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IRS announces extension of Free File program through 2029

May 22, 2024

The Internal Revenue Service announced today an extension of the current Free File program through 2029 following an agreement that will continue to make the free private-sector tax software available to taxpayers.

  • federal tax

Getting ready for new digital asset reporting regs

May 17, 2024

The Internal Revenue Service is currently drafting proposed regulations on digital asset reporting requirements, but their final direction remains uncertain.

  • technology and cybersecurity
  • federal tax

Gimme (tax) shelter: The unlimited annuity shielding ultrawealthy clients

May 16, 2024

The tax benefits of private placement variable annuities for wealthy clients are drawing scrutiny and calls for a federal crackdown — but they're not going away anytime soon.

  • personal financial planning
  • state tax
  • federal tax

Regulations finalize PTIN fees for tax return preparers

May 14, 2024

The IRS issued final regulations (T.D. 9997) on Tuesday that finalize the reduction of the fees for the application and renewal of preparer tax identification numbers (PTINs) to an $11 user fee plus an $8.75 third-party contractor fee, for a total annual fee of $19.75. That fee amount has been in place since Oct. 19, 2023.

  • career resources
  • state tax
  • federal tax

Practitioner service improvements part of IRS strategic operating plan

May 03, 2024

Although the IRS says it has made great strides in customer service to taxpayers over the past year, "We have a lot more work to do," Commissioner Danny Werfel said Thursday.

  • practice management
  • federal tax

IRS recommends safeguarding information in case of natural disasters

May 02, 2024

The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that May kicks off the season of disaster preparation with National Wildfire Awareness Month and National Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 5-11.

  • personal financial planning
  • federal tax

Automatic accounting method changes list updated by IRS

April 30, 2024

In Rev. Proc. 2024-23, the IRS on Tuesday provided a comprehensive, updated list of changes in tax accounting methods to which the automatic change procedures in Rev. Proc. 2015-13, as subsequently modified, apply.

  • federal tax

Clients' strangest ideas about taxes

April 24, 2024

Every tax season brings its own craziness — in no small part because of clients' notions about taxes.

  • federal tax

Draft of Form 1099-DA for reporting digital asset transactions released

April 23, 2024

The IRS, in its release of the draft of the Form 1099-DA for brokers to report digital asset transactions, includes the broad definition of "broker" used in proposed regulations that drew industry ire when issued in 2023.

  • federal tax

IRS has mixed results from ‘ghost employer’ enforcement efforts

April 22, 2024

The IRS's first attempts to rein in abuse by "ghost employers" — those who pay their workers but do not pay employment tax and federal payroll income tax withholding — had some success, and the Service should ramp up its pursuit, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) said in a recent report. TIGTA says the IRS has difficulty spotting ghost employers because it will have no record of them if they never file returns.

  • federal tax

Tap overlooked tax breaks to help small business owners

April 22, 2024

Financial advisors and tax professionals with small business owner clients should ensure they have considered every possible break that could help the bottom line, according to one expert.

  • practice management
  • federal tax

IRS targets 'ghost employers'

April 19, 2024

The Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigators have been on the lookout for tax evasion by so-called "ghost employers" who don't pay employment taxes, and over 30 cases have been prosecuted in recent years, but the problem is far larger, according to a new report.

  • federal tax

IRS delivers strong 2024 tax filing season; expands services for millions of people on phones, in-person and online with expanded funding

April 15, 2024

With the April tax filing deadline here, the Internal Revenue Service highlighted a variety of improvements that dramatically expanded service for millions of taxpayers during the 2024 filing season.

  • federal tax

Tax season nears its end, but uncertainties linger

April 11, 2024

The 2024 filing season, which began with a hint of uncertainty, has progressed into one of the smoothest in recent memory — but the uncertainty still exists, fueled by court decisions and pending legislation.

  • state tax
  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Tax Credit Transfers: The New Face of Renewable Energy Tax Equity

March 11, 2024

The renewable energy finance landscape has undergone a transformative shift with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Building on this legislation, IRS proposed guidance in June 2023 helped to establish the tax credit transfer market, thereby allowing corporate taxpayers to play a pivotal role in the clean energy revolution. In this article, we explore the historical context of Investment Tax Credits (ITC) and Production Tax Credits (PTC), traditional tax equity financing structures, and the new opportunity presented by tax credit transferability for small- and medium-sized corporations.

  • federal tax

IRS renews focus on targeting high-income nonfilers

February 29, 2024

Over 125,000 high-income people who have not filed federal tax returns since 2017 will be mailed letters advising that they must file returns or explain why they don't need to file a return, the IRS said Thursday.

  • federal tax

IRS: Connecticut taxpayers impacted by storms qualify for tax relief; various deadlines postponed to June 17

January 23, 2024

New London county has received a FEMA disaster emergency declaration which allows for the postponement of certain due dates for specific tax filings and tax payments. It also allows for the deduction of casualty losses attributable to emergency declaration within the declared area.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

Auditor options when finding ineligible ERC claims

January 10, 2024

An employee retention credit (ERC) grant is a fully refundable payroll tax credit that eligible businesses and tax-exempt organizations can claim for qualified wages paid to their employees. This credit was designed to help businesses retain their employees during periods of economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible employers must meet certain criteria, such as experiencing a significant decline in gross receipts or being fully or partially shut down by a government order. The credit is claimed by amending payroll tax returns.

  • accounting and auditing
  • federal tax

IRS: Taxpayers impacted by the terrorist attacks in Israel qualify for tax relief; Oct. 16 filing deadline, other dates postponed to Oct. 7, 2024

October 14, 2023

The Internal Revenue Service announced tax relief for individuals and businesses affected by the terrorist attacks in the State of Israel. These taxpayers now have until Oct. 7, 2024, to file various federal returns, make tax payments and perform other time-sensitive tax-related actions. In Notice 2023-71PDF, the IRS provided relief to certain taxpayers who, due to the terrorist attacks, may be unable to meet a tax-filing or tax-payment obligation, or may be unable to perform other time-sensitive tax-related actions. The IRS will continue to monitor events and may provide additional relief.

  • advocacy - federal
  • federal tax

IRS launches paperless processing initiative

August 01, 2023

Taxpayers will have the option to go paperless for IRS correspondence by 2024 filing season, IRS to achieve paperless processing for all tax returns by filing season 2025.

  • federal tax