Safe harbor issued for valuing pro sports trades
The IRS will permit professional sports teams that trade player contracts to recognize zero gain if both parties to the exchange adopt the safe harbor and do not exchange cash.
IRS practice and procedure
AICPA asks government to issue more QBI deduction guidance
The AICPA asked Treasury and the IRS to issue additional guidance on Sec. 199A beyond the recently finalized regulations and a proposed revenue procedure in the form of a notice on a safe harbor for rental real estate.
Procedure for obtaining EINs to change May 13
Beginning May 13, the IRS will accept employer identification number (EIN) applications only from individual taxpayers who have either a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number as the responsible party on the EIN application.
Final rules issued on penalty for nondisclosure of reportable transactions
The IRS issued final regulations under Sec. 6707A, which imposes a penalty on taxpayers who fail to disclose a reportable transaction on their tax returns.
IRS expands relief from underpayment penalty
The IRS announced that it is lowering from 85% to 80% the amount taxpayers are required to have paid in order to escape an underpayment of estimated income tax penalty for 2018.
Proposed rules issued for information reporting for life insurance contract transactions
The IRS proposed regulations under Sec. 6050Y, which governs reporting obligations for reportable policy sales of life insurance contracts and payments of reportable death benefits.
IRS’s Dirty Dozen scams — 2019 edition
The IRS highlighted the 12 abusive tax schemes it wants taxpayers and tax practitioners to be on the alert for this year. Phishing and scam phone calls were the biggest repeat offenders.
First-year challenges of TCJA implementation require broader penalty relief
Despite generally lower tax bills, many taxpayers are seeing smaller-than-expected refunds — or no refunds at all. And some taxpayers are now subject to underwithholding penalties, despite limited relief from the IRS.
Court upholds IRS PTIN fees
The IRS has authority to charge a user fee for preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs) a federal appeals court held on, paving the way for the agency to reinstate the charges for obtaining and renewing a PTIN.
Taxpayers will file QBI deduction computation with IRS next year
The IRS posted a draft of a form that affected taxpayers will submit with their 2019 tax returns showing how they computed their qualified business income (QBI) deduction under Sec. 199A.
Identity protection PIN program expands
The IRS announced that it is expanding its identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN) program to taxpayers in seven additional states.
Tax preparer due-diligence rules are finalized
Preparer penalties now also apply to erroneous head-of-household filing status.
Snipes’s collection alternative refused
The IRS did not abuse its discretion in rejecting a proposal by the film actor and producer to settle a tax debt for less than 4 cents on the dollar, the Tax Court holds.
IRS issues updates on post-shutdown activities
The IRS posted guidance for the public explaining how it will be operating now that the shutdown has ended, to catch up on its backlog in audits, collections, tax return processing, and Tax Court cases.
Government shutdown ends in time for tax season
The partial shutdown of the federal government ended just in time to allow the full IRS workforce to return to work for the start of tax season.
Paid preparer’s checklist expands to include head-of-household, other tax credit questions
Practitioners should be aware of changes to the due-diligence requirements for returns that claim the earned income tax credit, the American opportunity tax credit, and/or the child tax credit.
Some individual taxpayers get relief from underpayment penalty
The relief applies to individuals whose tax withheld and estimated tax payments equal at least 85% of the tax shown on their 2018 tax return.
Half of IRS employees to be recalled during tax season
The IRS issued an updated contingency plan outlining how it will function during tax season.
IRS announces Free File launch
The IRS announced that its Free File program, which provides free electronic filing options to moderate-income taxpayers, opened Jan. 11 and will operate through Oct. 15.
IRS sets start date for tax season, will issue refunds during government shutdown
The IRS announced Monday evening that tax season will start in late January and that it will issue refunds to taxpayers despite the partial shutdown of the federal government.
