2013 - Page 3 of 9 tax news

October 1, 2013

Tax Court Closed During Government Shutdown; IRS Announces No Refunds

With the federal government shutting down at midnight on Sept. 30, the Tax Court announced that, unlike other federal courts, it is closing during the shutdown.

October 1, 2013

How the Government Shutdown Affects Taxpayers and Tax Practitioners

The shutdown of the federal government on Oct. 1 involves a large number of federal government functions, including many affecting taxpayers and tax practitioners.

September 27, 2013

IRS Releases Government Shutdown Contingency Plan

The IRS released its contingency plan for what it will do if the federal government shuts down Oct. 1.

September 25, 2013

IRS Updates Special Per Diem Rates for 2013–2014 Travel Expenses

The IRS issued its annual update of special per diem rates for use in substantiating certain business expenses taxpayers incur when traveling away from home in 2013 and 2014.

September 23, 2013

Streamlined Procedures for Post-Windsor FICA Refunds Are Released

The IRS announced the procedures employers should follow for filing refund claims for overpaid FICA and income taxes paid on employer-provided benefits for same-sex spouses that, because of the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision, are now tax free.

September 19, 2013

New York State Proposes to Regulate Tax Return Preparers

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has proposed amendments to its Personal Income Tax Regulations and Procedural Regulations to regulate tax return preparers.

September 16, 2013

New Procedures for Equitable Innocent Spouse Relief

The IRS provided rules under which taxpayers can obtain equitable innocent spouse relief from joint liability under Sec. 66(c) or 6015(f).

September 13, 2013

Repair Regulations Are Finally Issued

The IRS issued long-awaited final and proposed regulations regarding the treatment of expenditures incurred in acquiring, producing, or improving tangible assets.

September 10, 2013

IRS Explains Sec. 179 Qualified Real Property Allocations and Procedures for Filing Amended Returns

The explained how the retroactive extension of the Sec. 179 rules operates when applied to qualified real property and how to allocate the portion of gain attributable to the qualified real property upon disposition or to calculate any carryover.

September 9, 2013

Preventive Health Services With No Deductible Qualify as High-Deductible Health Plans

The IRS issued a notice clarifying that preventive health services that are provided without a deductible under a health insurance plan will not disqualify a high-deductible health plan.

September 6, 2013

Health Coverage Information Reporting Requirements Guidance Issued

The IRS provided guidance to providers of minimum essential health coverage that are subject to the information-reporting requirements of Sec. 6055 to employers subject to the information-reporting requirements of Sec. 6056.

September 5, 2013

Final Rules Remove “Credit Ratings” from Regulations

The IRS issued Dodd-Frank mandated regulations that remove all references to and all requirements of reliance on “credit ratings” from Treasury regulations.

September 5, 2013

Proposed Regulations Change Definition of R&D Expenditures

In proposed regulations , the IRS provided guidance on the treatment under Sec. 174 of R&D expenditures incurred in connection with the development of tangible property, including pilot models.

September 4, 2013

Regulations Clarify Treatment of a Debt Instrument Under Straddle Rules

The IRS issued regulations to clarify the treatment of debt instruments that are part of a straddle.

September 3, 2013

Final Regulations Attack Artificially Generated Foreign Tax Credits

The IRS issued final regulations on determining the amount of taxes paid for purposes of the foreign tax credit.

August 29, 2013

IRS Proposes Increased User Fees for Installment Agreements, Offers in Compromise

The IRS issued proposed regulations to raise user fees for installment agreements and for offers in compromise.

August 29, 2013

All Legal Same-Sex Marriages to Be Recognized for Tax Purposes, IRS Says

The IRS announced that same-sex couples, legally married in jurisdictions that recognize their marriages, will be treated as married for federal tax purposes.

August 27, 2013

Final Rules Issued on Individual Health Care Mandate

The IRS released final regulations on the penalty or tax imposed on individual taxpayers who do not obtain minimum essential health care coverage beginning in 2014.

August 26, 2013