IRS issues 2020–2021 per-diem rates
The IRS issued the 2020-2021 per-diem rates for business travelers who incur expenses while traveling away from home.
Individuals
IRS issues guidance on COVID-19 testing coverage
The IRS said that COVID-19 testing and diagnostics are not minimum essential coverage under a government-sponsored program and therefore do not disqualify taxpayers from taking the Sec. 36B premium tax credit or Medicaid.
Guidance issued on payroll tax deferral
The IRS issued guidance on the payroll tax deferral ordered by President Donald Trump on Aug. 8. The notice requires employers to withhold deferred taxes during the period from Jan. 1 to April 30, 2021.
IRS begins accepting e-filing of amended individual tax returns
The IRS said it had launched its eagerly awaited program to accept Forms 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, electronically.
AICPA requests guidance on payroll tax deferral
The AICPA has asked Treasury and the IRS for guidance on the recently announced executive order that defers some employee payroll taxes that would be due between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31.
Final regs. issued on payments to charitable organizations
The IRS issued additional final regulations on payments made to charitable organizations in lieu of state and local tax credits.
Executive action delays workers’ payroll tax payments
President Donald Trump issued an presidential memorandum to defer the withholding, deposit, and payment of certain payroll taxes paid from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020.
IRS issues business interest expense limitation guidance
The IRS issued a package of related guidance on the business interest expense limitation enacted in the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and amended by the CARES Act.
2020 depreciation limits for cars and trucks are issued
The IRS issued the 2020 limits on depreciation deductions for cars and trucks first placed in service in 2020 and the income inclusion amounts for passenger automobiles first leased in 2020.
RIC shareholders can take Sec. 199A deduction for REIT dividends
The IRS issued final regulations allowing regulated investment companies (RICs) to report qualified real estate investment trust (REIT) dividends as Sec. 199A dividends to their shareholders.
Rollover relief for required minimum distributions
The IRS provides relief for taxpayers who had already taken required minimum distributions (RMDs) in 2020 before the CARES Act suspended the RMD requirement for 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on taxpayers and the stock market.
Rules proposed for direct primary care arrangements, health care sharing ministries
The IRS issued proposed regulations defining direct primary care arrangements with doctors and health care sharing ministries and how payments for them can qualify as Sec. 213 medical expenses.
Qualified opportunity zone rules are relaxed
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS further postponed the 180-day deadline to invest in a qualified opportunity fund from July 15, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020, extended other deadlines, and relaxed some qualified investment rules.
IRS permits remote signatures for plan loan consents
In another response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS is allowing retirement plan participants who want to take coronavirus-related distributions from their retirement plans to provide remote signatures, even for spousal consents.
E-filing of Form 1040-X coming this summer
The IRS announced that taxpayers will be able to electronically file Forms 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, later this summer.
Premium tax credit unaffected by personal exemption decrease to zero
The IRS issued long-promised proposed regulations explaining how taxpayers who may qualify for the Sec 36B premium tax credit are affected by the temporary reduction of the personal exemption deduction under Sec. 151 to zero.
HSA contribution limits increase for 2021
The IRS issued its annual inflation-adjusted contribution limits for contributions to health savings accounts permitted to participants in high-deductible health plans. Most of the amounts increased slightly over the 2020 amounts.
Proposed rules govern deductions and reporting for restitution
The IRS issued regulations explaining the allowance of deductions for certain fines and penalties under Sec. 162(f) as amended by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Taxpayers must act soon for direct deposit of stimulus payments
The IRS announced that taxpayers for whom the Service does not have direct deposit information should go to its “Get My Payment” website and enter that information by noon on Wednesday, May 13, so they can receive their stimulus payments electronically.
Relief for tax residency impacts of COVID-19 travel disruptions
Individuals and businesses can avoid having their prolonged stay in a country affect their tax residence if their cross-border travel was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, under limited relief the IRS announced in two revenue procedures and FAQs.
