Business Operating Division (BOD): Aligned under the IRS Commissioner, the Service is divided into business operating divisions. Examples of BODs include: Chief Counsel, Communications & Liaison, Wage & Investment, and Facilities Management and Security Services. An overview of the design standards for each BOD is included in Document 12749-U, Design Standards One Sheet Booklet, and in IRM 1.17.7.15, Resources.

Business Operating Division Entity (BOD Entity): The official name of any office within a BOD that has a manager and physical location in the executive directory.

Contractor: Any non-governmental commercial business that provides goods and services, specifically design-related goods and services, based on a contractual agreement and a structured fee as determined through the Government Publishing Office (GPO).

Design Office: The IRS Design Office is the only office within the IRS that maintains IRS Design Standards. The Design Office is located within the M&P organization and is responsible for the development, creation, and facilitation of graphic design services requested by IRS business operating divisions, organizations, and programs.

Design Standards: The Design Standards set guidelines and requirements for designing all IRS published products used internally and externally. These standards provide clear and concise descriptions for how approved visual information specialists are to apply graphic elements (i.e., color, fonts, images, etc.) used to design a product. The Design Standards do not stifle design, but rather ensure that the IRS is clearly identified when a designer uses unique images and typography to draw attention to a product or service. Applying these standards equips the IRS to maintain a consistent appearance in a variety of print and electronic communications. Although all IRS published products must reflect the IRS Design Standards, only approved visual information specialists can use and apply the standards to products. The customer, or product content owners/originators, must submit a Publishing Services Request (PSR) to meet with a visual information specialist and initiate design services. Document 12999, One Look. One Voice. One IRS, provides an overview of the design standards. Information IRS employees need to know about IRS Design Standards is posted online at: http://publish.no.irs.gov/publish/stand.html.

Document: A document is a published product intended for internal-use only by IRS employees and is identified numerically starting with Document number “5001”. The content is generally for informational or administrative purposes. Documents are not generally distributed to the public.

Envelope: An envelope is a product used to hold or mail other products. We produce envelopes in various standard and customized sizes and customers can order them through the Envelope Program. You can order envelopes online using Form 9880, FY 2015 Envelope Order or Document 9589, Envelope Ordering Information, and/or directly from the contractor, through your publishing specialist, using a government purchase card.

Form: A form is a product used as a data collection instrument printed or electronically reproduced with space for filling in information, descriptive material or addresses. All forms must include instructions for use. Forms are the principal contact between the IRS and taxpayers and are the most frequently used published products by IRS employees. Publishing has the authority to stop the use of any unofficial form or published product that was not produced through M&P. When we identify an unofficial product, Publishing will advise the BOD’s representative to request assistance from Publishing to bring such items into compliance.

IRS Logo: The IRS Logo refers to the letters forming “IRS” and is always combined with the eagle symbol.

IRS Product Identifier: The IRS Product Identifier is product-specific information that includes the product type, revision date, and catalog information (See Figure 1.17.7-8, Product Identifier). The Product Identifier distinguishes products and versions from one another for ordering and cataloging purposes. All official IRS-sanctioned products must have an IRS Product Identifier and be maintained in Publishing’s Core Repository of Published Products.

IRS Seal: The IRS Seal is the official IRS identification with the words “Internal Revenue Service” and “Treasury” encircling the official shield. The IRS Seal should never appear in conjunction with the IRS Logo. See Figure 1.17.7-4, Official IRS Seal.

IRS Symbol: The IRS Symbol is also known as the "IRS Eagle." The IRS symbol is made up of the IRS Eagle alone, not accompanied by the acronym “IRS” in its approved logo fixed positions (See Figure 1.17.7-1, IRS Symbol).

