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Weekly IRS Roundup July 31 – August 4, 2023

by | Aug 9, 2023 | ,

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of July 31, 2023 – August 4, 2023.

July 31, 2023: The IRS released Revenue Ruling 2023-14, holding that a cash-method taxpayer who receives cryptocurrency units as validation rewards for staking cryptocurrency native to a proof-of-stake blockchain must include the fair market value of the validation rewards in its gross income for the tax year in which the taxpayer gains dominion and control over the validation rewards.

July 31, 2023: The IRS released Tax Tip 2023-97, identifying tax considerations for couples who are separating or divorcing. These considerations include updating tax withholdings by completing a new Form W-4, recognizing alimony payments as income (or deducting) and excluding child support payments from income (or not deducting).

August 1, 2023: The IRS warned tax professionals to be on the lookout for phishing texts and emails and cloud-based attacks intended to steal taxpayer information.

August 2, 2023: The IRS announced that taxpayers will be able to submit all correspondence to the IRS and respond to IRS notices electronically. Further, taxpayers will be able to e-file 20 additional tax forms starting in 2024. By the 2025 filing season, an additional 150 non-tax forms will be available in digital, mobile-friendly formats, and the IRS will digitally process all paper-filed tax and information returns.

August 3, 2023: The IRS released Tax Tip 2023-98, explaining that in most cases, revenue officers will contact taxpayers through appointment letters (Letter 725-B) to schedule a meeting and generally will not make unannounced visits. IRS.gov will be updated to reflect the new policy. Unannounced visits may still be made to serve summonses and subpoenas and in cases involving the seizure of assets where such assets are at risk of being placed beyond the reach of the government.

August 3, 2023: The IRS released proposed regulations that would prevent employee benefit plans and issuers from using nonquantitative treatment limitations to place greater limits on access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits as compared to medical/surgical benefits. Written comments on the proposed regulations are due October 2, 2023.

August 3, 2023: The IRS released proposed regulations that would identify certain monetized installment sale transactions and substantially similar transactions as listed transactions that must be reported to the IRS.

August 3, 2023: The IRS issued Notice 2023-59, which provides the requirements for home energy audits for taxpayers who want to claim the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. The credit amount is equal to 30% of the total amount that taxpayers pay throughout the year for qualified energy efficiency improvements, residential energy property expenditures and home energy audits. The notice provides specific requirements for claiming the Home Energy Improvement Credit and details the process for conducting the home energy audit.

August 4, 2023: The IRS issued
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Weekly IRS Roundup May 8 – May 14, 2022

by | May 16, 2022 | ,

Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of May 8, 2022 – May 14, 2022. Additionally, for continuing updates on the tax impact of COVID-19, please visit our resource page here.

May 10, 2022: The IRS issued a news release, announcing that free face-to-face tax assistance will be provided at Taxpayer Assistance Centers around the country on May 14, 2022.

May 13, 2022: The IRS issued Notice 2022-27, extending (through December 31, 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.

May 13, 2022: 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.



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Weekly IRS Roundup March 20 – March 26, 2022

by | Mar 28, 2022 | , ,

Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of March 20, 2022 – March 26, 2022. Additionally, for continuing updates on the tax impact of COVID-19, please visit our resource page here.

March 21, 2022: The IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2022-07, addressing the disclosure of tax information pursuant to certain exceptions to the general non-disclosure rule of Internal Revenue Code (Code) Section 6103(a). The Revenue Ruling, which modifies and supersedes Revenue Ruling 2004-53, generally holds that individuals who lawfully obtain tax information under the disclosure exception in Section 6103(c) of the Code are subject to restrictions on redisclosure. However, individuals who obtain tax information under the exceptions in Section 6103(e) or 6013(k)(6) of the Code are not subject to restrictions on redisclosure. The ruling further holds that these results are not affected by whether the individuals are government employees.

March 21, 2022: The IRS issued Notice 2022-14, providing guidance on various interest rates relevant to employee benefit plans under the Code.

March 22, 2022: The IRS issued a news release, providing tips to taxpayers on how to avoid common tax return filing mistakes.

March 22, 2022: The IRS issued a news release, reminding taxpayers of the various electronic payment and deferred payment options available to those who owe taxes with the filing of their individual income tax returns.

March 23, 2022: The IRS issued a news release, providing an update to a Fact Sheet that contains answers to frequently asked questions regarding the tax treatment of 2020 unemployment compensation, taking into account relief provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).

March 23, 2022: The IRS issued a news release, setting forth common reasons why certain tax refunds may take longer than 21 days to be issued.

March 25, 2022: The IRS issued proposed regulations, setting forth an exception to the “unified plan rule” for multiple employer plans (MEPs) under Section 413(c) of the Code.

