Federal Tax Posts

Do you know someone who isn’t required to file a tax return and hasn’t yet received an Economic Impact Payment (EIP)? The IRS has announced that the deadline to register for an EIP is now Nov. 21, 2020. This new date will provide an additional five weeks beyond the original deadline. EIPs are being sent by the federal government to eligible Americans to help mitigate [...]

The IRS has released answers to frequently asked questions about marijuana businesses. For example, one question asks if a taxpayer operating a marijuana business in compliance with his or her state’s laws has the same income and employment tax filing obligations as other businesses. The answer is “yes” even though the federal government considers the business an illegal activity. “Income from any source is taxable,” [...]

The IRS has issued final regulations on the business expense deduction for meals and entertainment. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally eliminated the deduction for expenses related to activities generally considered entertainment or recreation. However, taxpayers may still deduct some business expenses related to food and beverages. The final regs address the disallowance of the deduction for expenses related to entertainment or recreation, including [...]

How does the tax code define “dependent” for tax purposes? The IRS has finalized the definition based on changes brought by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) for tax years 2018 through 2025. The definition of dependent includes a qualifying relative who meets two tests. The “income test” is met if the individual receives gross income below the exemption amount in effect that year [...]

Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws. “The right to be informed” is included in the IRS’s “Taxpayer Bill of Rights.” The tax agency explains that this means you have the right: to have a clear explanation of the laws and IRS procedures in all IRS materials, including in correspondence; to be informed of IRS [...]

Final regulations clarify that the premium tax credit isn’t affected by the suspended personal exemption. The IRS has issued an advance copy of final regs stating that the reduction of the personal exemption deduction to zero for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2026, doesn’t have an effect on an individual taxpayer’s ability to claim the premium tax credit. A [...]

The IRS has submitted its 2021 budget request to Congress. In its budget justification report, the IRS is requesting $12 billion in funding, which is a 5% increase over 2020 funding levels. The request includes a $400 million program integrity investment in 2021 “that over 10 years will generate $79 billion in additional revenue and reduce the $381 billion net tax gap,” the IRS said [...]

Did you ask for an extension for your 2019 tax return this year? If so, keep in mind that Oct. 15, 2020 is the last day to file for most people who requested an extension. You can file your return any time before that date if you have all your required tax documents. Contact us for assistance. October isn’t that far away.

The IRS offers after-tax-day troubleshooting tips for taxpayers still facing issues. They include: checking the status of your refund using the link provided below and doing a “paycheck checkup” to ensure the right amount of tax is being withheld from your pay so you can avoid an unexpected tax bill and possible penalties for 2020. Also, taxpayers who owe money to the IRS can view [...]

Generally, individuals can roll funds from one IRA into another within 60 days, tax-free. The IRS may waive the 60-day rule when the failure to meet the deadline is due to events out of the reasonable control of the taxpayer. In one case, a taxpayer received an IRA distribution and failed to meet the rollover deadline. She contended that the financial institution that issued the [...]

Don’t fall for misleading ads that claim you can easily resolve your tax debt for “pennies on the dollar,” warns the IRS. These ads made the IRS 2020 list of “Dirty Dozen” top scams that target taxpayers. While it’s true that taxpayers who owe more than they can pay can seek an “Offer in Compromise” (OIC) from the IRS, unscrupulous companies exaggerate the chances of [...]

Here’s a reminder for taxpayers using the IRS’s Income Verification Express Service (IVES). July 31 is the deadline for providing an electronic signature and certifying the update of your account. The IVES program is used by mortgage lenders and others in the financial community to confirm the income of a borrower during the processing of a loan application. In order to update its records and [...]

Some people missed the July 15 federal tax filing deadline. If a person is entitled to a refund, there’s no penalty for filing late. But if there’s a balance due, penalties and interest began accruing on unpaid taxes on July 16, 2020. The IRS urges anyone who owes tax and didn’t file (and didn’t request an extension) to file as soon as possible. If a [...]

So you’ve filed your income tax return, you’re getting a refund, and you’re eager to receive it. The IRS says it normally issues most refunds in less than 21 days. Taxpayers who mailed their tax return will experience a longer wait. Using the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool, you can check the status of your refund. Its tracker displays progress through three phases: Return Received, [...]