The IRS Form 3115 is generally provided by the IRS to taxpayers who wish to voluntarily file a method change(s). As it is a generic form, the taxpayer must answer the questions provided on the 3115 Form plus any other data or answers that are required from other IRS source documents that specifically relate to the desired method change. For certain tax method changes the IRS also permits small business taxpayers (IRS defined small business taxpayers as those with AAGR of $10MM or less for numerous DCNs but $25MM or less for this DCN) to not to have to complete all sections of the Form 3115. For those particular DCNs, including this DCN 235, the IRS source documents list the 3115 lines that have to be completed, which means that the rest of the Form 3115 lines do not have to be. As the Form 3115 exception of lines to be completed and those that do not have, and the definition of what is a small business taxpayer, are not consistent between DCNs we recommend that in most cases the taxpayer should just complete all of the lines applicable to the DCN. As this DCN 235 reduced filing removes Form 3115 lines that does make the reduced filing an attractive choice.
Those source documents include Rev. Procs.: 2015-13, 2018-31, 2019-1 (updated to 2020-1 and so forth), and the IRS source document that allows this automatic method change. For DCN 233, 234, 235, 236, for example, that document was Rev. Proc. 2018-40. This DCN 235 was written/completed by us using those source documents to customize this form to assist a taxpayer in preparing this DCN. This DCN relates to Change away from inventory accounting under either or both of two choices (1) to deduct inventory purchases under the taxpayer’s DMSH as non-incidental material and supplies and/or (2) to account for its inventory amounts (and types of costs capitalized) for tax as it does on its AFS or its books and records. See the related Explanation for more details. The Form 3115 other areas that may be adjusted/changed to the particulars of the taxpayer include questions, for example: (a) 7 and 8 on whether the taxpayer is under audit or not (b) 11 and 12 regarding whether the taxpayer is or has previously submitted tax method changes in the last 5 years. Other specific unique Form 3115 questions or situations under this DCN are spelled out in the Attachment (its Word document) that matches this DCN. That Attachment is also provided in Tax Method Changes site.