Can you deduct student loan interest on your tax return?

The federal student loan “pause” is coming to an end on August 31 after more than three years. If you have student loan debt, you may wonder whether you can deduct the interest you pay on your tax return. The answer may be yes, subject to certain limits. The deduction is phased out if your […]

New Technical Guides are a resource for tax exempt and government boards

Four new Technical Guides (TGs) about tax-exempt organizations and government entities are now available from the IRS. The guides are designed to help IRS employees. However, governing boards, tax-exempt group employees and others may also find them useful in understanding the tax regulations they must adhere to. Here are the latest TGs by topic: TG […]

Receive more than $10,000 in cash at your business? Here’s what you must do

Does your business receive large amounts of cash or cash equivalents? If so, you’re generally required to report these transactions to the IRS — and not just on your tax return. The requirements Each person who, in the course of operating a trade or business, receives more than $10,000 in cash in one transaction (or […]

Treasury Secretary Yellen meets with IRS Commissioner Werfel to discuss Strategic Operating Plan

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel met recently to discuss the tax agency’s Strategic Operating Plan (SOP). With nearly $60 billion of new funding over 10 years, Yellen said modernization is a priority. That includes retiring outdated computer systems, such as those used to process returns. Other improvements will include the […]

Reporting UTPs on your financial statements

It can be difficult for business owners to navigate the tax code and monitor tax law developments. One area of special concern is financial reporting for uncertain tax positions (UTPs). Here’s some insight to help clarify matters. Recognition standard Companies that follow U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) must identify, measure and disclose UTPs using […]

Legal Fees in the Courts

Is a pharmaceutical company entitled to deduct legal fees incurred while defending itself against patent infringement lawsuits as ordinary and necessary business expenses? In a recent case, the U.S. Tax Court said “yes,” but the IRS appealed. The IRS contended that the company should have treated the legal expenses as capital expenses because they were […]

The IRS’s Customer Callback system

The IRS’s Customer Callback (CCB) system is intended to help taxpayers avoid waiting on hold when they call the tax agency. If callers provide their numbers, IRS employees will call them back. First introduced in 2019, CCB functionality was expanded in early 2023. Recently, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) audited the system […]

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The Tax Treatments of cryptocurrency are complex

Questions surrounding the tax treatment of cryptocurrency are complex. According to new IRS Revenue Ruling 2023-14, the process of verifying ownership of cryptocurrency is called “staking.” And when a taxpayer has successfully staked his or her units of cryptocurrency, he or she may also receive “staking rewards” consisting of additional units. When does the taxpayer […]

Educational tax credits

Before long, students will be heading off to college or trade school. Higher education is expensive, but taxpayers who take post-high school coursework in 2023 (or who have dependents taking such courses) may qualify for one of two tax credits that can reduce their tax bills. The American Opportunity Tax Credit is worth up to […]