Newsletters
The IRS has begun issuing refunds to more than 50,000 taxpayers who benefited from the adoption tax credit carryforward from prior years. Most eligible taxpayers are expected to receive their refunds ...
The IRS has provided relief under Code Sec. 7508A for persons determined to be affected by the terroristic action in the State of Israel throughout 2025 and 2026. Affected taxpayers have until Septemb...
The IRS has encouraged taxpayers, tax professionals and organizations to improve their online security during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. To help protect sensitive information, the IRS, the Cyberse...
The IRS announced a new free mobile app that replaces IRS2Go and expands secure mobile access to selected Individual Online Account services for taxpayers. Beginning September 25, 2026, users can sign...
The IRS finalized regulations increasing the user fee imposed on a request for the issuance of an estate tax closing letter (IRS Letter 627) to $76. The increased fee applies to requests for estate ta...
Updated guidance is provided regarding the application of sales and use tax laws to transactions engaged in by drugstore operators. Topics discussed include taxable and nontaxable items in relation to...
Beginning October 1, 2026, all retailers in Connecticut that file a consolidated sales and use tax return are required to file a Quarterly Disaggregated Sales Tax Report in addition to their sales and...
A Georgia county's fire protection service fee imposed on real property in an unincorporated special district was an illegal property tax because the charge was actually a tax and was not ad valorem a...
New Jersey is temporarily capping the corporate business tax net operating loss deduction at $1 million, for privilege periods ending on or after July 31, 2026 but before July 31, 2030. For privilege ...
Enacted New York legislation makes a technical amendment to the real property tax exemption for enrolled members of incorporated volunteer fire companies, fire departments, or incorporated voluntary a...
The IRS has issued proposed and temporary regulations under Code Sec. 530A, regarding general requirements for Trump accounts, the establishment of an initial account, including automatic enrollment by the Secretary of the Treasury, and qualified general contributions. Proposed regulations issued in March 2026 (NPRM REG-117270-25) that provided guidance on establishing Trump accounts, but did not establish automatic enrollment due to time constraints in resolving legal and administrative issues, are withdrawn. The temporary regulations apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire on September 30, 2029.
The IRS has issued proposed and temporary regulations under Code Sec. 530A, regarding general requirements for Trump accounts, the establishment of an initial account, including automatic enrollment by the Secretary of the Treasury, and qualified general contributions. Proposed regulations issued in March 2026 (NPRM REG-117270-25) that provided guidance on establishing Trump accounts, but did not establish automatic enrollment due to time constraints in resolving legal and administrative issues, are withdrawn. The temporary regulations apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire on September 30, 2029.
General Requirements and Establishment of an Account
A Trump account is either (1) an initial Trump account, created or organized by the Treasury Secretary for an eligible individual or (2) a rollover Trump account, which is an account created during the growth period and funded by a qualified rollover contribution from the account beneficiary's existing Trump account. The written governing instrument of a Trump account must generally meet the rules of Code Sec. 408(a)(1) through (6) and Code Sec. 530A(b)(1)(C)(i) through (iii). Any person approved by the IRS as of December 31, 2025, to be a nonbank trustee of an IRA would have automatic approval to act as a trustee of a Trump account. The written instrument must clearly identify the account as a Trump account at the time of creation.
The Secretary may make an election to establish an auto account for a qualifying individual. Another person may elect to establish a Trump account for an eligible individual by filing Form 4547 or via the electronic application or webpage made available by the Secretary. A person may claim an auto account pursuant to Temp. Reg. §1.530A-1T(d)(1)(iv) by establishing a claimed initial Trump account and having the funds in the auto account transferred to the claimed initial Trump account. On or about October 1, 2026, the Secretary shall establish an auto account for each person whom the Secretary has determined to meet the requirements of Temp. Reg. §1.530-A-1T(b)(2) to be an eligible individual, and from whom no prior election has been made. Periodic elections to establish accounts for eligible individuals will be made after that date.
Administration of an auto account is the Secretary's responsibility. During the growth period, an account may only accept qualified general contributions under Code Sec. 530A(f) and a $1,000 pilot program contribution. An auto account's only investment must be its equitable interest in the master group trust, which is a trust established for the exclusive benefit of account beneficiaries of auto accounts for purposes of holding investments of those auto accounts and meets the applicable requirements of Rev. Rul. 81-100, as modified, and is exempt from tax under Code Sec. 408(e).
Qualified General Contributions and Qualified Stock Contributions
Temp. Reg. §1.530A-7T establishes the framework for qualified general contributions to Trump accounts. A qualified general contribution must originate from an eligible donor, be accepted by the Secretary through a Treasury acceptance agreement, be made to beneficiaries within an approved class, and be allocated equally among all beneficiaries in that class. An approved class must include at least 5,000 account beneficiaries and include all account beneficiaries who are still in their growth period, reside in the specified geographic location, and born in one or more years identified in the Treasury acceptance agreement.
The regulations also create rules for qualified stock contributions, allowing eligible donors to contribute certain publicly traded stock issued by domestic corporations directly to Trump accounts. Such stock is generally subject to a minimum holding period ending on the earlier of five years after contribution or the beneficiary’s growth period ending.
