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Proposed small employers’ health insurance premium tax credit rules issued

On Friday, the IRS issued proposed regulations governing the Sec. 45R credit for small employers that offer health insurance coverage for employees (REG-113792-13). The proposed rules incorporate the provisions of Notices 2010-44 and 2010-82 (which were issued to provide guidance for employers claiming the credit between its original 2010 effective

Tenth Circuit throws out decision striking down Colorado’s Amazon law

The permanent injunction that a federal district court issued in March 2012 enjoining Colorado from enforcing its Amazon law requiring remote sellers to report sales in the state has been dismissed by an appeals court. The Tenth Circuit held on Tuesday that the Tax Injunction Act (TIA, 28 U.S.C. §

Online FATCA registration system launched

The IRS on Monday announced the launch of an online system that foreign financial institutions (FFIs) can use to register with the agency to meet their obligations under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) (IR-2013-69 (8/19/13)). The system allows institutions that must register with the IRS to create an

Amounts on late-filed S corporation return were not disclosed on taxpayer’s return

For purposes of determining whether there had been a substantial understatement of gross income on a taxpayer’s return, the IRS Office of Chief Counsel determined that amounts on a Form 1120S, U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, filed after the three-year statute of limitation expired, were not considered

IRS issues draft FATCA report form

On Thursday, the IRS released a draft Form 8966, FATCA Report, which will be used by foreign financial institutions (FFIs) and withholding agents to comply with their FATCA reporting and withholding requirements. Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), enacted as part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment

Revenue procedure provides liberal relief for late S corp. elections

On Wednesday, the IRS consolidated the provisions of a number of previous revenue procedures for requesting relief for late S elections under Sec. 1362, late qualified subchapter S trust (QSST) elections, late electing small business trust (ESBT) elections, late qualified subchapter S subsidiary (QSub) elections, and late corporate classification elections

Final rules issued on IRS disclosure of tax return information under health care law

The IRS issued final regulations about how it will release certain tax return information to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as required by 2010’s health care legislation (T.D. 9628). The final regulations, which will be effective Wednesday, describe certain items the IRS will disclose in addition to

Proposed rules reset limitation for pursuing equitable innocent spouse relief

On Monday, the IRS issued proposed regulations under Secs. 6015(f) and 66(c) changing the deadline for taxpayers to request innocent spouse relief from joint liability (REG-132251-11). The proposed rules generally adopt new time limitation rules announced in Notice 2011-70, and, as a result, the regulations are effective the date the

Aug. 30 IRS furlough day canceled

The IRS announced that it will remain open on Aug. 30, canceling a previously scheduled furlough day. However, in making the announcement, IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel said that the Service is still evaluating whether it must take a furlough day in September. In April, the IRS announced that it

IRS releases draft net investment income tax form

On Wednesday, the IRS released a draft of Form 8960, Net Investment Income Tax—Individuals, Estates, and Trusts, a new dual-purpose form that will be used by individuals and trusts and estates to compute the new 3.8% tax and then to report the tax on Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax

IRS issues final rules on exceptions from REIT or RIC built-in-gain recognition

On Thursday, the IRS issued final regulations that provide guidance on the recognition of built-in gain in certain transfers of property from a C corporation to a regulated investment company (RIC) or real estate investment trust (REIT) (T.D. 9626). The final regulations adopt proposed regulations issued in April 2012 (REG-139991-08)

2013 tax software survey: Individual product survey responses

In this year’s survey by the JofA and The Tax Adviser, more than 5,000 CPAs assessed the software they used to prepare 2012 tax returns. The survey was conducted in May 2013. Overall, respondents rated their software an average of 4.1 out of 5. Users of three products, Lacerte, ProSystem

White House announces nominee for IRS commissioner

The White House announced on Thursday that President Barack Obama will nominate John Koskinen as the new IRS commissioner. In a statement, the president said, “John is an expert at turning around institutions in need of reform.” He added, “I am confident that John will do whatever it takes to

Supreme Court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act in estate tax case

The Supreme Court, in a 5–4 decision written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), P.L. 104-199, is unconstitutional because it violates the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause by denying equal protection to same-sex couples who are lawfully married in their states (Windsor, No. 12-307

Recycling charitable dollars: IRS gives green light to more program-related investments

Private foundations lost more than 20% of their assets during the economic crisis, according to the Foundation Center (see Foundation Growth and Giving Estimates, available at tinyurl.com/2vhk93e). At the same time, the demand for charitable services—and foundation dollars to support those services—increased significantly. The combination of these dynamics prompted many

Supreme Court resolves circuit split on creditability of U.K. tax

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the United Kingdom’s windfall profits tax imposed on newly privatized businesses was creditable against U.S. taxes under Sec. 901 (PPL Corp., No.12-43 (U.S. 5/20/13)). In doing so, the Court reversed the Third Circuit’s decision (665 F.3d 60 (3d Cir. 2011))

CPAs and the trust fund recovery penalty

CPAs and other accounting professionals should take note of a recent federal district court decision imposing joint and several liability against outside accountants for failure to pay a distressed client’s employment withholding taxes. In Erwin, No. 1:06CV59 (M.D.N.C. 2/5/13), a federal district court rendered judgment pursuant to Sec. 6672 against

Loan guarantee terminates IRA

The Tax Court held that two taxpayers’ personal guarantees of a loan to a company whose stock was owned by their individual retirement accounts (IRAs) were indirect extensions of credit to the IRAs, a prohibited transaction. Thus, the IRAs ceased to qualify as IRAs at the beginning of the tax

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

AI risks CPAs should know

Are you ready for the AI revolution in accounting? This JofA Technology Q&A article explores the top risks CPAs face—from hallucinations to deepfakes—and ways to mitigate them.