Tax News - The Tax Adviser

March 17, 2022

Commissioner to Congress: IRS will clear backlog by year’s end

Testifying before a House subcommittee, Charles Rettig describes progress in meeting lingering pandemic challenges.

March 17, 2022

TIGTA: IRS beset by processing backlogs, hiring lags in 2021

A review by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration assessed the IRS’s 2021 performance, customer service issues and administration of tax law changes.

March 16, 2022

Auto depreciation limits leap with inflation

The Internal Revenue Service issued its annual inflation-adjusted update of depreciation limitations for passenger automobiles, including passenger vans and trucks, placed in service in 2022.

March 15, 2022

IRS waives estimated-tax penalties for farmers and fishermen

The IRS, citing earlier problems e-filing a new form reporting S corporation owners’ basis, has granted relief to certain farmers and fishermen who missed their March 1 filing deadline.

March 11, 2022

Congress to hear from IRS commissioner on filing season

AICPA President and CEO Barry Melancon welcomes Charles Rettig’s testimony, urges additional taxpayer relief.

March 10, 2022

IRS direct-hiring 5,000 in service centers

The IRS will hold in-person and virtual “hiring events” this month to begin filling positions in three service centers.

March 10, 2022

New, lower Form 1099-K threshold prompts cautions, criticisms

The new, lower $600 reporting threshold for reporting credit card and cash payment app transactions will likely lead to problems for taxpayers and payment settlement entities, the Taxpayer Advocate Service warns.

March 7, 2022

IRS to fast-track 10,000 hirings to address backlog

Direct-hire authority will allow the Internal Revenue Service to more quickly reinforce its return processing and account management functions.

March 3, 2022

National taxpayer advocate to CPAs: Tell us where the challenges are

CPAs and other tax professionals can help the Taxpayer Advocate Service identify the most acute problems within the IRS.

February 25, 2022

AICPA again asks IRS to delay K-2/K-3 reporting

Comment letters from the AICPA and state CPA societies also offer further recommendations.

February 23, 2022

Proposed regulations update RMDs for SECURE Act changes

The regulations governing required minimum distributions from retirement plans would be updated to reflect various recent statutory changes under proposed regulations released on Wednesday.

February 22, 2022

IRS offers alternative to facial recognition

A short-term option involves a virtual interview with IRS personnel to authenticate taxpayers’ and practitioners’ identities for online services.

February 17, 2022

AICPA testifies to Congress on IRS service problems

In a hearing, the Senate Finance Committee heard recommendations from the AICPA’s Jan Lewis and National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins.

February 17, 2022

Tax pros are subject of ‘spearphishing’ attacks

Bogus emails may impersonate the IRS or tax software providers. Here’s what to watch out for.

February 16, 2022

IRS offers further K-2/K-3 relief

The new schedules for returns of passthrough entities with international items have been greeted with antipathy by practitioners. The IRS provided relief Wednesday for eligible entities for tax year 2021.

February 15, 2022

Revised voluntary disclosure form highlights cryptoassets

Full disclosure of violations, plus payment of taxes, penalties and interest may allow approved taxpayers to avoid criminal prosecution. The reporting form contains a new reporting section and instructions on virtual currency.

February 10, 2022

IRS identifies paused taxpayer notices

While it works through its return and correspondence backlog, the IRS will not send out certain letters and notices, including for delinquent returns and payments.

February 9, 2022

Tax pros share IRS service challenge stories, solutions

The Tax Professionals United for Taxpayer Relief Coalition held an online session to examine possibilities of its four recommendations for improved IRS assistance and taxpayer relief.

February 7, 2022

IRS backs away from facial recognition

The IRS scrapped plans to require individuals to authenticate their identities with facial-recognition technology to use certain online services after the plans prompted scrutiny, including from Congress.

February 4, 2022

AICPA calls IRS staff reassignments a ‘positive step,’ reiterates relief goals

The Service deploys an “inventory surge team” to tackle backlog while a coalition of tax professionals including the AICPA continues its call for specific relief measures.