Contributions made to qualifying Code Sec. 501(c)(3) organizations to fund general funding contributions are deductible under applicable charitable deduction rules, and gifts to eligible donor organizations are treated as qualifying charitable transfers. A Code Sec. 501(c)(3) organization furthers its exempt purposes by making a qualifying general funding contribution, whether directly or through a donor-advised fund. In addition, such contributions are treated as expenditures for charitable purposes and generally are not considered grants or distributions to individuals for purposes of the private foundation and donor-advised fund expenditure responsibility rules.
CC-00226466-26
The IRS has released the 2026-2027 special per diem rates. Taxpayers use the per diem rates to substantiate certain expenses incurred while traveling away from home. These special per diem rates include:
- 1. the special transportation industry meal and incidental expenses (M&IE) rates,
- 2. the rate for the incidental expenses only deduction,
- 3. and the rates and list of high-cost localities for purposes of the high-low substantiation method.
The IRS has released the 2026-2027 special per diem rates. Taxpayers use the per diem rates to substantiate certain expenses incurred while traveling away from home. These special per diem rates include:
- 1. the special transportation industry meal and incidental expenses (M&IE) rates,
- 2. the rate for the incidental expenses only deduction,
- 3. and the rates and list of high-cost localities for purposes of the high-low substantiation method.
Transportation Industry Special Per Diem Rates
The special M&IE rates for taxpayers in the transportation industry are:
- $80 for any locality of travel in the continental United States (CONUS), and
- $86 for any locality of travel outside the continental United States (OCONUS).
Incidental Expenses Only Rate
The rate is $5 per day for any CONUS or OCONUS travel for the incidental expenses only deduction.
High-Low Substantiation Method
For purposes of the high-low substantiation method, the 2026-2027 special per diem rates are:
- $329 for travel to any high-cost locality, and
- $230 for travel to any other locality within CONUS.
The amount treated as paid for meals is:
- $86 for travel to any high-cost locality, and
- $74 for travel to any other locality within CONUS
Instead of the meal and incidental expenses only substantiation method, taxpayers may use:
- $86 for travel to any high-cost locality, and
- $74 for travel to any other locality within CONUS.
Taxpayers using the high-low method must comply with Rev. Proc. 2019-48, I.R.B. 2019-51, 1390. That procedure provides the rules for using a per diem rate to substantiate the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses paid or incurred while traveling away from home.
Notice 2025-54, I.R.B. 2025-41, 479 is superseded.
For 2027, the Social Security wage cap will be $192,300, and Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase by 3.6 percent. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments to account for inflation.
For 2027, the Social Security wage cap will be $192,300, and Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase by 3.6 percent. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments to account for inflation.
Wage Cap for Social Security Tax
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax on wages is 7.65 percent each for the employee and the employer. FICA tax has two components:
- a 6.2 percent social security tax, also known as old age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI); and
- a 1.45 percent Medicare tax, also known as hospital insurance (HI).
For self-employed workers, the Self-Employment tax is 15.3 percent, consisting of:
- a 12.4 percent OASDI tax; and
- a 2.9 percent HI tax.
OASDI tax applies only up to a wage base, which includes most wages and self-employment income up to the annual wage cap.
For 2027, the wage base is $192,300. Thus, OASDI tax applies only to the taxpayer’s first $192,300 in wages or net earnings from self-employment. Taxpayers do not pay OASDI tax on earnings that exceed $192,300.
There is no wage cap for HI tax.
Maximum Social Security Tax for 2027
For workers who earn $192,300 or more in 2027:
- an employee will pay a total of $11,922.60 in social security tax ($192,300 x 6.2 percent);
- the employer will pay the same amount; and
- a self-employed worker will pay a total of $23,845.20 in social security tax ($192,300 x 12.4 percent).
Additional Medicare Tax
Higher-income workers may have to pay an Additional Medicare tax of 0.9 percent. This tax applies to wages and self-employment income that exceed:
- $250,000 for married taxpayers who file a joint return;
- $125,000 for married taxpayers who file separate returns; and
- $200,000 for other taxpayers.
The annual wage cap does not affect the Additional Medicare tax.
Benefit Increase for 2027
Finally, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will increase social security and SSI benefits for 2027 by 3.6 percent. The COLA is intended to ensure that inflation does not erode the purchasing power of these benefits.
Social Security Fact Sheet: 2027 Social Security Changes
SSA Press Release: Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027
The IRS established the IRA Compliance Resolution System (ICRS) to permit IRA owners and custodians to correct failures related to individual retirement arrangements by submitting a request to the IRS. Failures eligible for ICRS include required minimum distribution failures and nonspouse beneficiary rollover failures. The revenue procedure will also govern requests for waivers from the 60-day rollover requirement from IRAs as well as qualified employer-sponsored plans. The revenue procedure is effective May 1, 2027.
The IRS established the IRA Compliance Resolution System (ICRS) to permit IRA owners and custodians to correct failures related to individual retirement arrangements by submitting a request to the IRS. Failures eligible for ICRS include required minimum distribution failures and nonspouse beneficiary rollover failures. The revenue procedure will also govern requests for waivers from the 60-day rollover requirement from IRAs as well as qualified employer-sponsored plans. The revenue procedure is effective May 1, 2027.
Self-Correction Not Available
The new system implements provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, P.L. 117-328, requiring expansion of the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) for qualified retirement plans to allow IRA custodians to address eligible inadvertent failures involving IRAs. The new ICRS consists of the IRA Voluntary Correction Program (IVCP), although additional correction programs may be introduced later. Self-correction of IRA failures is not currently available under ICRS. Instead, the IRA custodian or owner must make a submission to the IRS using the provided procedures and pay a fee on the Pay.gov website.
