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Weekly IRS Roundup October 23 – October 27, 2023

by | Oct 30, 2023 | ,

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 23, 2023 – October 27, 2023.

October 23, 2023: The IRS is recruiting volunteers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. VITA and TCE participants prepare millions of tax returns each year for low- to moderate-income taxpayers at no cost. No experience is necessary to volunteer. Volunteers will have the option to participate both in-person and via virtual sites. To learn more about becoming a VITA or TCE volunteer, visit IRS Tax Volunteers.

October 23, 2023: The IRS warned taxpayers to be wary of criminals falsely posing as legitimate charities to solicit donations. Donors can use the Tax-Exempt Organization Search tool on IRS.gov to find or verify legitimate charities.

October 23, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-43, which includes the following:

  • Final regulations and proposed regulations that reduce the user fee to apply for or renew a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) from $21 to $11 (plus an amount payable directly to a third-party contractor).
  • Revenue Procedure 2023-28 provides guidelines for the development, printing and approval of 2023 substitute tax forms.
  • Proposed regulations that would provide guidance on §§ 30D(g) and 25E(f), including guidance involving:
    • Elections to transfer new and previously owned clean vehicle credits
    • Dealer qualifications for becoming an eligible entity that can receive advance payments of new and previously owned clean vehicle credits
    • Credit recapture.
  • Revenue Procedure 2023-33 sets forth the procedures for transferring new and previously owned clean vehicle credits from a taxpayer to an eligible entity under §§ 30D(g) and 25E(f), including procedures for dealer registration with the IRS, procedures for the suspension and revocation of said registration and the establishment of an advance payments program to registered dealers. This revenue procedure also provides guidance on the submission of seller reports and reports by qualified manufacturers.

October 24, 2023: The IRS reminded tax return preparers to renew their PTINs ahead of the upcoming tax filing season. Information to begin the online renewal process can be accessed here. Failure to have and to use a valid PTIN may result in penalties.

October 25, 2023: The IRS published Tax Tip 2023-118, which notes that tax professionals can use Tax Pro Accounts to send powers of attorney and tax information authorization requests directly to a client’s individual IRS Online Account.

October 25, 2023: The deadline to comment on proposed regulations involving information reporting, backup withholding and the determination of amount realized and basis for digital assets sales was extended from October 30, 2023, to November 13, 2023.

October 26, 2023: The IRS encouraged employers to electronically [...]

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IRS Announces New Compliance Initiatives to Collect More Corporate Tax Using Inflation Reduction Act Funds

by , and | Oct 24, 2023 | ,

On October 20, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new initiatives “to ensure large corporations pay taxes owed.” These initiatives leverage the substantial additional congressional funding that was given to the IRS thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). (We previously reported on how IRS enforcement is impacted by IRA funding here.) The announcement explains:

The IRS is working to ensure large corporate and high-income individual filers pay the taxes they owe. Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act, more than a decade of budget cuts prevented the IRS from keeping pace with the increasingly complicated set of tools that the wealthiest taxpayers use to hide their income and evade paying their share. The IRS is now taking swift and aggressive action to close this gap.

The announcement also outlines three new initiatives aimed at collecting tax revenue from large corporations:

1. The large foreign-owned corporations transfer pricing initiative. The IRS will focus its attention on US subsidiaries of foreign companies that distribute goods in the United States. Based on data likely received through the now retired Inbound Distributor Campaign, the IRS believes that some of these foreign companies “report losses or exceedingly low margins year after year through the improper use of transfer pricing to avoid reporting an appropriate amount of U.S. profits.” To jump start its initiative, the IRS will be notifying 150 subsidiaries of large foreign corporations “to reiterate their U.S. tax obligations and incentivize self-correction.” These “soft letters” can be a prelude to an audit.

2. The IRS will expand its Large Corporate Compliance (LCC) program. We previously reported on the LCC program, which focuses on noncompliance by using data analytics to identify large corporate taxpayers for audit. With an increased number of staff as a result of IRA funding, the IRS will commence examination of an additional 60 corporations that were selected using a combination of artificial intelligence and subject matter expertise. Key selection metrics will include factors from the various active compliance campaigns.

