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Treasury Regulations · 26 CFR

§ 601.502. Recognized representative.

In effect eCFR current as of October 15, 2026

Regulation text, no changes From the eCFR, current as of October 15, 2026. The eCFR is an authoritative but unofficial editorial compilation of the Code of Federal Regulations; the official text is the annual CFR on govinfo. Compare it with this section on ecfr.gov (external site) or the official annual CFR on govinfo (external site).

Cite as 26 CFR § 601.502

At a glance

Read from the text and its source citation. Not part of the regulation.

Status
In the current eCFR
Issued
May 28, 1991 by 56 FR 24004
Last amended
June 19, 1992
Length
553 words · about 2 min to read
Cross-references
cites 0 Code sections and 0 regulations; cited by 8
(a) A recognized representative is an individual who is
(1) Appointed as an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney, and a
(2) Member of one of the categories described in § 601.502(b) and who files a declaration of representative, as described in § 601.502(c).
(b) Categories—
(1) Attorney. Any individual who is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia;
(2) Certified public accountant. Any individual who is duly qualified to practice as a certified public accountant in any state, possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia;
(3) Enrolled agent. Any individual who is enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service and is in active status pursuant to the requirements of Circular No. 230;
(4) Enrolled actuary. Any individual who is enrolled as an actuary by and is in active status with the Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries pursuant to 29 U.S.C. 1242.
(5) Other individuals—
(i) Temporary recognition. Any individual who is granted temporary recognition as an enrolled agent by the Director of Practice (31 CFR 10.5(c)).
(ii) Practice based on a relationship or special status with a taxpayer. Any individual authorized to represent a taxpayer with whom/which a special relationship exists (31 CFR 10.7(a) (1)-(6)). (For example, an individual may represent another individual who is his/her regular full-time employer or a member of his/her immediate family; an individual who is a bona fide officer or regular full-time employee of a corporation or certain other organizations may represent that entity.)
(iii) Unenrolled return preparer. Any individual who signs a return as having prepared it for a taxpayer, or who prepared a return with respect to which the instructions or regulations do not require that the return be signed by the preparer. The acts which an unenrolled return preparer may perform are limited to representation of a taxpayer before revenue agents and examining officers of the Examination Division in the offices of District Director with respect to the tax liability of the taxpayer for the taxable year or period covered by a return prepared by the unenrolled return prepared (31 CFR 10.7(a)(7)).
(iv) Special appearance. Any individual who, upon written application, is authorized by the Director of Practice to represent a taxpayer in a particular matter (31 CFR 10.7(b)).
(c) Declaration of representative. A recognized representative must attach to the power of attorney a written declaration (e.g., part II of form 2848) stating the following—

(1) I am not currently under suspension or disbarment from practice before the Internal Revenue Service or other practice of my profession by any other authority;

(2) I am aware of the regulations contained in Treasury Department Circular No. 230 (31 CFR part 10), concerning the practice of attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, and others);

(3) I am authorized to represent the taxpayer(s) identified in the power of attorney; and

(4) I am an individual described in § 601.502(b).

If an individual is unable to make such declaration, he/she may not engage in representation of a taxpayer before the Internal Revenue Service or perform the acts described in §§ 601.504(a) (2) through (6).

[56 FR 24004, May 28, 1991; amended at 57 FR 27356, June 19, 1992]

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of 26 CFR.

Cited by 8 other regulations

Amendment history

From the source citation at the end of the section, newest first. T.D. is a Treasury decision; FR is the Federal Register.

  1. Amended (57 FR 27356)
  2. Issued (56 FR 24004)

Where it sits in 26 CFR

  1. Subchapter H Internal revenue practice
  2. Part 601 Statement of procedural rules
  3. Subpart E Conference and Practice Requirements

Nearby sections