The IRS issued new final regulations on cross-border reverse triangular reorganizations, popularly known as “Killer B” transactions (TD 9526). The regulations finalize with some modifications proposed regulations that were issued in 2008 (REG-136020-07). Previously, in Notices 2006-85 and 2007-48, the Service had said new rules were needed to thwart the
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Client Tax Fraud and the CPA
Your client just called and left the following message: “I answered the door at my home today, and an agent who said he was from the IRS Criminal Investigation Division wanted to ask me some questions. What should I do?” While you may never get a call from a client
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RELIEF GIVEN FOR LATE ELECTIONS TO COMBINE REAL ESTATE ACTIVITIES The IRS established a special procedure by which taxpayers can make a late election to treat all their real estate activities as a single activity for purposes of meeting material participation rules. The guidance, in Revenue Procedure 2011-34, allows eligible
Prohibited Transactions Wipe Out Bankruptcy Exemption for Self-Directed IRA
The Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court decision (which had previously affirmed a bankruptcy court) that all funds in two of an individual’s IRAs and part of a third were not exempt from his bankruptcy estate under Bankruptcy Code (USC Title 11) section 522(b)(3)(C). These
Carrying Back Net Operating Losses
One of the biggest questions surrounding net operating losses (NOLs) is when to use this potentially significant tax attribute. Once a decision is made about when an NOL will be used, it is important that it be carried back and/or forward properly. Under IRC § 172(b)(1), an NOL (in general)
Managing an IRS Correspondence Audit
The IRS has expanded its use of correspondence examinations in lieu of field examinations of individual income tax returns. While this trend has allowed the Service to collect additional revenue more efficiently, it has also caused difficulties for some taxpayers and CPAs representing them. The IRS has had problems in
Type B Reorganization Basis Method Updated
With Revenue Procedure 2011-35 issued May 31, the Service updated and revised methods by which an acquiring corporation may establish its basis in the stock of a target corporation in a type B reorganization under IRC § 368(a)(1)(B) or other transferred basis transaction. The general procedures were provided 30 years
IRS Finalizes Circular 230 Regulations
The IRS issued final regulations (TD 9527) implementing components of its initiative to register and regulate all paid tax return preparers. The regulations, which finalized proposed regulations issued in August 2010 (REG-138637-07) revise Circular 230. Paid preparers of all or substantially all of certain tax returns and claims for refunds
Fourth Circuit Joins Others Upholding Two-Year Innocent Spouse Limit; Tax Court Again Rejects It
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals joined the Third and Seventh circuits in validating Treasury regulations limiting to two years the period in which taxpayers may apply for innocent spouse equitable relief under IRC § 6015(f). The decision overruled the Tax Court, which has consistently reached an opposite conclusion, including
Final Regulations Simplify Accounting Rules in Corporate Reorganizations
The IRS issued final regulations (TD 9534) intended to clarify and simplify rules concerning continuity of accounting methods and inventory methods in certain tax-free corporate reorganizations and liquidations. The regulations revise regulations under IRC §§ 381(c)(4) and 381(c)(5) and adopt with nonsubstantive modifications proposed regulations issued in 2007 (REG-151884-03). They
Congressional Committee Checks In on Registered Tax Preparer Program
While tax professional communities offered diverging opinions of the registered tax return preparer (RTRP) program to a congressional subcommittee, all agreed on one thing—the IRS made a significant effort to listen. Although the program when initially proposed got off to a “rocky start,” a representative of the National Association of
Final Regulations Simplify Reduced Research Credit Election
The IRS released final regulations late Tuesday (TD 9539) further simplifying an election method by which taxpayers may use a standard rate to reduce a research credit under IRC § 41 in lieu of reducing their research expense deductions. The final regulations also clarify how members of a controlled group
Practitioners, Policymakers Welcome IRS Change on Innocent Spouse Relief
Tax practitioners, legislators and taxpayer advocates said the IRS’ announcement that it would no longer require taxpayer requests for innocent spouse equitable relief under IRC § 6015(f) to be made within two years of the beginning of collection activity was a long overdue change. “It’s not surprising at all; the
IRS Relents on Two-Year Limit on Innocent Spouse Equitable Relief
After winning appeals in three federal circuit courts of its two-year limit for requesting equitable innocent spouse relief, the IRS said on Monday it will no longer observe that deadline. In Notice 2011-70, the IRS said it will now consider taxpayer requests for equitable relief from joint and several liability
IRS Discontinues High-Low Method for Substantiating Travel Expenses
On Tuesday, the IRS announced that it is discontinuing the high-low method for substantiating lodging, meal and incidental expenses incurred in traveling away from home (Announcement 2011-42). Last year, the IRS asked for comments on whether the high-low method was still needed, and it received no comments. Under the high-low
FinCEN Creates FBAR E-Filing System
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on Monday said it has developed an electronic filing system for Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). The reports can now be filed via FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System. A United States person who has a financial
Comments Sought on IRS Continuing Education Provider Standards and Process
The IRS on Monday invited public comments on its process for approving continuing education providers and on the standards that should apply to such providers (Notice 2011-61). Under final Circular 230 regulations issued in May, registered tax return preparers will be required to meet continuing education requirements by completing courses
Economic Substance Guidance Issued to IRS Examiners
The IRS Large Business and International (LB&I) Division issued guidance to examiners on the newly codified economic substance doctrine limiting the application of penalties relating to the doctrine (LB&I-4-0711-015). The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, PL 111-152, codified the economic substance doctrine and a related strict liability
IRS Offers Open Houses on Saturday to Help With Lien Withdrawals, Other Taxpayer Issues
The IRS is holding open houses at its Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the country this Saturday, July 16, to assist taxpayers who need help with tax issues. The open houses are especially designed to assist taxpayers who wish to have a lien on their property withdrawn. The IRS in February
Phased Implementation of FATCA Requirements Announced
On Thursday, the IRS announced plans to phase in the requirements of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) (Notice 2011-53). The IRS has received numerous comments about the difficulty of implementing aspects of the FATCA requirements. The notice’s phased implementation is designed to give both foreign financial institutions and
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