Hear about one Inflation Reduction Act concern posed by a leading taxpayer advocate and catch up on recent JofA news and feature articles.
IRS practice & procedure
National taxpayer advocate has concerns about $400,000 audit promise
National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins expressed concern for voluntary compliance amid Treasury’s promise that increased IRS funding will not be used to audit people earning under $400,000. She spoke during a session at the annual AICPA & CIMA National Tax Conference.
Past commissioners set optimistic tone for next IRS commissioner in AICPA panel
Two former IRS commissioners addressed the agency’s issues at an AICPA panel and sounded a note of optimism for the future, based on new funding and pending technology improvements.
Collection Due Process case favors IRS
The Tax Court upholds the IRS’s denial of a taxpayer’s requests for first-time abatement of penalties, an installment agreement, and withdrawal of NFTL filings.
Growing tax gap shows need for better service, compliance, IRS says
The difference between taxes owed and taxes paid was $496 billion annually for tax years 2014 through 2016, and that figure is likely to grow, the IRS said.
IRS hires 4,000 customer service reps, plans to hire 1,000 more
The IRS announced that it has hired new customer service representatives, who will be trained to provide help to taxpayers in time for the 2023 tax season.
New process provided for anonymous reporting of ERC mills
In a move the AICPA supports, the IRS is providing a new way to make anonymous reports about third-party vendors promoting improper claims for the employee retention credit.
IRS initiates pilot program to thwart line-jumping on PPS calls
The IRS has begun a pilot program designed to thwart services that let callers jump ahead in the IRS Practitioner Priority Service phone queue.
Retirement account inflation adjustments issued for 2023
The IRS issued the retirement account inflation adjustments for 2023, including the maximum contribution amounts for 401(k) plans and IRAs.
Disaster area filing extensions apply to 2019, 2020 penalty relief
The IRS reminds taxpayers who live in certain areas covered by disaster declarations that the extra time they have to file also applies to filing returns to qualify for penalty relief for 2019 and 2020.
IRS annual inflation adjustments, negotiating a job offer, and a quiz
This quick-hitting episode covers recent news of interest, including IRS and Social Security Administration annual announcements, why the AICPA is requesting guidance from the IRS and Treasury, and advice for negotiating after you’ve received a job offer.
IRS announces annual inflation adjustments for tax year 2023
Changes include increases in the standard deduction for many taxpayers, new tax brackets, and a higher maximum earned income tax credit amount.
AICPA again critiques new IRS requirements for R&D credits
In a second letter, the AICPA takes issue with broad new documentation requirements for refund claims involving the Sec. 41 credit, outlined in an IRS memo in fall 2021.
Penalty relief deadline fast approaches for 2019, 2020 tax returns
Taxpayers must file by Sept. 30 to qualify for late-filing penalty relief from the IRS.
AICPA asks IRS to expand penalty relief
The AICPA, in a letter to the IRS, urged the Service to expand the relief under Notice 2022-36 to include several other Code sections and forms and to extend the deadline for requesting relief to Dec. 31, 2022.
The ‘mixed bag’ of economic sentiment; recent IRS news; a PCAOB update
Economic optimism is dimming, bringing revenue and profit projections down as well, but more than half of U.S. finance decision-makers say they can use more workers. Learn more about quarterly sentiment, along with a look at IRS news and more, in this podcast episode with transcript.
AICPA disputes ‘misleading’ claims on new IRS funding, calls for service improvements
Despite “confusion and misinformation” about the Inflation Reduction Act’s allocations, concerns continue about the funding levels for taxpayer service, the AICPA’s president and CEO said.
IRS relieves penalties for 2019 and 2020
As part of COVID-19 pandemic relief, the IRS will automatically abate failure-to-file penalties for certain tax and information returns and refund those penalties already paid.
National taxpayer advocate appeals IRS response on scanning tech
National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins escalated her push for the IRS to adopt barcode scanning of paper tax returns, but the IRS would commit only to a goal of scanning certain 2022 returns.
Some balance-due notices on joint returns issued in error, IRS says
Payments made by the second-listed spouse on a joint return for 2021 under certain conditions may not have been properly credited by the IRS.
Features
FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE
Tax season quick guide
Get ready for tax season with the JofA’s annual filing season quick guide, an easy-to-use compilation of dollar thresholds, tax tables, standard amounts, credits, and deductions. Download and print for quick reference this tax season.
