The Instructions for Form 3115 have been revised. The May 2006 revision is the current version of the Instructions for Form 3115 and is to be used with the December 2003 version of Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method.

In general, a taxpayer requesting a change in accounting method must complete and file a current Form 3115. See section 8.06 of Rev. Proc. 97-27, 1997-21 I.R.B. 10 (as modified and amplified by Rev. Proc. 2002-19, 2002-13 I.R.B. 696, as amplified and clarified by Rev. Proc. 2002-54, 2002-35 I.R.B. 432). See also Rev. Proc. 2002-9, 2002-3 I.R.B. 327 (as modified and clarified by Announcement 2002-17, 2002-8 I.R.B. 561, modified and amplified by Rev. Proc. 2002-19, and amplified, clarified, and modified by Rev. Proc. 2002-54).

The May 2006 Instructions for Form 3115 incorporate changes made in published guidance, such as Rev. Proc. 2004-34, 2004-22 I.R.B. 991 (regarding reporting advance payments) and Rev. Proc. 2006-1, 2006-1 I.R.B. 1 (regarding letter rulings). It also lists and describes automatic accounting method change numbers 77 through 103, and revises the descriptions of automatic accounting method change numbers 7, 8, and 9, to incorporate guidance published since the December 2003 version.

The May 2006 Instructions for Form 3115, as well as the December 2003 Form 3115, may be downloaded from the IRS website, www.irs.gov, or may be ordered by calling 1-800-TAX FORM (1-800-829-3676).