60-Day Rollover Waiver Requests
The procedure also establishes a process for requesting waivers of the 60-day rollover requirement under Code Secs. 402 and 408 through ICRS. During 2027, eligible applicants may request waivers through either ICRS or the existing private letter ruling process. Beginning in 2028, the IRS anticipates that such requests will be permitted only under ICRS.
Waiver requests may involve eligible rollover distributions from IRAs, qualified retirement plans, annuity plans, tax-sheltered annuities and governmental deferred compensation plans. Automatic waivers and waiver relief under previous guidance remains available.
The IRS updated the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), its comprehensive system of corrections programs for employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans. The updates reflect significant changes to EPCRS made by the SECURE 2.0 Act (P.L. 117-328) and subsequent guidance. Former procedures under Rev. Proc. 2021-30 are modified and superseded. The revised procedures are effective October 22, 2026.
The IRS updated the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), its comprehensive system of corrections programs for employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans. The updates reflect significant changes to EPCRS made by the SECURE 2.0 Act (P.L. 117-328) and subsequent guidance. Former procedures under Rev. Proc. 2021-30 are modified and superseded. The revised procedures are effective October 22, 2026.
The bulk of the changes in the revised procedures reflect the SECURE 2.0 Act’s expansion of EPCRS’s Self Correction Program component to permit self-correction of eligible inadvertent failures, including plan loan failures. Other changes made by SECURE 2.0 and incorporated into the revised EPCRS include safe harbor corrections under Code Sec. 414(cc) and the recovery of retirement plan overpayments under Code Sec. 414(aa).
Other changes made in the revised revenue procedure include:
- References to the availability of a separate compliance resolution system for IRA failures.
- Updates reflecting changes to the determination letter and opinion letter programs.
- Revisions to correction methods for SEPs and SIMPLE IRA plans.
- Revisions to procedures for locating lost participants.
- Revisions to the correction principle for failure to obtain spousal consent.
- Changes to the Voluntary Correction Program (VCP) and the Audit Closing Agreement Program (Audit CAP), such as revised procedures for a group submission under VCP.
The IRS has issued final regulations under Code Sec. 6311 implementing changes made by the Taxpayer First Act. The regulations permit the IRS to pay fees under contracts for processing tax payments by credit or debit card, provided the fees are fully recouped from taxpayers making those payments. The regulations remove restrictions on the IRS’s payment of fees under such contracts and on the imposition of reimbursement fees on persons paying taxes by credit or debit card.
The IRS has issued final regulations under Code Sec. 6311 implementing changes made by the Taxpayer First Act. The regulations permit the IRS to pay fees under contracts for processing tax payments by credit or debit card, provided the fees are fully recouped from taxpayers making those payments. The regulations remove restrictions on the IRS’s payment of fees under such contracts and on the imposition of reimbursement fees on persons paying taxes by credit or debit card.
Payment Processing Fees
The regulations authorize the IRS to enter into contracts for receiving tax payments by credit or debit card if the contracts are cost beneficial to the government. Under certain contracts, the IRS may pay fees, charges, or other monetary consideration to payment processors. If the IRS pays fees under these contracts, it must recoup the full amount from taxpayers making payments by credit or debit card. The reimbursement fees are payable at the time of, and in addition to, the tax payment and are limited to the amounts paid by the IRS under the contracts. The IRS must seek to minimize the fees paid under these arrangements.
Under other contracts, the IRS may elect not to pay fees to payment processors. Such arrangements do not prohibit card issuers, financial institutions, or other persons participating in the transactions from imposing their own fees or charges. The IRS may not receive any portion of those fees.
Error Resolution Procedures
Payments of taxes by credit or debit card, including reimbursement fees paid under the regulations, are subject to applicable error-resolution procedures under the Truth in Lending Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, or similar state or local laws. These procedures apply to errors relating to the credit or debit card account but do not apply to disputes, errors, or adjustments concerning the underlying tax liability. Reimbursement fees paid under the regulations are not taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code and are not eligible for refund or credit under Code Sec. 6402.
Applicability
The final regulations amend existing regulations under Code Sec. 6311 to implement changes made by the Taxpayer First Act. The rules apply to tax payments and reimbursement fees made on or after the date of publication in the Federal Register.
The IRS has issued proposed and temporary regulations providing guidance on the new federal scholarship tax credit under Code Sec. 25F. Beginning after 2026, an individual may claim a nonrefundable federal income tax credit for contributions to certified scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) issuing scholarships to students in K-12 schools. The regulations clarify how the credit is calculated, including the treatment of state tax credits, credit carryforwards, and substantiation requirements. They also establish immediate administrative rules for SGOs and states that opt into the program and identify SGOs.
The IRS has issued proposed and temporary regulations providing guidance on the new federal scholarship tax credit under Code Sec. 25F. Beginning after 2026, an individual may claim a nonrefundable federal income tax credit for contributions to certified scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) issuing scholarships to students in K-12 schools. The regulations clarify how the credit is calculated, including the treatment of state tax credits, credit carryforwards, and substantiation requirements. They also establish immediate administrative rules for SGOs and states that opt into the program and identify SGOs.
