Tax

A speaker at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE tells attendees that the IRS is paying higher salaries to attract midcareer workers as the agency increases audits.

The IRS said it agrees with the six recommendations from the Government Accountability Office to eliminate the bias.

Commissioner Danny Werfel said the successful pilot program of Direct File encouraged the IRS to make the program available in all states and the District of Columbia.

The IRS said scams involving the fuel tax credit, the sick and family leave credit, and household employment taxes led thousands of taxpayers to file inflated refund claims.

The IRS was required to reduce the charge for preparer tax identification numbers after a federal court found the previous amount excessive. The final regulations adopt the text of interim final and proposed regulations issued in 2023 without change.

The final regulations, which the IRS issued Friday, also provide rules regarding the critical mineral and battery component requirements for the new clean vehicle credit, and they add a new test for mineral content.

The IRS aims to improve service on the tax practitioner phone line and build a better online account for tax professionals, Commissioner Danny Werfel said Thursday.