The Tax Court applied the hobby loss rules under Sec. 183 to disallow losses from a taxpayer’s ranch.
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TOPICS / TAX
IRS practice & procedure
IRS should open Trump accounts for eligible children automatically, AICPA says
In a letter to the IRS and Treasury, the AICPA said enrolling children by default “would promote equitable access, reduce procedural barriers, and strengthen the intended reach of the program.”
GAO says tax pros helped shape IRS response to ERC issues
The report to Congress also recommends four ways for the IRS to close the chapter on the pandemic-era credit.
Anticipated applicability date for future final RMD regs. announced
The IRS said it anticipates that the future final regulations on RMDs under Sec. 401(a)(9) will apply for the distribution calendar year that begins no earlier than six months after those regulations’ appearance in the Federal Register.
AICPA seeks guidance on Sec. 174A(c) capitalization and amortization of R&E
Requested guidance can be provided through modifications to Rev. Proc. 2025-28 and/or other published guidance.
Average tax refund rises 11%; total filings decline
The average individual tax refund is up nearly 11% in the first 10 business days of the 2026 filing season, rising to $2,290 from $2,065 last year.
IRS broadens Tax Pro Account for accounting firms and others
The update allows firms that serve larger numbers of taxpayers to manage centralized authorization file access, view client information, and streamline authorizations online.
AICPA urges Treasury, IRS to simplify Sec. 951 documentation rules
The AICPA told Treasury that Notice 2025 75’s “determine and document” requirement is “ambiguous and potentially onerous” and urges replacing it with a simple safe harbor or eliminating it.
IRS will stay fully staffed for first 5 days of shutdown
Treasury posted a lapsed appropriations contingency plan late last week that calls for the IRS to be fully staffed through Friday during the partial government shutdown.
Court upholds IRS authority to suspend EFINs
A district court held that the IRS had not violated a tax preparer’s Fifth Amendment due process rights or the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) when it suspended the preparer’s electronic filing identification numbers (EFINs) and expelled the preparer from the IRS e-file program.
Basketball officials’ association denied Sec. 501(c)(3) status
The association failed to meet both the organizational and operational tests under Sec. 501(c)(3) and failed to qualify as a “qualified amateur sports organization” under Sec. 501(j)(2).
New law, IRS workforce cuts raise red flags for tax season, reports say
Separate reports from two federal oversight bodies warn that the IRS may struggle to maintain service levels between now and April 15, possibly causing delays in tax refunds and in getting answers by phone.
SECURE 2.0 amendment deadline extended for IRAs, other retirement plans
The IRS extended the deadline for SECURE 2.0 related amendments to IRAs, SEPs, and SIMPLE IRAs to Dec. 31, 2027, saying that additional time is needed to complete model language.
IRS releases FAQs on qualified overtime pay deduction under H.R. 1
An IRS fact sheet explains when overtime compensation qualifies for the H.R. 1 deduction and how Fair Labor Standards Act rules apply, including for federal employees.
IRS Advisory Council report defends workers, criticizes budget and staff cuts
In its annual report, IRSAC said the IRS has been through “an extraordinarily difficult year” with budget and staff cuts while preparing for numerous tax law changes. The report also noted tax practitioners’ prolonged wait times when contacting the IRS.
AICPA tax policy and advocacy successes: 2025 highlights
The AICPA’s Tax Division volunteer committees and technical resource panels can point to many positive results last year from its advocacy to Treasury, the IRS, and Congress for law changes and administrative guidance.
Prop. regs. amend Sec. 3406 backup withholding regulations
The IRS issued the proposed regulations to reflect changes made by H.R. 1 to the threshold for backup withholding for third-party settlement organizations such as PayPal, Venmo, and others.
IRS IT overhaul set to finish by 2028, former official says
After years of delays, the IRS expects to complete modernization of its fragmented IT systems by 2028, a former acting IRS commissioner said at an AICPA webcast.
IRS to start accepting and processing tax returns on Jan. 26
The IRS acknowledged that new tax provisions could affect federal taxes, credits, and deductions. The start of filing season is in line with previous years.
Electronic filing for business tax returns starts next week
The IRS said it will begin accepting business tax returns electronically next week. No date has been announced yet for individual tax returns.
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