Credit Eligibility and Calculation
An individual may claim a credit for qualified cash contributions made directly to eligible SGOs. The annual credit is generally limited to $1,700 per taxpayer or $3,400 for married individuals filing jointly. Contributions made through pass-through entities, including partnerships and S corporations, are not eligible for the credit. The taxpayer must reduce the federal tax credit by the amount of any state tax credit attributable to the same contribution before applying the federal limitation. Unused credit amounts may be carried forward for up to five years.
A taxpayer claiming the credit may not claim a charitable contribution deduction for the same contribution and must satisfy specified substantiation and reporting requirements. This includes use of a unique donor identification number on new Form 8525. The taxpayer donor must designate contributions as eligible for the credit at the time they are made. Once made, the designation is irrevocable.
A taxpayer may contribute to an eligible SGO regardless of their state of residence, allowing them to support qualifying SGOs across participating states.
Scholarship Granting Organizations
To qualify as an SGO, an organization must be recognized as a tax-exempt public charity, maintain separate accounts for qualified contributions and scholarship funds, and devote at least 90 percent of required expenditures to scholarships. SGOs must verify student eligibility, ensure scholarship funds are used solely for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses, and adopt procedures to prevent scholarships from benefiting disqualified persons. The regulations also require SGOs to register with the IRS, furnish acknowledgments to contributors, file annual reports, and maintain records demonstrating compliance with federal requirements.
State Participation
A state may elect to participate the federal scholarship tax program either through an advanced election or through the submission of a state SGO list. A state seeking to participate must annually certify eligible SGOs and provide the IRS with information demonstrating that the organizations satisfy federal requirements. The IRS will maintain and publish a nationwide list of eligible SGOs upon which taxpayers may generally rely when making contributions and claiming credits.
Applicability
Taxpayers, SGOs, and states may rely on the proposed regulations for qualified contributions beginning on or after January 1, 2027. The temporary regulations apply on or after September 1, 2026, and expire on October 1, 2029.
Proposed Regulations, NPRM REG-117199-25
The Treasury Department and IRS have issued proposed regulations under Code Sec. 1062 governing the election to pay tax attributable to gain from qualified sales or exchanges of qualified farmland property in four annual installments. The proposed regulations define qualified farmland property and qualified farmers, provide rules for making the election, and address pass-through entities and acceleration events.
The Treasury Department and IRS have issued proposed regulations under Code Sec. 1062 governing the election to pay tax attributable to gain from qualified sales or exchanges of qualified farmland property in four annual installments. The proposed regulations define qualified farmland property and qualified farmers, provide rules for making the election, and address pass-through entities and acceleration events.
Qualified Farmland Property
Qualified farmland property generally is U.S. real property that was used by the taxpayer as a farm for farming purposes, or leased to a qualified farmer for farming purposes, during substantially all of the 10 years preceding the sale or exchange. The property also must be subject to a covenant prohibiting nonfarm use for 10 years following the sale or exchange. A copy of the covenant must be attached to the taxpayer's return for the taxable year of the sale or exchange.
The proposed regulations provide that certain periods of nonuse will be disregarded in applying the 10-year farming use requirement. These include periods during which property is removed from production under a government program, pursuant to recognized farming practices, or because of unforeseen events outside the taxpayer's control, provided the property continues to be maintained for farming purposes.
Election and Installment Payments
Taxpayers would make the election by filing Form 1062, Deferral of Tax on Gain from the Sale or Exchange of Qualified Farmland Property to Qualified Farmers, and Schedule A (Form 1062). Once made, the election generally may be revoked only by paying the remaining unpaid applicable net tax liability. Each installment payment equals 25 percent of the taxpayer's applicable net tax liability. The first installment generally must be paid by the return due date, determined without regard to the extensions, for the taxable year of the sale or exchange.
Pass-Through Entities and Acceleration Events
Under the proposed regulations, partners, S corporation shareholders, beneficiaries, and other owners generally may make the election with respect to applicable net tax liability arising from a qualified sale or exchange by a pass-through entity. Pass-through entities must furnish Schedule A information and the covenant to owners and beneficiaries and report each owner's allocable share of gain.
The proposed regulations also provide rules accelerating unpaid installment payments following certain events. Acceleration events include failure to timely pay an installment, the death of an individual taxpayer, and certain liquidations, dispositions of substantially all assets, and other specified events involving corporations, trusts, and estates. The proposed regulations also provide procedures under which an eligible transferee may assume the remaining installment obligations in certain transactions.
The proposed regulations would apply to qualified sales and exchanges occurring in taxable years ending after publication of final regulations in the Federal Register. Taxpayers may rely on the proposed regulations for qualified sales and exchanges occurring in taxable years beginning after July 4, 2025, provided they apply the rules consistently and in their entirety. Treasury and the IRS requested comments on the proposed regulations and requests for a public hearing within 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
As the excitement of understanding what artificial intelligence can do for the tax profession starts to subside, the conversation is beginning to shift to risk management and risk assessment. To that end, the American Institute of CPAs has launched a new initiative – the Council on AI Risk in Tax (CART) – to help tax professionals manage risk.
As the excitement of understanding what artificial intelligence can do for the tax profession starts to subside, the conversation is beginning to shift to risk management and risk assessment. To that end, the American Institute of CPAs has launched a new initiative – the Council on AI Risk in Tax (CART) – to help tax professionals manage risk.
CART was born out of a risk assessment framework recently developed by former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel that was published by AICPA after asking representatives of state tax authorities what he could do for them following his departure from the IRS.
