In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS is allowing employers to switch from the vehicle lease valuation method to the cents-per-mile method for determining the value of an employee’s personal use of a vehicle during the pandemic.
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Final rules govern income inclusion and advance payments
The IRS issued final regulations on Sec. 451 income inclusion rules and advance payments, as those rules were amended by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
PPP expense deductibility and forgiveness raises basis, other issues
The potential for the deductibility of PPP-funded expenses raises some practice questions, and traps for the unwary lurk in the details.
Many tax provisions appear in year-end coronavirus relief bill
The year-end coronavirus relief and spending bill passed by Congress includes many tax provisions, including pandemic-related relief, extensions of expired provisions, and a large number of miscellaneous items, including temporary 100% deductibility for business meals.
Simplified accounting rules for small businesses allow annual election
The IRS finalized regulations for simplified accounting rules for small businesses, which are defined as businesses with inflation adjusted average annual gross receipts of $25 million ($26 million for 2020 and 2021).
2021 standard mileage rates decrease
The IRS issued the 2021 standard mileage rates for use in computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving expense purposes. The rates all decreased from 2021 to 2020.
Circular 230 update planned for 2021
Updating the rules governing practice before the IRS is one of the goals of the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility for the new year, its director says.
IRS regs. govern misdirected refund claims
The IRS announced procedures for identifying and recovering direct deposit refunds that a taxpayer did not receive in the designated account.
Executive compensation regulations finalized
The IRS issued final rules on the $1 million executive compensation limits enacted by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, finalizing proposed rules with a few changes in response to comments.
Temporary e-signature authorization for IRS forms extended
The IRS announced that it was extending taxpayers’ ability to file a number of forms using electronic signatures due to the pandemic. The limited relief extends the authorization through June 30, 2021.
Final rules govern disallowed transportation fringe benefits
The IRS finalized proposed rules on the disallowance of deductions for transportation fringe benefits, which was enacted by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Several tax provisions set to expire at end of 2020
Among the expiring provisions are the lower 7.5% AGI floor for medical expense deductions and the deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses.
IRS finalizes qualified plan loan rollover rules
The IRS finalized proposed regulations on the qualified plan loan rollover rules amended by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with just one change in response to a comment.
Answering clients’ estate planning questions this December
This article offers answers to questions from clients who are concerned about protecting their estate from tax changes that might happen in 2021.
AICPA and trade associations ask Congress to fix PPP loan deductibility
In a letter to Congress, dated Dec. 3, hundreds of national trade associations and their state and regional affiliates asked that legislation be enacted before the end of 2020 reversing the IRS’s position that amounts forgiven in loans under the PPP be nondeductible business expenses.
Expenses used for PPP loan forgiveness: Deductible or not?
Two experts look at the issue of the deductibility of expenses paid with PPP loan funds and conclude that they should be deductible.
IP PINs to be available to all individuals in 2021
The IRS announced that it would begin allowing all individual taxpayers to opt in to receive an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN), beginning in mid-January 2021.
Like-kind exchange rules define real property, incidental personal property
The IRS issued final regulations that define real property for like-kind exchange purposes and what qualifies as incidental personal property that will not disqualify an exchange.
Final rules coordinate Sec. 245A and Sec. 951A
The IRS issued final rules on the Sec. 245A extraordinary disposition rule and the Sec. 951A disqualified basis and disqualified payment rules, as well as reporting requirements to facilitate the rules.
AICPA mobilizes members to push for deductibility of PPP-funded expenses
The AICPA is asking its members to write to their senators and representatives in Congress in support of legislation that would mandate that anyone who receives a loan through the PPP can deduct business expenses even when payment of those expenses results in loan forgiveness under the CARES Act.
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.
