(a) General Rule. An assessing official may impose a civil penalty on any person -

1. (1) Who uses in connection with, or as a part of, any advertisement, solicitation, business activity, or product, whether alone or with other words, letters, symbols, or emblems;

   1. (i) The words “Department of the Treasury,” “United States Secret Service,” “United States Customs Service,” “Internal Revenue Service,” “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,” “Bureau of the Public Debt,” “Bureau of Engraving and Printing,” “Comptroller of the Currency,” “Federal Law Enforcement Training Center,” “Financial Crimes Enforcement Network,” “United States Mint,” or the name of any service, bureau, office, or other subdivision of the Department of the Treasury;
   2. (ii) The titles “Secretary of the Treasury,” “Treasurer of the United States,” “Director of the Secret Service,” “Commissioner of Customs,” “Commissioner of Internal Revenue,” “Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,” “Commissioner of the Public Debt,” “Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing,” “Comptroller of the Currency,” “Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center,” “Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network,” “Director of the United States Mint,” or the title of any other officer or employee of the Department of the Treasury or subdivision thereof;
   3. (iii) The abbreviations or initials of any entity or title referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i) or (a)(1)(ii) of this section, including but not limited to “USSS,” “USCS,” “IRS,” “ATF,” or “BATF,” “BPD,” “FLETC,” “FINCEN” or “FinCEN,”and “SBMO”;
   4. (iv) The words “United States Savings Bond,” including any variation thereof, or the name of any other security, obligation, or financial instrument issued by the Department of the Treasury or any subdivision thereof;
   5. (v) Any symbol, emblem, seal, or badge of an entity referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section (including the design of any envelope, stationery, or identification card used by such an entity); or
   6. (vi) Any colorable imitation of any such words, titles, abbreviations, initials, symbol, emblem, seal, or badge; and
2. (2) Where such use is in a manner that could reasonably be interpreted or construed as conveying the false impression that such advertisement, solicitation, business activity, or product is in any manner approved, endorsed, sponsored, or authorized by, or associated with the Department of the Treasury or any entity referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section, or any officer, or employee thereof.

(d) Time Limitations.

1. (1) Civil penalties imposed under this part must be assessed before the end of the three year period beginning on the date of offense charged.
2. (2) An assessing official may commence a civil action to recover or enforce any civil penalty imposed in a Final Notice of Assessment issued pursuant to § 27.7 at any time before the end of the two year period beginning on the date of the Final Notice of Assessment. If judicial review of the Final Notice of Assessment is sought, the two year period begins to run from the date that a final and unappealable court order is issued.