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.
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TOPICS
IRS Practice & Procedure
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.
National taxpayer advocate directs IRS to implement scanning technology
Erin Collins tells the Internal Revenue Service to implement common scanning technologies to help reduce a backlog of 15 million returns.
Various exempt organization notices paused
Citing processing delays, the IRS suspends 10 late-filing notices to tax-exempt organizations.
TIGTA: IRS inefficiencies worsened backlog
An audit by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration recommends improvements in staff deployment, equipment and procedures.
Individual taxpayers must answer cryptoasset question, IRS notes
Front and center on Form 1040 is whether taxpayers had a virtual currency transaction.
Commissioner to Congress: IRS will clear backlog by year’s end
Testifying before a House subcommittee, Charles Rettig describes progress in meeting lingering pandemic challenges.
TIGTA: IRS beset by processing backlogs, hiring lags in 2021
A review by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration assessed the IRS’s 2021 performance, customer service issues and administration of tax law changes.
Congress to hear from IRS commissioner on filing season
AICPA President and CEO Barry Melancon welcomes Charles Rettig’s testimony, urges additional taxpayer relief.
IRS direct-hiring 5,000 in service centers
The IRS will hold in-person and virtual “hiring events” this month to begin filling positions in three service centers.
New, lower Form 1099-K threshold prompts cautions, criticisms
The new, lower $600 reporting threshold for reporting credit card and cash payment app transactions will likely lead to problems for taxpayers and payment settlement entities, the Taxpayer Advocate Service warns.
IRS to fast-track 10,000 hirings to address backlog
Direct-hire authority will allow the Internal Revenue Service to more quickly reinforce its return processing and account management functions.
National taxpayer advocate to CPAs: Tell us where the challenges are
CPAs and other tax professionals can help the Taxpayer Advocate Service identify the most acute problems within the IRS.
Analyzing the difference between tax payments and deposits
This item summarizes the deposit and payment procedures taxpayers can use to stop interest from accruing on the underlying tax and penalties while they dispute the tax lability with the IRS or in court.
Lien is invalid because IRS did not verify notices of deficiency
Lien held invalid because settlement officer did not properly verify that notices of deficiency had been issued to taxpayer and sent to his last known address.
IRS offers alternative to facial recognition
A short-term option involves a virtual interview with IRS personnel to authenticate taxpayers’ and practitioners’ identities for online services.
AICPA testifies to Congress on IRS service problems
In a hearing, the Senate Finance Committee heard recommendations from the AICPA’s Jan Lewis and National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins.
Tax pros are subject of ‘spearphishing’ attacks
Bogus emails may impersonate the IRS or tax software providers. Here’s what to watch out for.
IRS offers further K-2/K-3 relief
The new schedules for returns of passthrough entities with international items have been greeted with antipathy by practitioners. The IRS provided relief Wednesday for eligible entities for tax year 2021.
Revised voluntary disclosure form highlights cryptoassets
Full disclosure of violations, plus payment of taxes, penalties and interest may allow approved taxpayers to avoid criminal prosecution. The reporting form contains a new reporting section and instructions on virtual currency.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
2026 tax software survey
CPAs rate their return preparation software’s performance during this year’s tax season.
