Tag Archive for Washington D.C.

IRS Direct Deposit Leads To Faster Refunds

WASHINGTON — With the tax deadline just around the corner, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that making an electronic direct deposit of their refund into a bank or other account is the fastest way to get their money. A taxpayer can deposit their refund into one, two or even three accounts to help with retirement or savings.

Eight out of 10 taxpayers get their refunds by using direct deposit. It is simple, safe and secure. The IRS uses the same electronic transfer system to deposit tax refunds that is used by other federal agencies to deposit nearly 98 percent of all Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits into millions of accounts. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be lost or stolen or returned to the IRS as undeliverable. Read More

Written by | Posted in TaxConnections

IRS Reminds Those With Foreign Assets About U.S. Tax Obligations

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded U.S. citizens and resident aliens, including those with dual citizenship, to check if they have a U.S. tax liability and a filing requirement. At the same time, the agency advised anyone with a foreign bank or financial account to remember the upcoming deadline that applies to reports for these accounts, often referred to as FBARs.

Here is a rundown of key points to keep in mind:

Deadline For Reporting Foreign Accounts Read More

Written by | Posted in Foreign Assets • IRS

Rushing To File Taxes Can Result In Errors; E-File Decreases Errors, Extensions Available

WASHINGTON — As the April 17 tax-filing deadline nears, many taxpayers may rush to finish their tax returns or find that extra time is needed to get them done. The IRS recommends that taxpayers request a filing extension if they need one.

Mistakes can happen when hurrying to file a tax return by the due date. This can mean longer processing times and possible tax refund delays. Electronic filing is the best way to avoid common mistakes; it is also the most accurate way to file a tax return. The IRS estimates that about 70 percent of taxpayers can file their tax return at no charge by using IRS Free File software. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • Tax Extension • Tax Filing • TaxConnections

A Digital “Mailbox Rule” Is Required As The IRS Steers Taxpayers Toward Self-Help Digital Tools

As the IRS steers taxpayers toward self-help digital tools, it is necessary to bring the “statutory mailbox rule” into the 21st century. Currently, the statutory mailbox rule in IRC § 7502 does not apply to the electronic transmission of many time-sensitive documents and payments to the IRS. The rule provides that if the requirements set forth in the statute are met, a document or payment is deemed to be filed or paid on the date of the postmark stamped on the envelope.

If the postmark date is on or before the last day of the period prescribed for filing the document or making the payment, the document or payment is considered timely filed or paid even if it is received after the due date. Further, IRC § 7502(c) provides that registered or certified mail, or methods deemed substantially equivalent by the Secretary of Treasury, is prima facie evidence of delivery. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • TaxConnections

Join The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel And Help Improve The IRS

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service seeks civic-minded volunteers to serve on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), a federal advisory committee that listens to taxpayers, identifies major taxpayer concerns and makes recommendations for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. Taxpayers interested in serving on the panel may apply between now and April 27.

To the extent possible, the TAP includes members from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico and one member abroad who represents international taxpayers. Each member is appointed to represent the interests of taxpayers in his or her geographic location as well as taxpayers overall. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • TaxConnections

Tips For Updating Form W-4 After Doing A Paycheck Checkup

With recent tax law changes, the IRS urges taxpayers to look into whether they need to adjust their paycheck withholding and submit a new Form W-4 to their employer. Taxpayers can use the updated Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov to do a quick “paycheck checkup” to check that they’re not having too little or too much tax withheld at work.

Taxpayers who use the calculator and determine that they need to change their withholding must fill out a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Employees will submit the completed Form W-4 to their employers. Read More

Written by | Posted in Form W-4 • IRS • Tax Return • Withholding Calculator

Part III. General Descriptions Of APAs Executed In 2017

Part III. General Descriptions Of APAs Executed In 2017

This Announcement is issued pursuant to § 521(b) of Pub. L. 106-170, the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, which requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the public concerning advance pricing agreements (APAs) and the Advance Pricing and Mutual Agreement Program (APMA Program), formerly known as the Advance Pricing Agreement Program (APA Program). The first report covered calendar years 1991 through 1999. Subsequent reports covered each calendar year 2000 through 2016 separately. This nineteenth report describes the experience, structure, and activities of the APMA Program during calendar year 2017. It does not provide guidance regarding the application of the arm’s length standard. Read More

Written by | Posted in Advance Pricing And Mutual Agreement Program • IRS • TaxConnections

IRS Issues Guidance On Business Interest Expense Limitations

IR-2018-82, April 2, 2018

WASHINGTON ― The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) yesterday issued Notice 2018-28, which provides guidance for computing the business interest expense limitation under recent tax legislation enacted on Dec. 22, 2017.

In general, newly amended section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code imposes a limitation on deductions for business interest incurred by certain large businesses. For most large businesses, business interest expense is limited to any business interest income plus 30 percent of the business’ adjusted taxable income. Read More

Written by | Posted in Business Interest Expense • IRS

ALERT: Advance Pricing Arrangement And Mutual Agreement Program (Part II)

This Announcement is issued pursuant to § 521(b) of Pub. L. 106-170, the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999, which requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the public concerning advance pricing agreements (APAs) and the Advance Pricing and Mutual Agreement Program (APMA Program), formerly known as the Advance Pricing Agreement Program (APA Program). The first report covered calendar years 1991 through 1999. Subsequent reports covered each calendar year 2000 through 2016 separately. This nineteenth report describes the experience, structure, and activities of the APMA Program during calendar year 2017. It does not provide guidance regarding the application of the arm’s length standard. Read More

Written by | Posted in Advance Pricing And Mutual Agreement Program • IRS • TaxConnections

ALERT: Advance Pricing Arrangement And Mutual Agreement Program (Part I)

Part I. The APMA Program – Structure, Composition, and Operation

[PUB. L. 106-170 § 521(b)(2)(A)]

In February 2012, the former APA Program was moved from the Office of Chief Counsel to the Office of Transfer Pricing Operations1 within the Large Business and International Division of the IRS and combined with the U.S. Competent Authority staff responsible for transfer pricing cases, thereby forming the APMA Program.
Read More

Written by | Posted in Advance Pricing And Mutual Agreement Program • IRS • TaxConnections

A Discussion Of Belated Alternatives To The Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program And Recommendations For Further Improvements (Part 3 of 3)

In the first blog in this series we discussed how those who participate in amnesties also tend to be people who made inadvertent errors, that is, “benign” actors, rather than bad actors. We discussed how it can make sense to offer some form of amnesty before implementing a sudden increase in penalties or enforcement. Otherwise, the increase is more likely to be viewed as unfair and erode trust for the government. Moreover, a decline in trust can erode voluntary compliance.

In the second blog, we cited data showing that, consistent with the research on amnesties, IRS’s first amnesty alternative – the Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative (OVCI) – generally attracted people who failed to report offshore accounts but had paid their taxes or had under-reported small amounts. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • OVDP

IRS Encourages ‘Paycheck Checkup’ For Taxpayers To Check Their Withholding; Special Week Focuses On Changes

WASHINGTON – Launching a special week of activities, the Internal Revenue Service today continued its effort to encourage taxpayers to do a “paycheck checkup” to make sure they have the right amount of tax taken out of their paychecks for their personal situation.

To help taxpayers understand the implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the IRS unveiled several new features to help people navigate the issues affecting withholding in their paychecks. The effort includes a new series of plain language Tax Tips, a YouTube video series and other special efforts to help people understand the importance of checking their withholding as soon as possible. Read More

Written by | Posted in Form W-4 • IRS • Withholding Calculator
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »