If, following the submission of corrective action documentation, Compliance staff continues to find the Owner in noncompliance, the Owner may request or initiate review of the matter using the following options, where applicable:     
       (1) If the issue is related to the inclusion or exclusion of tenant income, assets, or appropriate household size, the National Center for Housing Management (NCHM) can be contacted. In order to obtain guidance from NCHM, the requestor must have an active Certified Occupancy Specialist designation. If no representative of the owner has this designation, Department staff may make the request on the owner's behalf.      
       (2) If the compliance matter is related to the Housing Tax Credit program, Owners may contact the IRS Program Analyst for guidance or request that Department staff contact the IRS for general guidance without identifying the taxpayer. The issue will be handled in accordance with the guidance received from the IRS.      
       (3) If the compliance matter is related to the HOME, NHTF, NSP, HOME-ARP program, Owners may request that the Department contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Texas Field Office for guidance. The issue will be handled in accordance with guidance received from a HUD official with oversight responsibility, provided it is clear and can be corroborated (e.g., such guidance is provided in writing).      
       (4) Owners may request Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). An Owner may send a proposal to the Department's Dispute Resolution Coordinator to initiate ADR pursuant to §1.17 of this title (relating to Alternative Dispute Resolution). Note that even if the Department and Owner are engaged in ADR, the Department must meet Treasury Regulation §1.42-5 and file IRS Form 8823 within 45 days after the end of the Corrective Action Period. Therefore, it is possible that the Owner and Department may still be engaged in ADR when an IRS Form 8823 is filed. Should this happen, the form, including all Owner-supplied documentation, will be sent to the IRS with an explanation that the Owner disagrees with the Department's assessment and is pursuing ADR. Although the violation will be reported to the IRS within the required timeframes, it will not be considered part of an applicant's compliance history nor subject to administrative penalties pending the outcome of the ADR process.      
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §10.604 adopted to be effective February 11, 2019, 44 TexReg 560; amended to be effective November 3, 2022, 47 TexReg 7271