IRS Practice & Procedure

TOPICS

October 26, 2016

Treasury Inspector General Says IRS Is Missing Billions in Backup Withholding

A report from the TIGTA found that potentially billions of dollars of revenue is being lost due to the Internal Revenue Service’s lax enforcement of the backup withholding rules.

October 25, 2016

IRS Issues 2017 Inflation Adjustments for Many Tax Provisions

The IRS issued its annual revenue procedure containing inflation-adjusted amounts for the 2017 tax year, affecting over 50 Code provisions, as well as the new tax rate tables for individuals and estates and trusts.

October 13, 2016

PTIN Class Action Lawsuit Affects All Tax Return Preparers

A class action lawsuit currently pending in a federal district court includes in its class of plaintiffs all tax return preparers who obtained or renewed a PTIN after Sept. 30, 2010.

October 1, 2016

IRS Provides Rules for Early Election of New Partnership Audit Procedures

The IRS issued rules regarding the time, manner, and form for partnerships to make the election to apply the recently enacted unified partnership audit rules for certain years before Jan. 1, 2018.

October 1, 2016

PATH Act Changes to ITIN Renewals Explained

Individuals whose ITINs will expire this year under new Code provisions may renew them starting in October.

October 1, 2016

Foreign Information Returns, Income Tax Returns, and Civil Penalties

To avoid harsh penalties, a taxpayer should timely file all foreign information returns, even if that taxpayer cannot timely file its income
tax return.

October 1, 2016

IRS Revises Forms 1042-S and W-8BEN-E for 2016

The IRS issued 2016 versions of Form 1042-S, Foreign Person’s U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding, and Form W-8BEN-E, Certificate of Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Entities).

October 1, 2016

Will Your Next Tax Appeal Be a Videoconference?

Appeals is considering new options for delivering timely access to taxpayers.

October 1, 2016

Will “A Better Way” for a Confident America Lead to Tax Reform?

House Republicans issued a 35-page tax plan “Blueprint” promising to “deliver a better
way on tax reform.”

September 26, 2016

Private Collection Agencies to Start Collecting Tax Debts in the Spring

Under legislation enacted last year, the IRS is required to use private debt collection agencies to collect outstanding inactive tax liabilities.

September 23, 2016

New IRS e-Services Authentication Process Requires Re-Registration

The IRS announced that beginning in late October all e-services users will be subject to a strengthened identity protection process, which, for existing users, requires re-registering.

September 22, 2016

Tax Scammers Send Fake CP2000s, IRS Warns

The IRS issued an alert to taxpayers not to respond to the latest tax fraud scheme, an emailed CP2000 notice claiming to be related to an Affordable Care Act tax underpayment.

September 2, 2016

New Cyberattacks Threaten Tax Professionals

A new wave of cyberattacks could allow criminals to take control of tax practitioners’ computers and file fraudulent returns.

September 1, 2016

Limitation Period Extended Due to Preparer Fraud

Tax Court determined extended statute-of-limitation period applied to taxpayers’ returns because the preparer had prepared returns falsely or fraudulently to evade tax.

August 31, 2016

IRS Fails to Notify Victims and Social Security Administration of Identity Theft Cases

A report from the TIGTA found that the IRS had not notified victims or the Social Security Administration of many cases it detected of employment-related identity theft.

August 26, 2016

New Procedures for Amending Returns to Claim PATH Act Depreciation Changes

To help taxpayers take advantage of retroactive changes enacted late last year affecting Sec. 179 property and bonus depreciation, the IRS issued rules for filing returns to take advantage of these deductions.

August 25, 2016

Due-Diligence Hazards for Tax Practitioners: The List Keeps Growing

The director of the IRS’ Office of Professional Responsibility and veteran practitioners recently gave advice on how to steer clear of the dangers.

August 19, 2016

New User Fees Proposed for IRS Installment Agreements

The IRS is proposing to charge a variety of fees, based on whether the taxpayer uses the online application process and/or pays by direct debit.

August 18, 2016

Limitation Period Not Suspended Where Taxpayer Claims He Filed Hearing Request Late

The Tax Court rejected a taxpayer’s claim that, because he requested a collection due process hearing late, the 10-year collection period had expired.

August 4, 2016

IRS Issues Guidance on PATH Act ITIN Renewals

Individuals whose individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) will expire this year under new Code provisions may renew them starting in October.