3. Cracking down on the abuse of former Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 199 domestic production activity deduction. The IRS has been battling taxpayers’ IRC Section 199 deductions since its promulgation. We have reported extensively on this topic over the years. The battle between the IRS and taxpayers has heated up in the wake of the repeal of IRC Section 199, which precipitated taxpayers filing billions of dollars of refund claims. The recent $1.8 billion taxpayer loss in Bats Global Market Holdings, Inc., No. 22-9002 (10th Cir. July 12, 2023), aff’g 158 T.C. No. 5 (2022), has clearly emboldened the IRS to intensify its existing Section 199 audit campaign to address noncompliance and review high-risk claims.

In the announcement, the IRS also reported that it has been pursuing high income, high-wealth individuals who have either not filed their taxes or failed to pay recognized tax debt. The IRS is focused on taxpayers with more [...]

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Weekly IRS Roundup October 16 – October 20, 2023

by | Oct 23, 2023 | , ,

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 16, 2023 – October 20, 2023.

October 16, 2023: The IRS published Revenue Ruling 2023-20, which provides the November 2023 applicable federal rates.

October 16, 2023: The IRS announced that the deadline for 2022 income tax returns and payments for most California taxpayers has been postponed again until November 16, 2023. Because of natural disasters last winter, spring due dates were previously postponed to October 16, 2023. The list of localities eligible for the extension are available here.

October 16, 2023: Tax professionals can now access 18 self-study seminars that satisfy continuing education requirements for the federal tax law and ethics categories. The seminars can be accessed at Nationwide Tax Forums Online for a fee of $29 per seminar.

October 16, 2023: The IRS announced that it recently awarded $51 million in Tax Counseling for the Elderly and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grants to organizations that provide free federal tax return preparation services.

October 16, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-42, which includes the following:

  • Notice 2023-65 provides guidance on the energy efficient home credit under Internal Revenue Code (Code) § 45L. It addresses who is eligible for the credit, how to determine the applicable amount of the credit, energy saving requirements, certification requirements and substantiation requirements.
  • Notice 2023-67 gives farmers and ranchers who were impacted by drought an extra year to replace livestock from forced sales and defer gains under Code § 1033(e).
  • Notice 2023-69 provides that any cash donations employers make to charitable organizations that provide relief to victims of the wildfires in Hawaii in exchange for sick, vacation, or personal leave that their employees forgo will not be treated as compensation. The notice also provides that these employees will not be treated as receiving the value of the leave as income and cannot claim a deduction for the leave that they donated to their employer. Employers may deduct these cash payments as a business expense or a charitable contribution deduction if the employer otherwise meets the respective requirements of the applicable sections of the Code.
  • Revenue Procedure 2023-35 provides that the IRS will not treat a redemption of a share in any money market fund as part of a wash sale under Code 1091.
  • Proposed regulations that provide guidance on how manufacturers, producers and importers of designated drugs will report excise tax liability under § 5000D. The proposed regulations also would except such excise tax from semimonthly deposit requirements.

October 18, 2023: The IRS released Notice 2023-70, which provides the adjusted applicable dollar amount to be multiplied by the average number of covered lives for purposes of calculating the fee imposed by §§ 4375 and [...]

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Weekly IRS Roundup October 9 – October 13, 2023

by | Oct 19, 2023 | ,

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 9, 2023 – October 13, 2023.

October 10, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-41, which includes the following:

  • Revenue Ruling 2023-19 sets forth updated terminal charge and Standard Industry Fare Level formula mileage rates for valuing noncommercial flights on employer-provided aircrafts for purposes of taxing fringe benefits under Treasury Regulation § 1.61-21(g).
  • Notice 2023-68 provides the special per diem rates for purposes of substantiating ordinary and necessary business expenses relating to (1) meal and incidental expenses within the transportation industry, (2) incidental expenses only and (3) allowances under the high-low substantiation method.
  • Revenue Procedure 2023-32 publishes the amount of unused housing credit carryovers allocated to qualified states under Code Section 42(h)(3)(D) for calendar year 2023.
  • Announcement 2023-29 revokes tax-exempt status from certain organizations.

October 10, 2023: The IRS reminded taxpayers filing on extension to gather all records and copies of missing documents before they prepare their returns on their own or visit a tax preparer.

