[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 18]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR301.6104(b)-1]

[Page 73-74]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 301_PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION--Table of Contents
 
                         Information and Returns
 
Sec. 301.6104(b)-1  Publicity of information on certain information returns.

    (a) In general. The following information, together with the name 
and address of the organization or trust furnishing such information, 
shall be a matter of public record:
    (1) Except as otherwise provided in section 6104 and the regulations 
thereunder, the information required by section 6033.
    (2) The information furnished pursuant to section 6034 (relating to 
returns by certain trusts) on Form 1041-A.
    (3) The information required to be furnished by section 6058.
    (b) Nondisclosure of certain information--(1) Names and addresses of 
contributors. The names and addresses of contributors to an organization 
other than a private foundation shall not be made available for public 
inspection under section 6104(b).
    (2) Amounts of contributions. The amounts of contributions and 
bequests to an organization shall be available for public inspection 
unless the disclosure of such information can reasonably be expected to 
identify any contributor. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the 
amounts of contributions and bequests to a private foundation shall be 
available for public inspection.
    (3) Foreign organizations. The names, addresses, and amounts of 
contributions or bequests of persons who are not citizens of the United 
States to a foreign organization described in section 4948(b) shall not 
be made available for public inspection under section 6104(b).
    (4) Confidential business information. Confidential business 
information of contributors to any trust described in section 501(c)(21) 
(black lung trusts) shall not be available for public inspection under 
section 6104(b) provided:
    (i) A request if filed with the office with which the trustee filed 
the documents in which the information to be withheld is contained.
    (ii) Such request clearly specifies the information to be withheld 
and the reasons supporting the request for withholding, and
    (iii) The Commissioner determines that such information is 
confidential business information.

Information such as the contributor's estimated total liability for 
black lung benefits, the contributor's coal pricing policies, or any 
background information necessary to establish estimated total liability 
or coal pricing policies are examples of confidential business 
information that shall not be disclosed to the public under this 
subparagraph.
    (c) Place of inspection. Information furnished on the public portion 
of returns (as described in paragraph (a) of this section) shall be made 
available for public inspection at the Freedom of Information Reading 
Room. Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, D.C. 20224, and at the office of any district director.
    (d) Procedure for public inspection--(1) Requests for inspection. 
Information furnished on the public portion of returns (as described in 
paragraph (a) of this section) shall be available for public inspection 
only upon request. Requests for public inspection must be in writing to 
or at any of the offices mentioned in paragraph (c) of this section. 
Persons submitting requests for inspection must provide the name and 
address of the organization that filed the return, the type of return, 
and the year for which the organization filed.
    (2) Time and extent of inspection. A person requesting public 
inspection in the manner specified in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph 
shall be notified by the Internal Revenue Service when the material he 
desires to inspect will be made available for his inspection. 
Information on returns required by sections 6033, 6034, and 6058 will be 
made available for public inspection at such reasonable and proper 
times, and under such conditions, that will not interfere with their use 
by the Internal Revenue Service and will not exclude other persons from 
inspecting them. In addition the Commissioner, Director of the Service 
Center, or district director may limit the number of returns to be

[[Page 74]]

made available to any person for inspection on a given date. Inspection 
will be allowed only in the presence of an internal revenue officer or 
employee and only during the regular hours of business of the Internal 
Revenue Service office.
    (3) Returns available. Returns filed before January 1, 1970, shall 
be available for public inspection only pursuant to the provisions of 
section 6104 in effect for such years. The information furnished on all 
returns filed after December 31, 1969, purusant to the requirements of 
section 6033, 6034, or 6058, shall be available for public inspection in 
accordance with the provisions of section 6104.
    (4) Copies. Notes may be taken of the material opened for inspection 
under this section. Copies may be made manually or, if a person provides 
the equipment, photographically at the place of inspection, subject to 
reasonable supervision with regard to the facilities and equipment to be 
employed. Copies of the material opened for inspection will be furnished 
by the Internal Revenue Service to any person making request therefor. 
Requests for such copies shall be made in the same manner as requests 
for inspection (see subparagraph (1) of this paragraph) to the office of 
the Internal Revenue Service in which such material is available for 
inspection as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. Copies may also 
be obtained by written request to the director of any service center. If 
made at the time of inspection, the request for copies need not be in 
writing. Any copies furnished will be certified upon request. Any fees 
the Internal Revenue Service may charge for furnishing copies under this 
section shall be no more than under the fee schedule promulgated 
pursuant to section (a)(4)(A)(i) of the Freedom of Information Act, 5 
U.S.C. 552, by the Commissioner from time to time.

[T.D. 8026, 50 FR 20757, May 20, 1985, as amended by T.D. 9070, 68 FR 
40769, July 9, 2003]