

• Attach a statement to the
form explaining why your
                                   Signature
form was not timely submit-
ted to the IRS, and                Your authorized represen-
                                   tative must sign all tax
• Indicate whether the bond        exempt bond returns (IRS
issue in question is under         Forms 8038, 8038-G,
examination.                       8038-GC, 8038-T, and
                                   8328). The name and title
                                   of the person signing the
                                   return should be printed. 
Request for Recovery of
Overpayment of
Arbitrage Rebate

In general, a request for recov-
ery of overpayment of arbitrage
rebate can be made when you
can establish that an overpay-
ment occurred.



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Common Errors

Please use the tips below as a checklist to prevent mistakes 
commonly made on Forms 8038, 8038-G, and 8038-GC.

Double Checks
Authorized Representative            Your authorized representative must sign 
                                     the form and any applicable certification.
                                     Also, be sure to print the name and title 
                                     of the person signing the Form 8038. 
Employer Identification Number       Make certain that you enter the employer
(EIN) and Name                       identification number (EIN)  of the 
Make consistent on the return.       governmental entity that issued the 
                                     bonds. (The EIN of the entity receiving 
                                     the benefit should not be used.)
Issue Date                           You must enter the issue date on the 
Enter on return.                     return. The date of issue is generally the 
                                     date on which you physically exchange 
                                     the bond(s) for the underwriter’s (or 
                                     other purchaser’s) funds.  The date of 
                                     issue for a lease arrangement is the date 
                                     on which the arrangement first starts 
                                     accruing interest. 

Issue Price                          Generally, the issue price of bonds that 
Enter on return.                     are publicly offered is the first price at 
                                     which a substantial amount of the bonds 
                                     is sold to the public. Ten percent is a sub-
                                     stantial amount. Please include the issue 
                                     price on the return.

Maturity Date                        Please enter the last date that you must
Enter on return.                     redeem the entire issue.
“Amended Return” Block on Return     IRS research shows that in some cases a 
Please do not check in error.        return is mistakenly checked as “amend-
                                     ed,” when in fact, it is more often an 
                                     “original.” Please be careful not to 
                                     check “Amended Return,” unless it is.    
Explanation with a Late Return       If your return is filed late, you must have 
Attach a request for an extension to a statement attached setting forth the 
file return.                         reason(s) why your return was not 
                                     submitted timely to the IRS. 



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Tax Exempt Bonds Leadership

National Headquarters 
Washington, DC
W. Mark Scott  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(202) 283-9820
Director  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . main number (202) 283-2999
                                    mark.scott@irs.gov

Frances T. Hallihan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(202) 283-9787
Executive Assistant                 frances.terry.hallihan@irs.gov

Clifford Gannett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(202) 283-9798
Manager, Outreach Planning & Review clifford.j.gannett@irs.gov

Baltimore, MD
Charles Anderson  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(410) 962-2269
Manager, Field Operations           charles.m.anderson@irs.gov

Field Management
Denver, CO
Derek Knight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (303) 784-6001 ext. 293
                                    derek.a.knight@irs.gov

Atlanta, GA
Cheryl Dinsmore  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(404) 338-8232
                                    hazel.c.dinsmore@irs.gov

Baltimore, MD
Patricia E. Swann  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(410) 962-9424
                                    patricia.e.swann@irs.gov

Saint Paul, MN
Jack Davis  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(651) 312-7723
                                    jack.r.davis@irs.gov

Independence, OH
Karen Skinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(216) 520-7052
                                    karen.a.skinder@irs.gov



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Telephone & Internet Assistance

TE/GE and Tax Exempt Bonds offer the
following primary contacts for answers
to your tax questions and for tax infor-
mation materials:

Customer Account Services
toll free at (877) 829-5500

Tax Exempt Bonds
Web site at 
www.irs.gov/bonds



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Working to put
service first

IRS
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
www .ir s.go v
Publication 3755 (5-2001)
Catalog Number 31840Q






PDF file checksum: 1430953901

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