The IRS issued guidance on the treatment of refunds of state or local taxes and certain other payments made by states made to individuals in 2023 and future years, including spillover payments made in 2023 under 2022 programs covered by IRS News Release IR-2023-23.
News
Businesses must e-file Form 8300 for $10,000+ cash payments in 2024
The new e-filing requirement, beginning in 2024, applies to businesses mandated to e-file certain other information returns, such as Forms 1099 series and Forms W-2.
Prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements guidance issued
The IRS issued proposed regulations related to the increased tax credit or deduction amounts for clean energy facilities and projects if taxpayers satisfy certain prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship requirements.
Two-year reprieve granted from Roth catch-up requirement
Employees who participate in a Sec. 401(k) or similar retirement plan and whose prior-year Social Security wages were over $145,000 have been given a two-year reprieve from the new requirement that any catch-up contributions they make to the plan must be designated as after-tax Roth IRA contributions.
Prop. regs. require brokers to report digital asset sales and exchanges
Long-awaited proposed regulations, part of a broader effort by Treasury to close the tax gap and address tax evasion risks posed by digital assets, require brokers to report sales and exchanges of digital assets by customers.
Tax pros give mixed reviews to wait times, service on PPS line
Wait times increased about the same time as the IRS ended program that thwarted line-jumping services, say tax practitioners, who also questioned the training of new hires.
Guidance provided for electronic filing exemptions and waivers
In a notice issued Friday, the IRS provided guidance to persons filing certain returns on how to seek religious exemptions, hardship waivers, and other administrative exemptions provided by the IRS, from electronic filing requirements.
Location of millions of tax records uncertain, TIGTA says in IRS critique
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration said the IRS is uncertain of the location of microfilm cartridges with tax information of both individuals and businesses.
Update on states moving ahead with PTETs
States continue to move ahead with implementing new passthrough entity taxes as a workaround to the $10,000 cap on the federal deduction of state and local taxes.
Proposed regulations update, revise consolidated return regulations
New proposed regulations would update the regulations to reflect 50-plus years of statutory changes, remove regulations and certain transition rules that no longer have practical application, and eliminate obsolete or incorrect terms and cross-references.
IRS issues guidance on requirements for home energy audits
The IRS provides requirements for home energy audits for taxpayers that want to claim the energy efficient home improvement credit, which taxpayers can rely on until proposed regulations are issued.
Prop. regs. identify monetized installment sales as listed transactions
The IRS disagrees with court decisions requiring notice-and-comment rulemaking to identify listed transactions, but said it is identifying monetized installment sales transactions as listed transactions in proposed regulations “to avoid confusion and ensure consistent enforcement of the tax laws throughout the nation to prevent disruption of the IRS’s ongoing efforts to identify and examine abusive tax shelters.”
2024 filing season could be paperless, IRS says
Treasury and the IRS announced Wednesday that by filing season 2024, taxpayers will be able to go paperless if they choose to do so. And by filing season 2025, the IRS will digitize all paper-filed returns when they are received.
Proof-of-stake validation rewards are income in tax year received
The IRS ruled Monday that cash-method taxpayers who stake cryptocurrency native to a proof-of-stake blockchain and receive cryptocurrency validation rewards must include the fair market value of the rewards in gross income in the year they are received.
2023 tax software survey
CPAs assess how their return preparation products performed.
To combat fraud, IRS steps up ERC claim enforcement
Having made significant progress in the ongoing effort against fraudulent employee retention credit claims, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said the agency has entered a new phase of increasing scrutiny on dubious submissions while renewing consumer warnings against aggressive marketing.
AICPA advocates for delay in BOI reporting requirements
Too many businesses are unaware of the beneficial ownership information reporting requirements, which will be a burden for small businesses, the AICPA told Congress.
Final regs. allow assessment of COVID-19 related tax credit refunds
The IRS issues final regulations that allow for the assessment of erroneous refunds of COVID-19 related paid sick leave, family leave, and employee retention credits.
IRS ends most unannounced revenue officer visits
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel on Monday announced an end to unannounced home visits by IRS revenue officers, except in a few cases. The change is effective immediately.
Scams are surging in the summer, the IRS says
The IRS issued a warning for taxpayers to be wary of offers promising tax refunds or to “fix” tax problems, saying these emails or texts are part of a summer surge in tax scams.
employee benefits & pensions
Profits interests: The most tax-efficient equity grant to employees
By granting them a profits interest, entities taxed as partnerships can reward employees with equity. Mistakes, however, could cause challenges from taxing authorities.