October 12, 2023: The IRS released new tax gap projections for tax years 2020 and 2021. The projections estimate an increase in the gross tax gap to $688 billion in tax year 2021, which reflects a rise of more than $192 billion from prior estimates for tax years 2014 through 2016 and a rise of $138 billion from the revised projections for tax years 2017 through 2019.

October 13, 2023: The IRS released Notice 2023-71, extending all tax filing and payment deadlines from October 7, 2023, until October 7, 2024, for taxpayers affected by the recent terrorist attacks in Israel. The relief applies to:

  • Any individual whose principal residence or business entity is located in Israel, the West Bank or Gaza
  • Any sole proprietor whose principal place of business is located in Israel, the West Bank or Gaza
  • Any individual, business, sole proprietor, estate or trust whose books, records or tax preparer is located in Israel, the West Bank or Gaza
  • Any individual who was killed, injured or taken hostage during the terrorist attacks
  • Any individual affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization and is assisting in Israel, the West Bank or Gaza (such as a relief worker)

October 13, 2023: The IRS released its weekly list of written determinations (e.g., Private Letter Rulings, Technical Advice Memorandums and Chief Counsel Advice).



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Weekly IRS Roundup October 2 – October 6, 2023

by | Oct 16, 2023 | ,

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 2, 2023 – October 6, 2023.

October 2, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-40, which includes the following:

  • Revenue Ruling 2023-18 provides the October 2023 applicable federal rates.
  • Notice 2023-64 provides interim guidance on the new corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) and indicates that proposed regulations are forthcoming. The notice describes rules for:
    • Determining a taxpayer’s applicable financial statement and adjusted financial statement income (AFSI), including rules applicable to tax consolidated groups and certain foreign corporations
    • AFSI adjustments for the depreciation of Section 168 property, the amortization of qualified wireless spectrum, the treatment of certain taxes and to prevent certain duplications and omissions
    • Determining the applicable corporation status, the CAMT foreign tax credit and financial statement net operating losses.
  • Notice 2023-66 updates the corporate bond monthly yield curve, the corresponding spot segment rates for September 2023 used under § 417(e)(3)(D), the 24-month average segment rates for September 2023 and the 30-year Treasury rates, as reflected by the application of § 430(h)(2)(C)(iv).
  • Revenue Procedure 2023-30 provides specifications for the private printing of red ink substitutes for the 2023 revisions of certain information returns.
  • Revenue Procedure 2023-31 refers filers to applicable publications, forms, instructions or other guidance, including postings on IRS.gov, for procedures related to seeking a hardship waiver or administrative exemption from requirements to file Forms 8955-SSA and 5500-EZ electronically.

October 3, 2023: A public meeting of the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee will be held on November 15, 2023.

October 5, 2023: The IRS warned high-income taxpayers to avoid promotions involving inflated deductions for art donations. The IRS indicated that schemes involving abusive art donations are on its radar and that multiple investigations are underway.

October 6, 2023: The IRS released proposed regulations addressing so-called “Killer B” transactions. These transactions, at a high level, are structured to repatriate foreign subsidiary earnings through triangular reorganizations. The proposed regulations would formalize and modify guidance set forth in Notices 2014-32 and 2016-73.

October 6, 2023: The IRS issued proposed regulations, Revenue Procedure 2023-33 and frequently asked questions on the transfer of new and previously owned clean vehicle credits from a taxpayer to an eligible entity for vehicles placed in service after December 31, 2023. This guidance addresses how taxpayers can elect to transfer new and previously owned clean vehicle credits to dealers who are eligible to receive advance payments of either credit, how dealers can become eligible entities to receive advance payments of new or previously owned clean vehicle credits and how to recapture the credit.

October 6, 2023: The IRS released its weekly list of written determinations (e.g., Private Letter Rulings, Technical Advice Memorandums and Chief Counsel Advice).



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IRS Strengthens Its Large Partnership Audit Teams

by | Sep 26, 2023 | ,

Back in October 2021, the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Large Business and International (LB&I) division announced the Large Partnership Compliance (LPC) program. This new audit program adopted features of the Large Corporate Compliance (LCC) program, such as its audit selection method. Similar to the LCC’s audit selection process, the LPC’s audit selection process has two general steps. The first step subjects large partnership returns to a basic automated review of certain key threshold criteria (e.g., gross assets and gross receipts). The second step further refines the pool through data analytics and artificial intelligence tools, which have been recently enhanced by enforcement funds from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. LB&I personnel, specifically those in the Pass-Through Entity office, review the preliminary audit pool and make the final call for selection.

