IRS practice & procedure

TOPICS / TAX

August 1, 2020

Offside penalty — IRS

To win a client’s tax case, it helps to know the IRS’s rulebook.

August 1, 2020

Supervisory approval of penalties

Federal courts continue to clarify the contours of the Sec. 6751(b) managerial approval requirements for certain penalty assessments.

July 30, 2020

IRS to allow faxing of automatic method change requests

The IRS announced that, beginning Friday, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, it is temporarily accepting duplicate copies of Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method, sent by fax instead of mail.

July 17, 2020

IRS updates annual Dirty Dozen tax schemes for 2020

The IRS issued its top 12 “Dirty Dozen” tax scams, warning people to be vigilant to avoid these schemes all year round. New to the list is the “offer in compromise mills.”

July 16, 2020

IRS reinstates PTIN user fees

The IRS said it would once again begin charging fees to issue preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs) to tax return preparers for 2021. The fee was reduced in response to court cases that challenged the IRS’s authority to charge a fee.

June 30, 2020

IRS will not postpone July 15 deadline

The IRS announced that it will not further postpone federal tax filing and payment deadlines beyond July 15.

June 8, 2020

AICPA recommends changes to e-signature requirements

In a letter to the IRS, the AICPA asked the IRS to permanently amend its electronic signature procedures to make it easier for taxpayers and practitioners to e-file all types of returns.

June 1, 2020

Taxpayers’ petition to the Tax Court was untimely

A USPS postmark trumps a non-USPS postmark when a mailing has both.

May 28, 2020

E-filing of Form 1040-X coming this summer

The IRS announced that taxpayers will be able to electronically file Forms 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, later this summer.

May 18, 2020

IRS mobilizing 3,500 phone operators to answer stimulus questions

With many taxpayers still having problems using the Internal Revenue Service’s “Get My Payment” website, the IRS announced that it is mobilizing 3,500 telephone representatives to answer some of the most common questions about economic impact payments.

May 15, 2020

IRS posts FAQs on paid COVID-19-related sick and family leave

Employer tax credits for small businesses are provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

May 13, 2020

Proposed rules govern deductions and reporting for restitution

The IRS issued regulations explaining the allowance of deductions for certain fines and penalties under Sec. 162(f) as amended by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

May 7, 2020

AICPA proposes broad range of tax relief to aid economic recovery

The AICPA has made a broad range of legislative recommendations to encourage economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 30, 2020

PLR and other requests for IRS guidance can now be sent electronically

The IRS is temporarily allowing taxpayers to submit requests for private letter rulings, closing agreements, determination letters and information letters electronically instead of by mail.

April 24, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic prompts many tax changes

Here are legislative and IRS responses to the coronavirus outbreak.

April 21, 2020

Guidance sought on employee retention credit

In a letter to Treasury and the IRS, the AICPA pointed out several issues involving the new employee retention credit that need clarification and guidance.

April 17, 2020

IRS posts FAQs on paid sick and family leave

The IRS posted and updated 67 FAQs about the employer tax credits for paid sick and family leave enacted in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

April 15, 2020

PTIN fee will be lower when it is reinstated

The IRS has proposed to lower the fee it charges for preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs) when PTIN fees are reinstated.

April 9, 2020

IRS grants broad coronavirus-related tax relief

The IRS granted relief for a broad array of tax filing and payment deadlines that fall between April 1 and July 15, expanding on previous relief, as requested by the AICPA.

April 8, 2020

AICPA posts 20 FAQs on tax filing relief

The AICPA posted FAQs explaining the latest developments in taxpayer relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. The AICPA has recommended that the IRS and Treasury Department expand the scope of recently announced taxpayer relief.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Flip out with the latest Tech Q&A

The September Technology Q&A column shows how to create dynamic to-do lists with Excel's checkboxes and also how to set up multifactor authentication texts that don't rely on phones. Flip through both items and view a video walkthrough in our digital format.