IRS Updates

  • IRS: The Truth About Frivolous Tax Arguments

     The Internal Revenue Service has released the 2014 version of “The Truth about Frivolous Tax Arguments.” The document describes and responds to some of the common frivolous tax arguments made by those who oppose compliance with federal tax laws. The cases cited demonstrate how frivolous arguments are treated by the IRS and the courts. The…

  • The ABCs of Late IRS Payments

    The complexity of the tax laws and the fact that they change from year to year makes it inevitable that some clients will be unable to pay some or all of their bills to the Internal Revenue Service.  Others may be able to afford the bill, but need more time to complete the return or…

  • IRS: Michael Jackson Assets Undervalued

    The Internal Revenue Service has filed documents in US Tax Court claiming that Michael Jackson’s estate has severely undervalued his image and music catalog, claiming that the estate owes an extra $505 million in taxes, plus $197 million in penalties.  While the Jackson estate’s executors valued his net worth at a little over $7 million…

  • IRS Statistics on individual Tax Returns for 2011

    The Internal Revenue System has released its statistics on Tax Year 2011 individual returns filed in 2012.  The data indicates some improvement in the economy after the slower years of 2009 and 2010, though some sluggishness remains.  In general, the IRS notes: 

  • Koskinen Approved By Senate Committee to Head IRS

    John Koskinen, the 74-year-old multimillionaire with a long history of accomplishments, has been approved by the US Senate Committee on Finance to become the new Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.  The action clears the way for Koskinen to be voted upon by the full Senate before it recesses for the year.  While he has…

  • IRS Releases Final Rule on Net Investment Income Tax Under the ACA

    The IRS has released final regulations under section 1411 of the Internal Revenue Code to provide guidance on the general application of the Net Investment Income Tax and the computation of Net Investment Income. The regulations affect individuals, estates, and trusts whose incomes meet certain income thresholds.  The tax does not apply to a nonresident…

  • IRS Issues Rules on Additional Medicare Tax

    After receiving limited input during the required comment period, the Internal Revenue Services has issued the final regulations relating to Additional Hospital Insurance Tax on income above threshold amounts (“Additional Medicare Tax”), as added by the Affordable Care Act. 

  • Report: IRS Develops ACA Health Care Premium Tax Credit System

    The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has completed development and testing of software to calculate the Advanced Premium Tax Credit and the Remainder Benchmark Household Contribution (RBHC) which is the household’s contribution towards the monthly insurance premium.  In a report on the system, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) concludes that the IRS now…

  • Accounting Fraud and Waste Is Standard Procedure at the Pentagon

    The Pentagon routinely commits accounting fraud in order to balance its books with the U.S. Treasury’s, according to a new report from Reuters. The practice, which apparently has been standard procedure for decades, effectively conceals billions of dollars in waste and fraud from prying American eyes. 

  • The IRS Did Not Properly Implement Law Penalizing Erroneous Refunds

    WASHINGTON – By incorrectly interpreting Federal law, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) significantly limited the number of erroneous tax refunds and improper tax credit claims on which it could assess penalties, according to a study released publicly today by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act…