The IRS announced relief from late-payment penalties and that it will allow late elections for taxpayers subject to the new Sec. 965 transition tax on deemed repatriated foreign earnings.
News
AICPA recommends IRS FAQs on virtual currency taxation
The comments were prompted by new questions that have emerged about how the tax rules apply to virtual currency transactions since the AICPA first submitted comments.
Standard mileage rates, depreciation amounts updated
The IRS issued guidance on the standard mileage rates and depreciation limits that were changed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
IRS warns tax practitioners of new phishing scam
The IRS alerted tax practitioners to beware of a new phishing scheme in which cybercriminals send out emails posing as state accounting and professional associations.
IRS to clarify rules on payments in lieu of state and local taxes
The IRS announced that it intends to issue regulations explaining that legislation attempting to recharacterize state and local taxes as charitable contributions will be subject to interpretation under federal tax law.
Charitable contribution procedures updated
The IRS issued new procedures for contributions to charitable organizations, including rules for when donors can rely on the information about an organization’s tax-exempt status on the IRS database Tax Exempt Organization Search.
AICPA recommends flexibility in partnership audits
The IRS should provide a simplified adjustment procedure for partnership audits, the AICPA recommended in a letter to the IRS Chief Counsel’s Office.
IRS issues HSA contribution limits for 2019
The IRS issued the inflation-adjusted contribution limits for 2019 for health savings accounts.
IRS updates automatic accounting method change procedures
The IRS issued updated procedures for automatic accounting method changes. The new rules generally apply to changes on or after May 9, 2018.
Small businesses should guard against tax-return identity theft
The IRS urged small businesses to be wary of a growing amount of identity theft attempts aimed at employers and small businesses in general, and partnerships and trusts and estates.
IRS gives taxpayers relief from erroneous HSA contributions
The IRS announced it will allow taxpayers to treat $6,900 as the 2018 limit for deductible contributions to HSAs for individuals with family coverage.
Supreme Court hears oral arguments in sales tax nexus case
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case with broad remote sales tax collection ramifications.
IRS computer crash prompts deadline extension
After the IRS’s Modernized e-File and Direct Pay systems were not in operation for most of the day on Tuesday, the IRS extended the filing and payment deadline for 2017 individual tax returns until midnight on Wednesday, April 18.
Treasury regulations to be subject to OMB review
The Treasury Department and the White House’s Office of Management and Budget have agreed to change the procedures under which Treasury regulations are reviewed.
IRS guidance addresses limitations on business interest expense
The IRS has issued initial guidance on the new rules governing the deductibility of business interest in Sec. 163(j), as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
Federal spending bill includes tax provisions
The $1.3 trillion spending bill passed by Congress includes IRS funding and tax-related technical corrections, including changes to the centralized partnership audit regime.
Guidance addresses partnership accounting when IRS collects underpayments
A new technical question and answer from the AICPA provides nonauthoritative guidance to help financial statement preparers account for the amount a partnership pays the IRS under these circumstances.
Supreme Court: Obstruction requires knowledge of investigation
The U.S. Supreme Court held that to obtain a conviction for obstructing or impeding the administration of the Internal Revenue Code, the government was required to prove that the defendant knew of a pending tax-related proceeding or could reasonably foresee the commencement of such a proceeding.
Phone scams and phishing featured in 2018’s Dirty Dozen tax scams
The IRS completed its annual list of the top tax scams for this filing season, with brazen phishing and phone scams still prominent on the list.
The Sec. 199A qualified business income deduction and fiscal years
Taxpayers who receive income from fiscal-year passthrough entities need guidance on when to claim the new Sec. 199A deduction for qualified business income.
TAX PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
2025 tax software survey
AICPA members in tax practice assess how their return preparation software performed during tax season and offer insights into their procedures.