“They said, ‘you know Danny, we are seeing so many interesting, exciting demos of AI products that really have paradigm-shifting productivity … but we don’t know what the risks are. We don’t know what questions we should ask ourselves to make sure that, as a tax authority, we are ready to deploy these powerful AI tools responsibly,” Werfel, senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Government & Policy, said in an interview, adding that they also inquired about questions they should be asking vendors about safety features and other risks they should be looking out for.
“I did some immediate research and learned that there wasn’t an AI risk framework or risk register specific to tax,” he added, leading him develop version one of the recently published risk framework.”
From there, he approached AICPA as the place to publish the framework and through those conversations, created CART as a place for tax professionals and state tax administrators to collaborate on AI risk and further refine the framework.
“With AI, it’s obviously new,” Melanie Lauridsen, AICPA vice president of tax policy and advocacy, added. It’s ever evolving. There’s a huge interest. There’s a lot of unknowns, and there’s nothing really out there right now beyond what I have seen what Danny put forward to help guide people in this area.”
The Framework
The published framework states that it is more than a simple list of “relevant risks. The formulation and activation of the list means the organization has learned to:
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Define how risks show up in practice;
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Assign controls;
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Establish indicators; and
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Make course corrections as the environment evolves.
In this way the register is part of a broader risk governance framework to help organizations chart a sensible path forward from strategy to implementation.”
The publication includes distinct frameworks for both tax authorities and tax preparers. For tax authorities, the publication highlights 20 risk areas across four categories:
- Information integrity – The wrong information reaching taxpayers at scale.
- Fairness and legitimacy – Disparate or unfair treatment across groups.
- Security and data – Compromised systems, corrupted data, or the exploitation of sensitive taxpayer information at AI systems aggregate, surface, or make newly accessible to band actors.
- Institutional capacity – Loss of the knowledge and capacity by the institution needed to govern AI responsibility over time.
For tax preparers, there are 15 risk areas across 5 categories:
- Technical – Incorrect or unreliable AI outputs that establish the conditions for downstream errors.
- Practice – Failures of professional judgement, documentation, or oversight.
- Legal and regulatory – Increased exposure to legal liability (e.g., malpractice claims, regulatory sanctions).
- Business – Erosion of client trust and firm relationships.
- Workforce and Strategic – Loss of the expertise and institutional knowledge needed to practice responsibly.
The framework “establishes a notional risk register for tax authorities and presents that side-by-side with a distinct register for tax preparers,” the framework document states. “It also identifies important areas of overlap across the two.”
A Living Framework
Werfel noted that this is not intended to be a one-and-done framework, but rather a living document that he anticipates will be updated on a regular basis.
“I wanted to give myself six months of feedback and iteration,” he said. “I told CART at our kickoA meeting [that] once we issue version two after six months, then I think it’s an annual [update] from there. But in this form, version one to version two, I wanted to put a little bit more accelerated because that’s the highest risk point for it missing something big in the risk register itself.”
Lauridsen add that convening CART regularly and discussing risks and best practices associated with those risks and updating the framework “is the right approach” as opposed to trying to build a firm set of standards for risk assessment and risk management of AI.
“We don’t know what it’ll be in a month, two months, much less six months or a year,” Lauridsen said, noting the fast evolution AI is currently experiencing. “I think it would be a disservice to come forward with a standard right now.”
She continued: “Right now, it’s more best practices. Everybody’s trying to get their minds and arms around it and how to implement it.”
Werfel added that the feedback will be very important when the framework goes through future iterations, as the CART members will be able to report back when the framework works and more importantly, when it “missed the bullseye” by the cross section of accounting, law firms, government associations and AI vendors.
“My hope is that if it’s oA bullseye, we’ll hear about it and update it,” Werfel said.
He did not rule out seeing the framework converted into an industry standard somewhere down the line, but for now, the focus is to just keep this a framework that users can use as a best practices guide to assessing risks of AI tools that states and practitioners are considering for implementation.
In the near term, Werfel said that an idea was floated to CART to make a voluntary pledge to follow the framework that CART produces. It would be completely voluntary, but a pledge to follow it would be “hopefully helpful to rally attention to AI risk.”
By Gregory Twachtman, Washington News Editor
On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its long-awaited landmark decision on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and its companion law, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA). In a 5 to 4 decision of historic proportions, the nation's highest court upheld the law – except for a certain Medicaid provision involving state funding. Key to the Court's approval of President Obama's signature health care law was the finding that the linchpin individual mandate was constitutional. The requirement under the individual mandate that individuals pay a penalty if they fail to carry minimum essential health insurance coverage was declared within the Constitution based upon Congress's power to tax.
The Supreme Court's decision preserves all of the far-reaching tax provisions and health insurance reforms that were part of the overall health care reform legislation as passed in 2010. In coming months, lawmakers and legal scholars will examine all of the nuances of the Court's highly complex decision. More immediately, individuals and businesses are concerned about what steps they need to take next.
Role of taxes
To a large extent, the Obama administration's health care law is driven by tax provisions, to provide the carrot, the stick and adequate funding in alternating quantities. The role played by taxes in the new health care provisions is also underscored by the predominate part that the IRS will play in its administration.
Under the health care law, a number of tax provisions are scheduled to take effect in 2013 and beyond. The court's decision allows the numerous tax provisions within the health care laws to move forward on schedule. Some important provisions have already taken effect; others will take effect in 2013 and 2014. One provision, the excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored coverage, will not take effect until 2018.
