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IRS Extends Guidance on Trustee Fees

The IRS announced that it is extending interim guidance on the treatment of investment advisory fees and other costs subject to the 2% floor under IRC § 67(a) (Notice 2011-37). Under the notice, nongrantor trusts and estates will not be required to unbundle their fiduciary fees to determine what portion

Discharge of Indebtedness Rules Clarified for Grantor Trusts and Disregarded Entities

On Tuesday, the IRS issued proposed regulations (REG-154159-09) that provide rules regarding who is the “taxpayer” for purposes of applying the IRC § 108 discharge of indebtedness rules to a grantor trust or disregarded entity. IRC §§ 108(a)(1)(A) and (B) exclude discharged debt from a taxpayer’s income if the discharge

IRS Issues Foreign Financial Account Reporting Guidance

The IRS issued a second notice giving guidance on various reporting requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA, part of PL 111-147) (Notice 2011-34). The notice responds to concerns raised by commenters following the issuance last August of Notice 2010-60, which contained preliminary guidance on implementation of the

Federal Budget Deal Avoids Tax Season Disruptions

White House and congressional negotiators reached an agreement on funding the federal government ahead of a midnight Friday deadline and averted a shutdown of all nonessential government functions. Under the agreement, the federal government will be funded by a continuing resolution through next Friday. By Friday, Congress plans to pass

IRS Prepared to Process Returns If Government Shuts Down

IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman addressed the National Press Club on Wednesday, and after his prepared remarks he answered questions regarding the IRS’ preparations for a possible shutdown of the federal government, which could happen Friday. The first question asked what people can expect if the government shuts down. Shulman said

Senate Approves 1099 Repeal, Sends Bill to President

The Senate on Tuesday passed legislation to repeal both the expanded Form 1099 information-reporting requirements mandated by last year’s health care legislation and also new 1099 reporting requirements imposed on taxpayers who receive rental income. The Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011 (HR

Final Regulations Issued on Validity, Priority of Federal Tax Liens

On Monday, the IRS published final regulations (TD 9520) that govern the validity and priority of federal tax liens under IRC § 6323. Under IRC § 6321, the federal government has an automatic lien against any person who does not pay federal tax for which they are liable after the

Mining Tax Clients for New Business Opportunities

Any CPA who does personal income tax returns can relate to the frustration of waiting for clients to open envelopes and organize data during the tax return informational interview. Don’t let this time go to waste. For many firms, the largest volume of clients is in tax return services. Using

Second Home Eligible for Parsonage Exclusion

The Tax Court held that a parsonage allowance paid to an ordained minister used to pay the housing expenses of a second home could be excluded from income, saying the phrase “a home” used in IRC § 107 should be interpreted as any home, not just one. Section 107 allows

Supreme Court: Medical Residents Not Exempt From FICA

Resolving a circuit split and applying the Chevron standard of greater deference to Treasury regulations, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the validity of Treasury regulations requiring full-time medical residents and their university employers to pay FICA tax. In doing so, the court announced that tax regulations should generally be accorded

IRA Charitable Distributions No Panacea

The extension for 2010 and 2011 of IRA qualified charitable distributions may encourage your clients to include them in their financial planning. Yet while it is true that completing a direct contribution from an IRA is pre-tax, this is hardly unique to contributing from an IRA, and in reality other

Post-Death Estate Planning Issues for 2010

The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (2010 Tax Relief Act) (PL 111-312) revised tax law for estates of decedents dying in 2010, 2011 or 2012. The new rules apply for 2010 unless an executor elects to use prior law. Elections for 2010 decedents can

Tax Relief for Homeowners With Corrosive Drywall

Some homeowners who have built or purchased new homes in recent years are experiencing the destructive effects of sulfur emissions from so-called corrosive gypsum plasterboard, or drywall. This drywall was manufactured in China in response to the mini-construction boom after the destruction from Gulf Coast hurricanes in the mid-2000s. Most

Transfer of Rehab Credit Validated

The Tax Court held that a partnership created to transfer a historic rehabilitation credit to a taxable corporation was valid and that the transfer and the corporation’s participation in the partnership had objective economic substance. The state of New Jersey in 1992 authorized the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority

Taxpayer Assistance Order Regulations Issued

On Thursday, the IRS issued final regulations governing national taxpayer advocate (NTA) taxpayer assistance orders when a taxpayer is suffering hardship because of the way the IRS is administering the tax laws (TD 9519). Under IRC § 7811 the NTA can issue a taxpayer assistance order if the NTA “determines

Guidance Issued on 100% Bonus Depreciation Rules

The IRS issued guidance on how taxpayers can deduct 100% of the cost of qualified business property placed in service in 2011 under rules enacted last year (Revenue Procedure 2011-26). The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (PL 111-312) allows taxpayers to deduct 100% of

AICPA Calls for Safeguards for Electronic Data Provided for IRS Exams

The AICPA called on the IRS to start a dialogue to fix what it views as an important problem for some small businesses under audit examination: providing electronic records to the IRS while protecting confidential information that is not relevant to the IRS’ request.   The IRS maintains that the

IRS Issues Final Regs and Guidance on Mandatory E-Filing Requirements

The IRS issued final regulations (TD 9518) and several pieces of guidance relating to the requirement that return preparers e-file tax returns, starting this year. The final regulations adopt, with minor amendments, proposed regulations (REG-100194-10) that were published last December, and they require specified tax return preparers to e-file if

Unfair Lending Practice Settlement Does Not Result in Income to Borrower

In Chief Counsel advice, the IRS stated that adjustments to loan principal amounts under a settlement to reform unfair lending practices do not result in income to the borrower, even though the adjustments result in a reduction in the amount the borrower will pay under the loan (CCA 201112008). The

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