CPAs assess how their return preparation products performed.
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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.
At the ripe old age of 21, he’s advising the IRS on change
Aidan Hunt was appointed at age 20 to the IRS Advisory Council, a panel that advises the IRS commissioner and recommends administrative and policy changes.
IRS provides transition relief for change in beginning date for RMDs
A notice provides transition relief for the change in the required beginning date for required minimum distributions (RMDs) under the SECURE 2.0 Act and guidance related to certain specified RMDs.
Commissioner: We are progressing toward a user-friendly IRS
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said the Service’s transformation is in full swing, thanks to new infusion of cash that he says needs to keep coming.
How the IRS can avoid tax deadline confusion in disaster areas
The national taxpayer advocate recommended changes that range from one simple one the IRS can handle on its own to congressional action.
Prop. regs. clarify tax treatment of certain health insurance payments
New proposed regulations clarify that accident or health insurance payments are not excludable from an employee’s income where the payments are made without regard to amount of medical expenses incurred by the employee under Sec. 213(d) and the premiums or contributions for coverage are paid on a pre-tax basis.
Study: Deterrence a major factor in bringing in more money from IRS audits
The paper by researchers at Harvard University, the University of Sydney, and Treasury finds that an additional $1 spent on marginal audits of top earners can get a return of $12 in revenue.
Stock repurchase excise tax reporting and payment delayed by IRS
The IRS says covered corporations will not have to report or pay the new 1% stock repurchase excise tax until it issues forthcoming regulations.
Research finds algorithms, unscrupulous preparers behind audit bias
Subsequent research has replicated the racial gap in audit rates found in a study led by Stanford University and pointed to both unscrupulous tax preparers who submit EITC claims and algorithmic bias in the IRS’s audit selection process as causes.
COVID-19 coverage without a deductible ends next year
A high-deductible health plan will no longer be permitted to provide coverage without a deductible for testing for and treatment of COVID-19 after Dec. 31, 2024.
Taxpayer advocate: 2023 tax season better at IRS; IT upgrades imperative
In her annual midyear report to Congress, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins says the difference between the 2022 and 2023 tax seasons was “like night and day.”
IRS updates list of automatic accounting method changes
The IRS on Thursday provided a comprehensive, updated list of changes in tax accounting methods to which the automatic change procedures in Rev. Proc. 2015-13 apply. The list includes 29 changes that the Service describes as significant.
IRS addresses whether college NIL collectives further an exempt purpose
A memo from the IRS Office of Chief Counsel advises that an organization that develops paid NIL opportunities for student-athletes will, in many cases, be operating for a substantial nonexempt purpose—serving the private interests of student-athletes—which is more than incidental to any exempt purpose furthered by the activity.
Penalty for underpayment of estimated corporate AMT waived for 2023
The IRS waived the penalty for corporations that did not make estimated payments of corporate AMT for their 2023 tax year, saying the move is “in the interest of sound tax administration.”
National taxpayer advocate: A paperless IRS is possible
NTA Erin Collins said at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE 2023 that the IRS has a goal of being “paperless” by 2025, by which it means anything taxpayers file on paper would be scanned.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
2026 tax software survey
CPAs rate their return preparation software’s performance during this year’s tax season.