Main provisions/effective dates
PPACA and HCERA include the following tax provisions (not a complete list):
- Small employer Sec. 45R credit, effective for tax years beginning in 2010 – the government will provide a credit of 35 percent of health insurance premiums to small employers (25 percent for tax-exempt organizations. The credit expires after 2015.
- Economic substance doctrine, effective after March 30, 2010 – the economic substance test was codified as a two-prong test, requiring that the transaction change the taxpayer's economic position in a meaningful way, and that the taxpayer has a substantial business purpose for the transaction.
- Over-the-counter limitations for health accounts, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2010 – health accounts, such as flexible spending arrangements, health reimbursement arrangements, health savings accounts, and Archer Medical Savings Accounts, can only reimburse expenses for medicine and drugs if the item is a prescription drug (or insulin).
- Indoor tanning services excise tax, effective on or after July 1, 2010 – amounts paid for indoor tanning services are subject to a 10-percent excise tax. Tanning salons must collect the tax and pay it quarterly.
- Itemized deduction for medical expenses, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2012 – the threshold for deducting medical expenses as an itemized deduction is raised from 7.5 percent to 10 percent of adjusted gross income.
- Additional 0.9% Medicare tax, effective after December 31, 2012 – an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax is imposed on wages and self-employment income of higher-income individuals: individuals – above $200,000; married filing jointly – above $250,000; married filing separately – above $125,000.
- 3.8% Medicare contribution tax, effective after December 31, 2012 – a 3.8 percent Medicare tax is imposed on unearned income for higher-income individuals, including interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents and other passive income.
- Medical device excise tax, effective for sales after December 31, 2012 – a 2.3 percent excise tax is imposed on sales of certain medical devices by manufacturers, producers and importers. Retail items such as eyeglasses are excluded from the tax.
- Employer shared responsibility, effective after December 31, 2013 – the "employer mandate": an applicable large employer (50 or more full-time employees) must make a payment if any full-time employee can receive the premium tax credit. The payment is required if the employer does not offer minimum essential coverage, or offers coverage that is not affordable.
- Branded prescription drug fees, effective for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2010 – an annual fee imposed on manufacturers and importers with receipts from branded prescription drug sales.
- Sec. 36B premium assistance credit, effective for tax years ending after December 31, 2013 – lower-income individuals who obtain health insurance coverage through an insurance exchange may qualify for the credit, unless they are eligible for other minimum essential coverage.
- Excise tax on high-dollar insurance, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 – employer-sponsored health coverage whose cost exceeds a threshold amount ($10,200 for self-on coverage; $27,500 for other coverage) will be subject to a 40-percent excise tax.
Looking ahead
Employers, taxpayers – indeed everyone – must prepare for sweeping changes in health care in coming years. Many of the provisions in the PPACA have already been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. Other provisions, as the above list indicated, are scheduled to take effect after 2012. The Supreme Court's upholding of the PPACA clears the way for full implementation of the new law (unless a future Congress votes to repeal the law, which at this point would be an uphill battle). Our office will keep you posted of developments and the steps you need to take in the coming months.
Yes, penalty relief under the IRS Fresh Start initiative was a one-time offer, which required individuals to file Form 1127-A, Application for Extension of Time for Payment of Income Tax for 2011 Due to Undue Hardship, by April 17, 2012.
Penalties
The Tax Code imposes penalties on individuals who fail to file a return when one is required to be filed and on individuals who fail to pay any tax by the due date. Often, taxpayers find that penalties can be more onerous than the taxes actually owed.
The penalty for filing a return late is generally five percent of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that a return is late. The IRS has explained that this penalty will not exceed 25 percent of your unpaid taxes. Individuals who fail to pay their taxes by the due date, generally are liable for a failure-to-pay penalty of one-half of one percent of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month after the due date that the taxes are not paid. The IRS has cautioned that the penalty can be as much as 25 percent of the unpaid taxes.
If both the failure-to-file penalty and the failure-to-pay penalty apply in any month, the failure-to-file penalty is reduced by the failure-to-pay penalty. However, if you file your return more than 60 days after the due date or extended due date, the minimum penalty is the smaller of $135 or 100 percent of the unpaid tax.
Generally, the period of delinquency runs from the day after the due date of the return until the return is actually received by the IRS. In determining the number of months for which the penalty is imposed, the due date of the return determines when months begin and end. Individual returns for 2011 were due April 17, 2012.
Fresh Start relief
In early 2012, the IRS announced special penalty relief for individuals who found themselves unable to pay their taxes by the April 17 due date. This relief was part of the IRS’ “Fresh Start” initiative.
Penalty relief was available to two groups:
- Wage earners who had been unemployed at least 30 consecutive days during 2011 or in 2012 up to the April 17, 2012 deadline for filing a federal tax return this year.
- Self-employed individuals who experienced a 25 percent or greater reduction in business income in 2011 due to the economy.
The taxpayer also had to have adjusted gross income of less than $100,000 (or $200,000 for a married couple filing a joint return). Additionally, the amount owed to the IRS had to be less than $50,000.
Under the Fresh Start initiative, interest runs on the 2011 taxes until the tax is paid. However, no failure-to-pay penalties will be incurred if tax, interest and any other penalties are paid in full by October 15, 2012.
