Committee Opinions and Treasury Regulation: Tax Lawyer Ethics, 1965-1985

62 Pages Posted: 7 May 2014 Last revised: 18 May 2016

See all articles by Michael Hatfield

Michael Hatfield

University of Washington - UW Law; University of Washington - School of Law

Date Written: May 2, 2014

Abstract

In the 1940s-1960s, the writings of tax lawyers about their professional responsibilities tended towards the philosophical and patriotic, often focusing on the special role of the tax lawyer in the funding of the civic good. However, by 1985 the ethics literature was focused on technicalities, probabilities, and penalties. From 1965 to 1985 — a period bookended by ABA committee opinions on ethics for tax lawyers — committees and their reports ascended into primary importance in the debates on tax lawyer ethics. This Article documents the literature's transformation during this period.

Keywords: legal ethics, professional responsibility, professional ethics, Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, American Bar Association, ABA, Circular 230

Suggested Citation

Hatfield, Michael W. and Hatfield, Michael W., Committee Opinions and Treasury Regulation: Tax Lawyer Ethics, 1965-1985 (May 2, 2014). Florida Tax Review, Vol. 15, No. 9, pp. 675-735, 2014, University of Washington School of Law Research Paper No. 2014-16, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2432217

Michael W. Hatfield (Contact Author)

University of Washington - School of Law ( email )

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206-221-1535 (Phone)

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University of Washington - UW Law ( email )

William H. Gates Hall
Box 353020
Seattle, WA 98195-3020
United States

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