Third-Party Intent and the Indefinite Assessment Period: An Analysis of Murrin v. Commissioner
The recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Stephanie Murrin v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, No. 24-2037 (3d Cir. August 18, 2025), delivers a crucial interpretation of Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) § 6501(c)(1) that impacts how tax professionals advise clients regarding statutes of limitations, at least in the Third Circuit. This ruling clarifies that the exception allowing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to assess tax "at any time" for a false or fraudulent return with intent to evade tax does not require the taxpayer’s personal intent. Instead, the intent of a third party, such as a tax preparer, is sufficient to trigger the indefinite assessment period.
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