Deadline passed
The IRS required taxpayers to file Form 1127-A to request penalty relief by April 17, 2012. At this time, it appears that the IRS is not bending this rule. However, the IRS could adjust its approach. If the IRS announces any changes, our office will keep you posted.
As an individual or business, it is your responsibility to be aware of and to meet your tax filing/reporting deadlines. This calendar summarizes important tax reporting and filing data for individuals, businesses and other taxpayers for the month of July 2012.
July 5
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates June 27–29.
July 9
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates June 30–July 3.
July 10
Employees who work for tips. Employees who received $20 or more in tips during June must report them to their employer using Form 4070.
July 11
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates July 4–6.
July 13
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates July 7–10.
July 18
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates July 11–13.
July 20
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates July 14–17.
July 25
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates July 18–20.
July 27
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates July 21–24.
August 1
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates July 25–27.
August 3
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates July 28–31.
Hopes for a pre-election resolution to the fate of the Bush-era tax cuts, extenders and other tax incentives are quickly fading as summer approaches. This year is increasingly looking like a replay of 2010, the last time the Bush-era tax cuts were facing imminent expiration. The White House, the Democratic-controlled Senate and the GOP-controlled House all have different opinions on the fate of these tax incentives and negotiations, which have been few and far between, and have quickly bogged down. One solution, which is being talked about more and more, is a temporary extension of the tax cuts. While this would punt the issue to the next Congress, it does little to ease taxpayers’ concerns about tax planning in a climate of constant uncertainty.
Hopes for a pre-election resolution to the fate of the Bush-era tax cuts, extenders and other tax incentives are quickly fading as summer approaches. This year is increasingly looking like a replay of 2010, the last time the Bush-era tax cuts were facing imminent expiration. The White House, the Democratic-controlled Senate and the GOP-controlled House all have different opinions on the fate of these tax incentives and negotiations, which have been few and far between, and have quickly bogged down. One solution, which is being talked about more and more, is a temporary extension of the tax cuts. While this would punt the issue to the next Congress, it does little to ease taxpayers’ concerns about tax planning in a climate of constant uncertainty.
Bush-era tax cuts
Unless extended, the tax cuts in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) and the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (JGTRRA) (as extended by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010) will sunset after December 31, 2012. The list of expiring tax incentives is long and includes reduced individual income tax rates and capital gains/dividends tax rates; the $1,000 child tax credit; enhancements to the earned income tax credit (EIC); and much more.
On May 15, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said that the House will vote before the November elections on legislation to extend the Bush-era tax cuts. Boehner gave no timetable for a vote. It is unclear at this time if the GOP plans to vote on making the Bush-era tax cuts permanent or merely to extend them one or two more years. Also unclear is whether or not any extension would be offset with revenue raisers elsewhere. Even if the House votes on the tax cuts, there is no guarantee the Senate will take them up.
Complicating matters is the federal budget deficit. After months of partisan wrangling last year, Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA). The BCA imposes mandatory, across-the-board spending cuts through sequestration. The BCA’s spending cuts are scheduled to take effect in 2013. The GOP wants to repeal the BCA and on May 10, the House approved legislation to effectively do that. The GOP bill has no chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate. So the BCA remains, for now, law.
Few Capitol Hill observers expect Congress to take any meaningful action on the Bush-era tax cuts before the November elections. This leaves the fate of the Bush-era tax cuts to the lame duck Congress. Depending on the outcome of the November elections, the lame duck Congress could do nothing and allow the Bush-era tax cuts to expire, make the tax cuts permanent, or – and this appears to be the most likely scenario – extend the tax cuts for one year. Either way, the uncertainty complicates tax planning for 2012 and beyond.
Small businesses
Lawmakers are also dueling over competing small business tax bills. The House has approved the GOP-sponsored Small Business Tax Cut Act. The GOP bill would, among other provisions, provide a deduction for 20 percent of qualified domestic business income of the taxpayer for the tax year, subject to limitations. In the Senate, the Democrats’ small business bill would give a 10 percent income tax credit to small employers that increase wages or create jobs in 2012 and extend 100 percent bonus depreciation through 2012 (which had expired at the end of 2011). If the Senate approves the Democratic bill, the two chambers could iron-out the differences in the bills in conference.
Tax extenders
Since January, supporters of the tax extenders have tried several times, all unsuccessfully, to attach the extenders to other bills. Some of the extenders were initially attached to the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which extended the employee-side payroll tax cut for all of calendar year 2012, but were subsequently dropped. Supporters also tried to include many of the extenders, especially energy-related tax incentives, to the Senate’s highway funding bill: the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act. At the last minute, the extenders were removed from the Senate bill.
A drag on the extenders is their estimated cost to the federal budget. According to the Congressional Research Service, renewing all of the extenders for 2012 would cost $35 billion. This is one reason why supporters have tried to move only some of the extenders. There have also been calls in Congress to let some of the extenders expire permanently; but every extender has its supporter.
Federal estate tax
Another big question mark hovers over the federal estate tax. Unless Congress acts, the federal estate tax is schedule to revert to its pre-EGTRRA levels (a top tax rate of 55 percent with a $1 million exclusion). In 2010, the White House and the GOP agreed on a top tax rate of 35 percent with a $5 million exclusion (indexed for inflation) for decedents dying in 2011 and 2012 (special rules applied to decedents dying in 2010). The GOP has proposed to eliminate the estate tax entirely or, if not abolished, to retain the 35/$5 million amounts for decedents dying after 2012; the White House has proposed to reduce the exclusion amount to $3.5 million.
