Tax practitioners, legislators and taxpayer advocates said the IRS’ announcement that it would no longer require taxpayer requests for innocent spouse equitable relief under IRC § 6015(f) to be made within two years of the beginning of collection activity was a long overdue change. “It’s not surprising at all; the
Advertisement
NEWS
IRS Relents on Two-Year Limit on Innocent Spouse Equitable Relief
After winning appeals in three federal circuit courts of its two-year limit for requesting equitable innocent spouse relief, the IRS said on Monday it will no longer observe that deadline. In Notice 2011-70, the IRS said it will now consider taxpayer requests for equitable relief from joint and several liability
SEC, CFTC Holding Public Roundtable on International Issues
The SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will hold a joint public roundtable Aug. 1 to discuss international issues related to the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act’s Title VII, also known as the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010. Topics
SEC Issues Investor Bulletin on Retail Forex Transactions
The SEC issued an investor bulletin Wednesday highlighting some of the most significant risks that foreign currency exchange (forex) transactions may pose for individual investors. The forex market is a large and generally liquid financial market, according to the bulletin. Banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, as well as
PwC Investing $100M in Africa
PricewaterhouseCoopers International is rolling out a growth strategy for Africa that includes investing $100 million in people and infrastructure. The Big Four firm said it plans to hire an additional 8,000 partners and staff over the next five years as it builds an integrated advisory business for the continent. In
FASB, IASB Set to Re-Expose Leasing Proposals
FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) announced Thursday they intend to re-expose their revised proposals for a common leasing standard. Re-exposing the revised proposals will provide an opportunity for comment on revisions the boards have made since the publication of an exposure draft on leasing in August 2010.
FinCEN Clarifies Definition of MSBs, Expands E-Filing
The Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) this week released a final rule, Definitions and Other Regulations Relating to Money Services Businesses, that more clearly defines which businesses qualify as Money Services Businesses (MSBs) and are therefore subject to anti-money laundering rules under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). The final
IRS Discontinues High-Low Method for Substantiating Travel Expenses
On Tuesday, the IRS announced that it is discontinuing the high-low method for substantiating lodging, meal and incidental expenses incurred in traveling away from home (Announcement 2011-42). Last year, the IRS asked for comments on whether the high-low method was still needed, and it received no comments. Under the high-low
FinCEN Creates FBAR E-Filing System
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on Monday said it has developed an electronic filing system for Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). The reports can now be filed via FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System. A United States person who has a financial
Comments Sought on IRS Continuing Education Provider Standards and Process
The IRS on Monday invited public comments on its process for approving continuing education providers and on the standards that should apply to such providers (Notice 2011-61). Under final Circular 230 regulations issued in May, registered tax return preparers will be required to meet continuing education requirements by completing courses
Economic Substance Guidance Issued to IRS Examiners
The IRS Large Business and International (LB&I) Division issued guidance to examiners on the newly codified economic substance doctrine limiting the application of penalties relating to the doctrine (LB&I-4-0711-015). The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, PL 111-152, codified the economic substance doctrine and a related strict liability
GASB Standards Address Future Impacts, Hedge Accounting
GASB issued two statements Wednesday that the board said provide taxpayers and others with information about how past transactions will impact a government’s financial statements in the future and clarify the circumstances in which hedge accounting continues to be applied when a swap counterparty, or related credit support provider, is
IRS Offers Open Houses on Saturday to Help With Lien Withdrawals, Other Taxpayer Issues
The IRS is holding open houses at its Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the country this Saturday, July 16, to assist taxpayers who need help with tax issues. The open houses are especially designed to assist taxpayers who wish to have a lien on their property withdrawn. The IRS in February
Phased Implementation of FATCA Requirements Announced
On Thursday, the IRS announced plans to phase in the requirements of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) (Notice 2011-53). The IRS has received numerous comments about the difficulty of implementing aspects of the FATCA requirements. The notice’s phased implementation is designed to give both foreign financial institutions and
Final Regulations Issued on Determining Amount of Tax Paid for Foreign Tax Credit Purposes
Final regulations issued on Wednesday provide guidance on determining the amount of taxes paid for purposes of determining the foreign tax credit (TD 9535). The regulations are designed to curb certain transactions that, the IRS says, “produce inappropriate foreign tax credit results.” The final regulations adopt proposed regulations issued in
GASB Presents Concepts on Financial Statement Recognition, Measurement
GASB on Monday issued a Preliminary Views (PV) document on concepts related to recognition of elements of financial statements and measurement approaches. The board said the PV, Recognition of Elements of Financial Statements and Measurement Approaches, presents its early views on how and when an item should be reported (recognition)
100,000 Preparers Did Not Comply With PTIN Rules
The IRS announced on Tuesday that it has identified approximately 100,000 tax return preparers who did not comply with the new rules for preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs), and it is sending them letters informing them of the problem (IR-2011-74). All tax return preparers (including CPAs, attorneys and enrolled agents)
PCAOB Proposes Standards for Broker-Dealer Audits and Auditing Supplemental Information
The PCAOB issued proposed standards for audits of broker-dealer and issuer engagements for public comment Tuesday. The proposals consist of two attestation standards related to the auditor’s examination of compliance reports and review of exemption reports of broker-dealers proposed by the SEC as part of its amendments to the broker-dealer
IAASB Chair: 70-Plus Countries Now Endorse Clarity ISAs
In the past year, the number of countries using or committed to using the Clarity International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) has grown from about 30 to more than 70, according to Arnold Schilder, chairman of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB). Speaking at the CReCER 2011 financial reporting
GASB Proposes Changes to Calculating, Reporting Pension Costs
GASB issued two exposure drafts that the board said would establish a definition of pension plan that reflects the primary activities of a fund that is used to provide pensions—the accumulation and management of assets dedicated for pensions and the payment of pensions to plan members as the benefits come
Features
FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
How to set up a simple automation in Zapier
When automating apps within the same tech ecosystem, that system’s automation options are highly effective. Tools like Zapier, though, allow automation across ecosystems. Learn how in this Tech Q&A article.
From The Tax Adviser
July 31, 2026
Current developments in S corporations
July 31, 2026
