Blockchain hurdles

At a recent American Bar Association (ABA) Tax Section meeting, members discussed obstacles preventing blockchain-based financial entities from gaining tax-exempt status. According to one member, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) that execute blockchain transactions aren’t accountable or predictable. Applicants for tax-exempt status usually must explain how they conduct not-for-profit activities, which DAOs can’t do. In addition, […]

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Independent Office of Appeals

In 2019, the Taxpayer First Act established the IRS Independent Office of Appeals (IOA) to resolve federal tax “controversies” without litigation. In general, the IOA’s resolution process is available to all taxpayers, but the IOA isn’t required to consider every dispute. Now, the IRS is proposing regulations to clarify what rules the IOA must follow […]

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Why auditors prefer in-person interviews to assess fraud risks

Auditing standards require financial statement auditors to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement due to fraud — and to determine overall and specific responses to those risks. Here’s why face-to-face meetings are essential when assessing these risks. Audit inquiries Fraud-related questions are a critical part of the audit process. The AICPA requires auditors […]

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Refund Claims

A Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) audit found that compliance efforts are needed to address refund claims based on net operating losses (NOLs) reported on Form 1139, “Corporation Application for Tentative Refund.” The CARES Act allows taxpayers with an NOL in a taxable year beginning in 2018, 2019 or 2020 to carry that […]

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Tax Extenders

With control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives at stake in November’s midterm election, the fate of so-called “tax extenders” may depend on the election’s outcome. However, inserting tax extenders into a continuing resolution to fund federal programs into fiscal year 2023, which begins Oct. 1, at the same levels appropriated for […]

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Collections

Taxpayers who can’t pay their past-due tax bills may request a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing, but they must support their claims. In one case, a physician and his wife, a retail manager, failed to timely file a tax return one year. They later filed a past-due return but didn’t pay the $19,690 tax due. […]

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TIGTA audit of IRS procedures

Do IRS employees follow the law when contacting taxpayers? In most cases, yes, according to a recent audit. Taxpayers have the right to seek representation when contacted by the IRS. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) did its annual audit of IRS compliance practices to ensure these rights are protected and violations are […]

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