IRS practice & procedure

TOPICS / TAX

April 1, 2020

IRS waives failure-to-deposit penalties during pandemic

The IRS is permitting eligible employers who pay qualifying wages to retain an amount of the payroll taxes equal to the amount of qualifying wages that they paid, rather than deposit them with the IRS.

March 31, 2020

Recovery rebate payments to be issued within 3 weeks

The IRS has issued guidance on these payments, which it calls “economic impact payments,” and says they generally will be direct-deposited to most qualifying taxpayers’ bank accounts in the next three weeks without taxpayers having to do anything.

March 28, 2020

Relieving the April 15 ‘pressure point’

Ed Karl, CPA, the AICPA’s vice president–Tax Policy & Advocacy, outlines how the IRS tax filing delay came about — and what it means for CPA tax practitioners and their clients.

March 27, 2020

CARES Act tax provisions aim to stabilize pandemic-ravaged economy

The $2 trillion stimulus bill contains many tax provisions. Here’s a look at the tax items, which range from credits to temporary changes to retirement plan rules.

March 27, 2020

Practitioner Priority Service, other IRS help lines suspended due to coronavirus

The IRS announced that, because of staff shortages, it was closing the Practitioner Priority Service, a special phone line for tax practitioners, as well as the e-Services Help Desk line and the e-Services, FIRE, and AIR system help desks “until further notice.”

March 26, 2020

AICPA requests broader relief for taxpayers

In a letter to Treasury and the IRS, the AICPA requested that recent filing and payment relief related to the COVID-19 pandemic be expanded because the current relief does not cover all tax filings and payments affected by the pandemic.

March 26, 2020

IRS announces more operational changes related to coronavirus

The IRS announced that, under its People First Initiative, it was taking various actions to alter its activities beyond the tax filing and payment delay announced last week.

March 24, 2020

IRS posts FAQs about coronavirus-related filing and payment extensions

The IRS posted 24 questions and answers to clarify the notice delaying certain tax filing and payment deadlines until July 15.

March 24, 2020

IRS alters certain operations in effort to protect employees, taxpayers during outbreak

To protect taxpayers and its employees, the IRS is scaling back its operations during the coronavirus pandemic to focus on mission-critical activities. Here’s a look at what services are being affected.

March 23, 2020

Practitioners seek further clarity on tax filing, payment delay

Practitioners welcomed the IRS’s deferral of income tax returns and payments due April 15 for another 90 days but have many questions about related issues.

March 21, 2020

IRS provides guidance for April 15 filing delay

The IRS announced the postponement of the April 15 federal income tax filing deadline until July 15. Friday’s notice expands on earlier guidance that had only postponed tax payments but not the filing deadline.

March 20, 2020

Tax filing deadline moving to July 15, Treasury secretary announces

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that taxpayers will have until July 15 to file their tax returns, a change from the guidance announced by the IRS earlier.

March 18, 2020

AICPA expresses strong concern over lack of filing relief in coronavirus tax notice

The IRS delayed any tax payments due April 15 to July 15 without interest or penalties accruing. The relief does not extend any tax return filing deadlines.

March 17, 2020

Treasury secretary announces 90-day delay in tax payment deadline

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that individuals and businesses can delay their tax payments for 90 days due to the coronavirus pandemic.

March 12, 2020

Final regs. raise offer-in-compromise user fee

The IRS issued final regulations raising the offer-in-compromise user fee from $186 to $205, a 10% increase instead of the increase to $300 included in proposed regulations.

March 1, 2020

Why states need to enact MTC model statute in 2020

Campaign seeks to create a uniform state-by-state regime that aligns with changes to federal partnership audits.

February 18, 2020

No need to report some transactions in video game currency, IRS says

Gamers who, as part of a video game, transact in virtual currencies that do not leave the video game environment do not have to report the transactions on a tax return, the IRS made clear in a statement released on its website.

February 12, 2020

IRS proposes rules to update income tax withholding, revises Form W-4

The IRS proposed new regulations for withholding on individuals’ wages to reflect the statutory changes in the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including the elimination of the personal exemption.

February 1, 2020

IRS offers to settle microcaptive insurance cases

Taxpayers offered the deal can reduce penalties.

January 16, 2020

More taxpayers qualify for student loan COD relief

The IRS is expanding its relief from cancellation-of-debt income to students whose federal loans were discharged for certain legal reasons.

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.