Accompanying LPC technological improvements in the audit selection process, the LB&I announced a new pass-through entity work unit: “The new work unit will be housed in the IRS Large Business and International (LB&I) division” and “will leverage Inflation Reduction Act funding to disrupt efforts by certain large partnerships to use pass-throughs to intentionally shield income to avoid paying the taxes they owe.” (See IR-2023-176 (September 20, 2023).) New hires in this unit will focus on those with financial services experience. (See IR-2023-172 (September 15, 2023) (reporting plans to hire 3,700 agents “well versed in the financial services industry”).) This announcement came on the heels of an earlier announcement that by the end of September 2023, the LPC will begin audits of 75 of the largest US partnerships, including hedge funds, real estate investment partnerships and publicly traded partnerships. (See IR-2023-166 (September 8, 2023).)

Practice Point: Because of the significant resources devoted to the LPC program, these audits promise to be thorough and will be conducted by an LB&I exam team primed to find substantial audit adjustments. To successfully navigate these audits, partnerships should work to ensure that the IRS examination team sticks to the timeline, respond timely to all reasonable requests for information, and be prepared to assert all applicable privileges, such as the attorney-client privilege, Internal Revenue Code Section 7525 privilege, and work product where appropriate. We anticipate that aggressive IRS examination teams will try to obtain this information over a partnership’s initial objections on these grounds. It’s never too late to prepare for an IRS examination, and if you are a large partnership, it’s in your best interest to consult with your tax team now!



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Weekly IRS Roundup September 18 – September 22, 2023

by | Sep 25, 2023 | , ,

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of September 18, 2023 – September 22, 2023.

September 18, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-38, which includes the following:

September 18, 2023: The IRS published Tax Tip 2023-111, describing different types of third-party representatives.

September 19, 2023: The IRS published Tax Tip 2023-112, describing how taxpayers can be certain they are communicating with the IRS as opposed to scammers purporting to represent the IRS.

September 19, 2023: The IRS reminded individuals and businesses in parts of Alabama, California and Georgia that their 2022 federal income tax returns and tax payments are due October 16, 2023. The original due date for these returns was postponed because of natural disasters.

September 19, 2023: The IRS has selected eight new members for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC), which is a public forum for the discussion of electronic tax administration issues. ETAAC members work closely with the Security Summit, a joint effort of the IRS, state tax administrators and the nation’s tax industry to fight identity theft and refund fraud.

September 20, 2023: The IRS published Tax Tip 2023-113, discussing the expanded tax credit for contractors who build energy-efficient homes.

September 20, 2023: The IRS announced plans to establish a special area that will focus on large or complex pass-through entities. The new work unit will be housed in the IRS Large Business and International (LB&I) division.

September 22, 2023: The IRS is requesting comments on Revenue Procedure 2004-47, which permits taxpayers who failed to make a reverse qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) election on an estate tax return to file certain documents with the Cincinnati Service Center directly to request relief in lieu of requesting a private letter ruling. Comments are invited on:

  • Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the agency’s functions, including whether the information has practical utility
  • The accuracy of the agency’s estimate for the burden of the information collection
  • Ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected
  • Ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on other forms of information technology
  • Estimates for capital or startup costs and costs of operation, maintenance and purchase of services to provide information.

September 22, 2023: The IRS released its weekly list of written [...]

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Weekly IRS Roundup September 11 – September 15, 2023

by | Sep 19, 2023 | , ,

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of September 11, 2023 – September 15, 2023.

September 11, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-37, which includes the following:

  • Revenue Ruling 2023-16 provides the applicable federal rates for September 2023.
  • Revenue Ruling 2023-17 sets forth the underpayment and overpayment interest rates under Code Section 6621 for the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2023.
  • Revenue Procedure 2023-29 provides the applicable percentage table used to calculate the premium tax credit under Code Section 36B.
  • Notice 2023-62 announces a two-year administrative transition period with respect to the requirement under Code Section 603 that catch-up contributions made on behalf of certain eligible participants be designated as Roth contributions. The notice also requests comments for further guidance with respect to Code Section 603.
  • Announcement 2023-25 and Announcement 2023-26 revoke tax-exempt classification for specified organizations.
  • Announcement 2023-28 corrects citations in Revenue Procedure 2023-27.

