Revenue Ruling 2010-05 provides guidance on whether a tax return preparer is liable for criminal and civil penalties under Internal Revenue Code sections 7216 and 6713 when the tax return preparer discloses (1) to a professional liability insurance carrier tax return information required by the insurance carrier to obtain or maintain professional liability insurance coverage; (2) to a professional liability insurance carrier tax return information required by the insurance carrier to promptly and accurately report a claim or a potential claim against the tax return preparer, or to aid in the investigation of a claim or potential claim against the tax return preparer; (3) to a professional liability insurance carrier tax return information to the preparer’s professional liability insurance carrier in order to obtain legal representation under the terms of the insurance policy; or (4) tax return information to an unrelated attorney for the purpose of evaluating a claim or potential claim against the tax return preparer.

Both Revenue Ruling 2010-04 & Revenue Ruling 2010-05 will be published in IRB 2010-4.