IRS Wayfinding System: The IRS Wayfinding System is an internal identification system that incorporates the names of the BOD, a horizontal line, and BOD Entity (See Figure 1.17.7-7, IRS Wayfinding System Configuration Examples). The Wayfinding System creates a consistent yet effective way for all IRS offices to identify themselves without the use of individual logos. The IRS Logo appears to the left of the BOD or BOD entity text. Effective January 1, 2010, the IRS Wayfinding System replaced the use of all logos used to represent a BOD, office program, project, task force, or other entity within a BOD.

Letter: Letters are public use products sent directly to taxpayers. All letters must carry a signature and advise the taxpayer where to direct inquiries (unless a contact stuffer is enclosed).

Logo: A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by government agencies, commercial enterprises, private-sector organizations, and individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition. As of 2010, logos cannot be created for or by any IRS BOD or organization. Logos created outside the IRS Design Office are not official and cannot be used or re-created. Consult the IRS Design Office for appropriate use of official IRS logos that conform to IRS Design Standards. Official logos may either be graphic, as in symbols or icons, or composed to include the name of the organization as in a logo or wordmark. All logos must be clear, readable, and reproducible in one color and never altered from the artwork created by the IRS Design Office. IRS Logo: The IRS Logo should never be used in conjunction with the official IRS Seal or Treasury Seal (see Figure 1.17.7-4, Official IRS Seal). Internal Endorsed Logo: An internal endorsed logo is an official logo that has Servicewide implication for all employees and does not include the name of the BOD or other internal organization. Specific BODs/entities use an internal endorsed logo. Internal logos must never appear on external published products and should only be used internally. Internal endorsed logos are only created with the consent of the IRS Design Office and must never be altered from the original IRS design. External Endorsed Logo: An external endorsed logo is an official logo that is a non-departmental, section or organization identifier used on Treasury and IRS products; therefore, they do not include the name of the BOD or other internal organization. IRS endorsed logos have general implications for taxpayers and are only for high profile/level programs. External logos are created with the consent of the IRS Design Office and must never be altered from the original IRS design (see Figure 1.17.7-14, Examples of Endorsed IRS Logos).

Media & Publications (M&P): The M&P office officially manages all logos and identities Servicewide. M&P catalogues all logos to establish a library for approved visual information specialists.

Notice: A notice is a product the IRS sends if it believes a taxpayer owes additional tax, is due a larger refund, or if there is a question about a tax return or a need for additional information.

Post: All cataloged published products must be available (posted) for users via the Intranet or Internet. Trained visual information and publishing specialists are authorized to post files to make them electronically available to users.

Product: A product is an item produced in electronic or hard copy format and used by external or internal users to request, capture, inform, instruct, or provide information.

Product content owners/originators: A product content owners/originators is the person within the IRS who requests the creation of a product, provides content for a product, and helps determine the audience for and intent of a product.

Publication: A publication is a product that is primarily for public use but can also be used by IRS employees. A publication can be either tax or non-tax related.

Publish: To publish is the act or result of creating a product and making it available to more than one person in print or electronic format. Note: Only Publishing employees can procure and publish printed products (see IRM 1.17.1.1.1(3)).

Publishing Services Request (PSR): A PSR is the official electronic request for all IRS publishing and graphic design services. Product content owners/originators can submit a PSR for a service request at http://publish.no.irs.gov/psr. Publishing cannot complete any requests without an approved PSR.

Publishing Specialists. Publishing Specialists work with the product content owners/originators, IRS Design Office, C&L, Distribution, and other internal and external stakeholders to coordinate, procure, and distribute published products.

Stakeholder: Stakeholders include all individuals and organizations that are actively involved in the completion of a publishing project. Stakeholders consist of internal and external product content owners/originators as well as end users.

Treasury Seal: The Treasury Seal is the official seal used on IRS products only when the Department of the Treasury is the primary owner of the content. The seal does not contain the words “Internal Revenue Service.” The Treasury Seal is never used on a single product in conjunction with the IRS Logo or Official IRS Seal. See Figure 1.17.7-5, Official Department of the Treasury Seal.