IRS practice & procedure

TOPICS / TAX

January 1, 2016

Resolving IRS disputes through audit reconsideration

Taxpayers may be able to apply for a “rework” of a previous audit.

December 18, 2015

Congress passes extender and other tax legislation

The omnibus spending bill passed by Congress on Friday, which extends a long list of expired tax provisions, also contains a large number of other tax items.

December 14, 2015

Tell your client to hang up on the ‘IRS’

But when the “IRS” calls your client, it probably isn’t really the IRS.

December 7, 2015

Criminal tax prosecutions run the gamut

In its annual business report for 2015, the IRS’s Criminal Investigation division discussed notable criminal tax prosecutions.

December 4, 2015

Bill with passport and third-party tax collection provisions passes Congress

The highway funding bill passed by Congress includes provisions that will allow the government to revoke the passports of seriously delinquent tax debtors and will require the IRS to use third-party debt collectors.

November 24, 2015

IRS warns practitioners of an e-Services phishing scam

The IRS issued a QuickAlert to tax practitioners, warning of a phishing scam that is attempting to capture practitioners’ e-Services usernames and passwords.

November 13, 2015

Tax ID theft victims may obtain copies of fraudulent returns

In a change of policy, the IRS announced procedures for victims of tax ID theft or their authorized representative to request copies of bogus returns filed by identity thieves.

November 3, 2015

Demanding tax season likely ahead, IRS commissioner tells AICPA

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen told the AICPA that continuing cuts to the agency’s budget mean less enforcement revenue and continued challenges in properly serving taxpayers’ and practitioners’ needs during the crush of tax season.

November 2, 2015

Here’s how to fix problems caused by late and amended Forms 1099

Brokerage firms’ practice of issuing late and amended Forms 1099 is causing many taxpayers provide data to preparers later than in prior years to avoid having to file amended returns

November 1, 2015

IRS proposes rule updates and clarifications to penalty for nondisclosure of reportable transactions

Changes conform with amendments to Sec. 6707A made by the Small Business Jobs Act.

November 1, 2015

Court affirms FBAR penalties while faulting IRS’s conduct in assessing them

The IRS’s administration of FBAR penalties for nonwillful failure to file was arbitrary and capricious under the APA.

November 1, 2015

IRS ends automatic extensions for Forms W-2

Allowing only nonautomatic extensions is intended to help deter fraudulent returns using stolen taxpayer identities.

October 29, 2015

PTIN user fee will be lowered

The IRS issued regulations lowering the fee for PTINs, effective for the coming filing season, from $50 to $33, effective Nov. 1, 2015.

October 21, 2015

IRS issues 2016 inflation adjustments and tax tables

The IRS issued the annual inflation adjustments for 2016 for more than 50 tax provisions as well as the 2016 tax rate tables for individuals and estates and trusts.

October 20, 2015

IRS announces progress in collaborative fight against tax return identity theft

Six months after announcing it was partnering with state tax authorities, tax preparation companies, and other interested parties, the IRS said it is making progress in the collaborative effort to fight identity theft.

October 19, 2015

Why new tax return due date changes are important

This article examines why the tax return due date change was needed and what it means for practitioners.

October 7, 2015

IRS gives South Carolina flood victims tax relief

The IRS announced that taxpayers who live or have a business in the South Carolina counties that have been declared disaster areas will have extra time to file their returns and pay any taxes owed.

October 5, 2015

The IRS digital-first future needs to start now

The IRS is struggling with how to become more efficient and serve taxpayers with lower levels of staffing and an outdated, manual service model.

October 1, 2015

Return due dates changed

Tax provisions in the highway funding act also overturn the Supreme Court’s Home Concrete holding that an overstatement of basis does not cause a substantial omission of gross income triggering the extended six-year statute of limitation for assessment.

September 15, 2015

AICPA expresses concerns about tax return preparer legislation

The proposed grant of authority to the IRS to regulate all aspects of tax practice is overly broad, the AICPA said in a letter to the Senate Finance Committee.