COVID-19 tax news and information

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July 1, 2023

Considerations for IRS examinations of ERC claims

With an extended examination period for the employee retention credit and repeated IRS warnings of promoted schemes, practitioners and their clients should take care to document and support credit claims.

June 23, 2023

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.

June 1, 2023

A pandemic-era tax break that remains rife with abuse — the ERC

The IRS issues at least its seventh warning about the employee retention credit since October 2022.

May 1, 2023

IRS returns to in-person public hearings; telephone still an option

With COVID-19 no longer considered a national emergency, the IRS will return to public hearings for proposed regulations published in the Federal Register beginning in May while keeping telephone access as an option.

March 13, 2023

ERC claims on returns prepared by others raise questions for tax pros

The IRS Office of Professional Responsibility issued a bulletin that reviews the Circular 230 professional responsibilities that apply to claims for the employee retention credit.

March 3, 2023

In-person IRS tax forums scheduled for first time since pandemic start

The three-day forums, last held in person in 2019, are designed specifically for CPAs and other tax professionals.

March 1, 2023

Lookback period extended for refunds related to pandemic postponements

In determining the beginning of the lookback period for refund claims for returns with due dates postponed by Notice 2021-21 or Notice 2020-23, the IRS will disregard the periods from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, and from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. This change will align the lookback periods with the postponed return filing due dates.

December 1, 2022

Continued challenges involving teleworking employees: The new normal

Complications of teleworking continue to arise, with each state making its own tax rules.

November 18, 2022

Congressional report criticizes contractor used by IRS during pandemic

The statement says ID.me inflated the amount of work it could provide and the amount of federal dollars lost to pandemic fraud, the latter in an effort to increase demand for its services. In his response, the CEO says he would not use such a crisis to help his company.

November 14, 2022

One deadline approaches for over 9 million eligible for pandemic-era benefits

In October, the IRS said it would leave Free File open for an extra month, until Thursday, so eligible taxpayers can claim their share of several benefits including the 2021 recovery rebate credit, the child tax credit, and the earned income tax credit.