The IRS issued updated procedures for the deferred employee portion of employment tax payments, which were further extended from April 30, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2021, by year-end legislation.
News
Some individual taxpayers get relief from underpayment penalty
The IRS granted individual taxpayers a waiver from the penalty for underestimated tax due solely to the amendment to Sec. 461(l)(1)(B) in the CARES Act repealing the excess business loss limitations for years before 2021.
Taxpayers need clarity on coordination of ERC and PPP loans
The AICPA asked the IRS and Treasury to clarify that the filing of a Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness application is not an election by the taxpayer to forgo the employee retention credit for wages reported on the application exceeding the amount of wages necessary for loan forgiveness.
Tax filing season to start Feb. 12, IRS announces
The IRS announced that it will start accepting 2020 tax returns on Feb. 12, a later date than usual. The delay stems from programming changes needed to account for year-end tax legislation.
Final regs. govern deductibility of fines and penalties
The IRS issued final regulations on when fines and penalties paid to a government are not deductible by a taxpayer, including defining when a payment counts as restitution, which may be deductible.
Final rules on exempt organization excess remuneration
The IRS issued final regulations on the excise tax on excess remuneration over $1 million paid by tax-exempt organizations, finalizing proposed regulations with a few changes in response to comments.
Carried interests regulations are finalized
The IRS finalized proposed regulations on certain carried interests to account for changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The TCJA extended from one year to three years the holding period for making carried interests eligible for capital gain treatment.
Final regs. address certain Sec. 163(j) rules
The IRS issued final regulations containing rules on the Sec. 163(j) interest expense limitation, including rules for specific passthrough entities and regulated investment companies.
Guidance permits change in vehicle use valuation during pandemic
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.
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.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
2026 tax software survey
CPAs rate their return preparation software’s performance during this year’s tax season.
