Tax equity research lacks demographic data, GAO reports
The US Government Accountability Office found disparities in the distribution of some tax items, but notes impediments to knowing taxpayers’ race, ethnicity, and sex.
IRS Practice & Procedure
House subcommittee queries audit rates, IRS resources
Officials from the IRS and the US Government Accountability Office address legislators’ questions on taxpayer service and enforcement across income levels.
IRS audit rates decreased most for wealthy, GAO finds
In a study, the US Government Accountability Office finds that the Internal Revenue Service’s individual tax audit rates decreased by 72% during 2010–2019, and by a greater percentage for higher-income taxpayers than for lower-income ones.
IRS blames old tech in destruction of information returns
The IRS responds to a report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration that pointed to the March 2021 incident as one example demonstrating a need for the Service to increase e-filing options.
TIGTA: IRS should work to expand e-filing
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration finds a lack of coordinated effort across the IRS to fulfill opportunities for wider electronic return filing.
Procedures for Puerto Rico residents to claim a 2021 child tax credit
The IRS provides two simplified filing methods for bona fide residents of Puerto Rico to claim the child tax credit.
Staffing shortages, backlog hampered IRS in 2022 filing season, TIGTA says
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issues a preliminary assessment of the IRS’s performance in the recently concluded period for income tax filings.
Invitation issued for IRS Priority Guidance Plan recommendations
The IRS opened its annual to-do list for drafting regulations and other formal guidance to public suggestions of priority tax issues.
IRS proposes to amend estate and gift tax basic exclusion regs.
Exceptions to the special rule allowing the temporarily higher basic exclusion amount to apply to gifts credited against estate tax.
Supreme Court holds Tax Court not bound by petition filing deadline
The 30-day limit under Sec. 6330(d) for petitioning the Tax Court to review an IRS determination is nonjurisdictional and can be equitably tolled, the Court holds in the case of a taxpayer whose petition was one day late.
IRS funding, technology assessed in House hearing
IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins testify to the House Oversight and Reform Committee.
Treasury equity action plan reports progress
The tax implications of the Biden administration’s policy of advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities across the government are outlined.
Superfund taxpayers granted failure-to-deposit penalty relief
The IRS also assures payers of the reinstituted excise taxes that they will not lose a deposit safe harbor in early 2023.
Acute IRS challenges had chronic origins, GAO reports
The US Government Accountability Office draws lessons for the IRS in handling taxpayer return errors, processing those returns more timely and serving taxpayers’ needs.
NTA calls for more time to contest denial of refund or credit claim
National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins recommended a temporary postponement of the two-year time limit for taxpayers to file a lawsuit.
IRS commissioner to senators: ‘Our efforts are working’
Charles Rettig briefs members of the Senate Finance Committee on tax filing season and the road ahead.
IRS eases application process for US residency certification
New procedures will facilitate residency certification where the Internal Revenue Service has not yet processed the applicant’s tax return.
Tips for working effectively with the IRS
Practitioners can take certain steps to overcome some of the challenges wrought by the IRS’s struggles in providing taxpayer services.
IRS to permit reliance on frequently asked questions
The IRS announced changes that allow taxpayers to argue reliance on Service-issued FAQs in seeking relief from penalties that provide a reasonable-cause exception.
Accountant’s errors are not reasonable cause for late filing
An accountant’s failure to timely e-file an extension and reliance on his erroneous advice regarding late-filing penalties were not reasonable cause for the late filing of taxpayers’ tax return.