September 12, 2023: The IRS released Notice 2023-64, which provides interim guidance on the corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT). The notice lists financial statements that meet the definition of an applicable financial statement, provides general rules for determining “financial statement income” and includes guidance on when corporations are subject to the CAMT. Notice 2023-64 supplements and clarifies Notice 2023-07 and Notice 2023-20.

September 12, 2023: The IRS released Revenue Procedure 2023-31, providing guidance on Form 8955-SSA, Annual Registration Statement Identifying Separated Participants With Deferred Vested Benefits, and Form 5500-EZ, Annual Return of A One-Participant (Owners/Partners and Their Spouses) Retirement Plan or A Foreign Plan, which must be filed for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2024. Revenue Procedure 2023-31 supersedes Revenue Procedure 2015-47.

September 12, 2023: The IRS published Tax Tip 2023-110, advising taxpayers to look out for scammers posing as charities and to ensure their donations are going to legitimate charitable organizations.

September 13, 2023: The IRS extended tax relief to individuals and businesses impacted by Hurricane Idalia in 28 counties in Georgia. As a result, affected individuals filing personal income tax returns on extensions expiring October 16, 2023, calendar-year partnerships and S corporations whose extensions expire on October 16, 2023, and calendar-year corporations whose 2022 extensions expire on November 15, 2023, now have until February 15, 2024, to file returns and pay related taxes.

September 14, 2023: The IRS announced an immediate moratorium through at least the end of the year on processing new claims for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). The moratorium is in response to promoters who have aggressively marketed the credit to businesses without regard for their eligibility. Hundreds of criminal cases related to ERC claims are being worked, [...]

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Weekly IRS Roundup September 4 – September 8, 2023

by | Sep 14, 2023 | , ,

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of September 4, 2023 – September 8, 2023.

September 5, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-36, which includes proposed regulations implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

September 5, 2023: The IRS released Tax Tip 2023-108, outlining basic tax advice for entrepreneurs who want to start a new business. The Tax Tip addresses business structures, selecting a tax year, employer identification numbers and reminds taxpayers to investigate applicable state tax requirements.

September 5, 2023: In light of September being National Preparedness Month, the IRS reminded taxpayers to develop an emergency preparedness plan and outlined steps for mitigating losses during a disaster.

September 5, 2023: The IRS issued Fact Sheet 2023-20 to explain how pass-through entities that are electronically filing Schedules K-2 and K-3 should report negative amounts, which are not permitted for certain line items. The Fact Sheet cautions that the IRS has not opined on whether it is legally appropriate to use negative values.

September 6, 2023: The IRS released Tax Tip 2023-109, providing advice to taxpayers who are still considering a tax return preparer.

September 6, 2023: The IRS extended tax relief to individuals and businesses impacted by Hurricane Idalia in South Carolina. As a result, affected individuals filing personal income tax returns on extensions expiring on October 16, 2023, calendar-year partnerships and S corporations whose extensions expire on October 16, 2023, and calendar-year corporations whose 2022 extensions expire on November 15, 2023, now have until February 15, 2024, to file returns and pay related taxes.

September 6, 2023: The IRS announced that the application period for the 2024 Compliance Assurance Process (CAP) program is now open and will run from September 6 to October 31, 2023. The IRS will inform applicants if they’re accepted into the program in February 2024. The CAP program enables taxpayers and the IRS to resolve issues before filing tax returns. To apply, applicants must (1) have assets of $10 million or more, (2) be a US publicly traded corporation with a legal requirement to prepare and submit US Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and (3) not be under investigation by, or in litigation with, any government agency that would limit the IRS’s access to current tax records.

September 6, 2023: The IRS reminded taxpayers who pay estimated taxes that the deadline to submit their third quarter payments is September 15, 2023.

September 8, 2023: The IRS announced it will be dedicating greater resources to wealthy taxpayers. As part of this effort, the IRS will ensure audit rates do not increase for those earning less than $400,000 a year and will add new fairness safeguards for those claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS [...]

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