Child Tax Credit Update Portal Archives

Weekly IRS Roundup November 22 – November 26, 2021

Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of November 22, 2021 – November 26, 2021. Additionally, for continuing updates on the tax impact of COVID-19, please visit our resource page here.

November 22, 2021: The IRS released a memorandum concerning a temporary deviation from the handwritten signature requirement for certain tax forms. To alleviate COVID-19 concerns while promoting timely filing, the IRS will allow taxpayers and representatives to use electronic or digital signatures when signing listed forms that currently require a handwritten signature. No specific technology is required to create the signature. The IRS has listed the eligible forms, which must be postmarked on August 28, 2020, or later.

November 22, 2021: The IRS released a memorandum extending through October 31, 2023, temporary deviations that allow IRS employees to: (1) accept images of signatures and digital signatures on documents related to the determination or collection of tax liability and (2) send or receive documents to or from taxpayers using emails with encrypted attachments when no other approved electronic alternative is available.

November 22, 2021: The IRS released a memorandum providing guidance concerning employee retention credits and the deferral of paying social security taxes in 2020.

November 23, 2021: The IRS published a news release announcing the launch of a new Spanish-language version of the Child Tax Credit Update Portal (CTC-UP). Families who are already receiving monthly payments use the CTC-UP to update their accounts. Now, all the features that have only been available in English are also available in Spanish.

November 26, 2021: The IRS published a notice and request for comments on Form 944, Employer’s Annual Employment Tax Return, and Form 944-X, Adjusted Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return or Claim for Refund, which are used in part to ensure the smallest non-agricultural and non-household employers are paying the correct amount of social security tax, Medicare tax and withheld federal income tax. Comments are due on or before January 25, 2022.

November 26, 2021: The IRS published a notice and request for comments concerning TD 8857 (addressing the determination of underwriting income by non-life insurance companies), which allows a non-life insurance company to increase unpaid losses on a yearly basis by the amount of estimated salvage recoverable if the company discloses this to the state insurance regulatory authority. Comments are due on or before January 28, 2022.

November 26, 2021: The IRS released its weekly list of written determinations (e.g., Private Letter Rulings, Technical Advice Memorandums and Chief Counsel Advice).

Special thanks to Robbie Alipour in our Chicago office for this week’s roundup.

Weekly IRS Roundup June 21 – June 25, 2021

Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of June 21, 2021 – June 25, 2021. Additionally, for continuing updates on the tax impact of COVID-19, please visit our resource page here.

June 22, 2021: The IRS issued a news release announcing the launch of two online tools regarding the Child Tax Credit, as expanded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: The Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant, which assists families in determining whether they are eligible for advance payments of the credit, and the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, which assists families in monitoring their credit payments.

June 23, 2021: The IRS issued a news release announcing the release of the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee’s (ETAAC) annual report to Congress, which focuses on the prevention of identity theft and refund fraud.

June 23, 2021: The IRS issued a news release announcing that, in partnership with local civic organizations, special events will be held in 12 cities in late June and early July to assist eligible families in registering for advance payments of the Child Tax Credit.

June 24, 2021: The IRS issued Notice 2021-40, extending, through June 30, 2022, earlier relief that temporarily removed the requirement that certain elections and consents under pension and employee benefit plans be made in the physical presence of a plan representative or notary public.

June 24, 2021: The IRS issued a news release with more information regarding the Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant and urging families to use the tool to determine whether they qualify for advance payments of the Child Tax Credit.

June 24, 2021: The IRS issued a news release announcing the release of the Data Book, which details its activities during Fiscal Year 2020, particularly its activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 25, 2021: The IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2021-22, setting forth requirements for 2021 regarding the use of substitutes for official IRS forms with respect to certain employment tax returns and associated schedules.

June 25, 2021: The IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2021-27, setting forth requirements for 2021 regarding the use of substitutes for official IRS forms with respect to certain information returns.

June 25, 2021: The IRS released its weekly list of written determinations (e.g., Private Letter Rulings, Technical Advice Memorandums and Chief Counsel Advice).

Special thanks to Le Chen in our Washington, DC, office for this week’s roundup.