IRS Practice & Procedure

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June 5, 2017

Federal court strikes down PTIN fees, upholds PTINs

The D.C. District Court held that the IRS has the authority to require preparers to use preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs) but that it cannot charge fees for issuing PTINs.

June 1, 2017

IRS to accept only electronic payments for ruling requests

The IRS announced that it will no longer accept checks in payment for ruling requests beginning June 15.

June 1, 2017

Office of Professional Responsibility cannot investigate disbarred tax preparer

The IRS OPR has no authority or jurisdiction over a disbarred attorney/tax preparer or his tax preparation practice and cannot regulate his provision of tax advice, a federal district court in Nevada has held.

June 1, 2017

Excise tax recent developments: Failure to maintain proper documentation leads to taxpayer losses

Taxpayers engaging in transactions involving federal excise taxes should be mindful of the documentation requirements.

June 1, 2017

IRS reports sharp drop in enforcement activity in 2016

The IRS reported several large drops in its enforcement activities in fiscal year 2016, compared to the prior year.

June 1, 2017

The trust fund recovery penalty and LLCs

A responsible person may be subject to the TFRP if it can be shown he or she willfully failed to pay the trust fund taxes due.

June 1, 2017

IRS issues rules making pilot SB/SE Fast Track Settlement program permanent

The IRS has formally established the Small Business/Self Employed Fast Track Settlement program and modified its rules.

May 25, 2017

Infrastructure spending and excise tax: It’s about to get a lot more complicated

This article discusses how excise tax changes may affect your business and what you can do to ensure tax compliance and avoid potential penalties.

May 24, 2017

President’s budget includes tax proposals and regulation of return preparers

President Donald Trump’s proposed FY 2018 budget includes a new proposal to give the IRS authority to regulate paid tax return preparers.

May 11, 2017

IRS notice response tips everyone should know

This column discusses IRS notices and how taxpayers should react to them.

May 10, 2017

Leveraged spinoffs removed from IRS no-ruling list

The IRS says it will again issue rulings on corporate leveraged spinoff transactions.

May 4, 2017

New IRS rules, no increased funding in appropriations bill

The 2017 appropriations bill passed by Congress includes $11.2 billion for IRS operations and enforcement. But it also includes specific directives prohibiting certain IRS conduct.

May 3, 2017

Details of FAFSA data breach revealed in House testimony

The details of a recent data breach affecting 100,000 taxpayers were revealed in testimony before the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee in Washington.

May 1, 2017

Calendar-year C corporations can get 6-month filing extensions

The IRS is allowing calendar-year C corporations
a six-month filing extension, instead of the five-month extension specified in the Code.

May 1, 2017

Taxpayer’s arguments for CDP review of penalty tank on appeal

A taxpayer was not entitled to challenge a penalty, which was already disputed in an administrative proceeding at the IRS Appeals office, in a CDP hearing.

May 1, 2017

IRS targets ‘micro-captive transactions’ as transactions of interest

Treasury and the IRS continue their scrutiny of captive insurance transactions that they deem to be abusive.

May 1, 2017

2017’s Dirty Dozen tax scams

The IRS released its annual list of the top 12 scams.

May 1, 2017

IRS explains e-Services account suspensions/re-registration procedures

The IRS suspended the e-Services accounts of users who failed to verify their identities.

April 26, 2017

Trump’s tax reform priorities unveiled

Key features include a large reduction in the corporate tax rate, fewer and lower tax brackets for individuals, and a repeal of the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax.

April 24, 2017

Treasury ordered to review 2016 tax regulations

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Treasury Department to review “significant” regulations that were issued in 2016 and 2017 to determine if the regulations cost too much, are too complex, or exceed the IRS’s statutory authority.