March 25, 2022: The IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2022-15, providing an update to the rules taxpayers can use when generating substitutes for Form 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return) and associated forms and schedules.

March 25, 2022: The IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2022-18, waiving the residence requirements needed to qualify for benefits under Section 911 of the Code for the 2021 taxable year, with respect to certain individual taxpayers who departed from Iraq, Burma, Chad, Afghanistan or Ethiopia in 2021.

March 25, 2022: The IRS issued a news release estimating that a total of nearly $1.5 billion worth of unclaimed tax refunds are available to approximately 1.5 million taxpayers who did not file individual income tax returns for the 2018 taxable year and urging those taxpayers to file such returns prior to the applicable deadlines in [...]

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Weekly IRS Roundup November 1 – November 5, 2021

by | Nov 8, 2021 | , ,

Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of November 1, 2021 – November 5, 2021. Additionally, for continuing updates on the tax impact of COVID-19, please visit our resource page here.

November 1, 2021: The IRS released a memorandum, providing guidance on the refund recoupment process for employees of Specialty Collection Offer in Compromise. Beginning with offers accepted on or after November 1, 2021, the offer in the compromise refund recoupment process will no longer be applicable for offsetting tax periods included on Form 656.

November 1, 2021: The IRS released a memorandum, extending certain temporary guidance related to taxpayer contact, initial contact and asset evaluations with respect to Internal Revenue Manual SBSE-05-0321-0019, Extension of Temporary Guidance for Field Collection and Specialty Collection Offers in Compromise Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Resumption of NFTL Procedures. The memorandum also extends the waiver that requires a field call prior to acceptance of certain Offers in Compromise in accordance with IRM 5.8.4.8(10) until January 31, 2022. The temporary guidance regarding Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) determinations and filings was not extended.

November 2, 2021: The IRS released the IRS Chief Counsel code and subject matter directory for November 2021.

November 3, 2021: The IRS published a news release, reminding taxpayers that a special tax provision will allow more Americans to easily deduct up to $600 in donations to qualifying charities on their 2021 federal income tax return. A temporary law change now permits them to claim a limited deduction on their 2021 federal income tax returns for cash contributions made to qualifying charitable organizations.

November 3, 2021: The IRS published FAQs concerning carried interest reporting details for partnerships. The purpose of the FAQs is to provide guidance relating to both pass-through entity filing and reporting requirements and owner taxpayer filing requirements in accordance with US Department of the Treasury (Treasury) regulations revised in T.D. 9945 (concerning guidance under Section 1061, which recharacterizes certain net long-term capital gains of a partner that holds one or more applicable partnership interests as short-term capital gains).

November 3, 2021: The IRS published a news release, announcing that victims of Hurricane Ida in parts of Connecticut now have until January 3, 2022, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

November 3, 2021: The IRS and Treasury published a notice and request for comments concerning third-party disclosure requirements in IRS regulations. Written comments are due on or before January 3, 2022.

November 5, 2021: The IRS published a practice unit concerning expense allocation and apportionment when calculating a foreign tax credit under Section 904. The practice unit was revised to correct an error and supersedes the August 29, 2016, practice unit with the same title.

November 5, 2021: The IRS and Treasury
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Weekly IRS Roundup June 21 – June 25, 2021

by | Jun 28, 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.



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Weekly IRS Roundup October 12 – October 16, 2020

by | Oct 19, 2020 | ,

Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 12, 2020 – October 16, 2020. Additionally, for continuing updates on the tax impact of COVID-19, please visit our resource page here.

October 13, 2020: The IRS published final regulations related to the absorption of consolidated net operating loss (CNOL) carryovers and carrybacks, as well as consolidated groups that include both life insurance companies and other companies.

October 14, 2020: The IRS released a draft of instructions for Form 5472 related to an information return of a 25% foreign-owned US corporation or a foreign corporation engaged in a US trade or business.

October 16, 2020: The IRS published Revenue Ruling 2020-22 updating the applicable federal rate (AFR) for November 2020.

October 16, 2020: The IRS published Notice 2020-47 updating the weighted average interest rate, the yield curve and segment rates used by certain benefit plans.

October 16, 2020: The IRS published Revenue Procedure 2020-46, which adds that a distribution to a state unclaimed property fund is a permissible reason to self-certify eligibility for a waiver to the 60-day rollover requirement for qualified plans and individual retirement arrangements.

October 16, 2020: The IRS published Revenue Procedure 2020-43 providing the maximum amount that may be made newly available for the plan year for an excepted benefit health reimbursement arrangement.

October 16, 2020: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2020-43, dated October 19, 2020, containing the following highlights: Notice 2020-70 (Administrative) and TD 9920 (Employment Tax).

October 16, 2020: The IRS released its weekly list of written determinations (e.g., Private Letter Rulings, Technical Advice Memorandums and Chief Counsel Advice).

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



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