Our office will monitor developments and keep you posted of any changes. If you have any questions about legislative developments, please contact our office.
Code Sec. 1231 applies to gains and losses from property used in the trade or business and from involuntary conversions. Normally, you have to determine whether property is a capital asset or is ordinary income property. Property generally can’t be both. However, Code Sec. 1231 allows you to “have it” both ways. Any gains are taxed at low capital gains rates (generally 15 percent for 2012), and any losses are treated as ordinary losses, taxable at more favorable ordinary loss rates, and available (without limit) to offset other ordinary income.
Who qualifies?
Code Sec. 1231 gains include:
--Recognized gains on the sale or exchange of property used in the trade or business; and
--Recognized gains from the involuntary or compulsory conversion (into money or other property) of property used in a trade or business, or of property held for more than one year and either used in the trade or business or used in a transaction entered into for profit.
Property used in a trade or business is property that is subject to depreciation and held by the taxpayer for more than one year.
Code Sec. 1231 losses are any recognized loss from a sale, exchange, or conversion of the same categories of property.
A win-win equation
Gains and losses from these transactions are referred to as Code Sec. 1231 gains and Code Sec. 1231 losses. The character of the gain or loss depends on whether Code Sec. 1231 gains exceed Code Sec. 1231 losses for the tax year. If the Code Sec. 1231 gains exceed the Code Sec. 1231 losses, then all of the Code Sec. 1231 gains and losses are treated as long-term capital gains and losses. The result is a net long-term capital gain. This amount can then be netted with other capital gains and losses.
Code Sec. 1231 does not apply to depreciation that must be recaptured as ordinary income under either Code Sec. 1245 (depreciable personal property and certain real property) or Code Sec. 1250 (depreciable real property that is not Code Sec. 1245 property).
If, however, the Code Sec. 1231 losses equal or exceed the Code Sec. 1231 gains, then all of the Code Sec. 1231 gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and losses. The net result is an ordinary loss, which can offset other ordinary income.
The just-released 2011 IRS Data Book provides statistical information on IRS examinations, collections and other activities for the most recent fiscal year ended in 2011. The 2011 Data Book statistics, when compared to the 2010 version, shows, among other things, a notable increase in the odds of being audited within several high-income categories.
Individual audits
Individual taxpayers collectively were audited at a 1.1% rate over the FY 2011 period, based on 1,564,690 audited returns out of the 140,837,499 returns that were filed. While this rate is about the same as in 2010, variations occurred within the income ranges. An uptick was particularly noticeable in the upper brackets (see statistics, below).
Both correspondence and field audits were counted within the statistics. Correspondence audits accounted for 75% of all audits for FY 2011 (down from 77.1% in FY 2010), while audits conducted face-to-face by revenue agents were only 25% of the total, albeit representing an increase from the 21.7% level in FY 2010. Business returns and higher-income individuals are more likely to experience an audit by a revenue agent; while correspondence audits are generally single-issue audits, a revenue agent is likely to explore other issues "while he or she is there."
Examination coverage: individuals
The following audit statistics taken from the FY 2011 Data Book (and contrasted with FY 2010 Data Book stats) show an increase in the audit rate especially in proportion to adjusted gross income (AGI) level:
- No AGI: 3.42% (3.19% in 2010)
- Under $25K: 1.22% (1.18% in 2010)
- $25K-$50K: 0.73% (0.73% in 2010)
- $50K-$75K: 0.83% (0.78% in 2010)
- $75K-$100K: 0.82% (0.64% in 2010)
- $100K-$200K: 1.00% (0.71% in 2010)
- $200K-$500K: 2.66% (1.92% in 2010)
- $500K-$1M: 5.38% (3.37% in 2010)
- $1M-$5M: 11.80% (6.67% in 2010)
- $5M-$10M: 20.75% (11.55% in 2010)
- $10M and over: 29.93% (18.38% in 2010)
Examination coverage: business returns
For individual income tax returns that include business income (other than farm returns), the 2011 audit rate statistics based upon business income (total gross receipts) reveals the IRS's recognition that audits of small business returns yield proportionately higher deficiency amounts:
- Gross receipts under $25K: 1.3% (1.2% in 2010)
- Gross receipts $25K to $100K: 2.9% (2.5% in 2010)
- Gross receipts $100K to $200K: 4.3% (4.7% in 2010)
- Gross receipts over $200K: 3.8% (3.3% in 2010)
The difference in audit rates between returns with and without business income, as measured by total positive income of at least $200K and under $1M provide further evidence of the IRS's tendency toward auditing business returns: 3.6% for returns with business income versus 3.2% without in FY 2011 (2.9% versus 2.5% in FY 2010).
Corporate/other returns
The audit rates for corporations are consistent with the deficiency experience that the IRS has had examining corporations of varying sizes. Some selected audit rates include:
- For small corporations showing total assets of $250K to $1M, the audit rate for FY 2011 was 1.6% (1.4% in 2010); $1M to $5 million, the rate was 1.9% (1.7% in 2010), and for $5M to $10M, the rate was 2.6% (3% in 2010).
- For larger corporations showing total assets of $10M-$50M, the audit rate was 13.3% (13.4% in 2010) in contrast to those at the top end with total assets from $5B to $20B (50.5% (45.3% in 2010)).
- For S corporations and partnerships, the overall audit rate was 0.4% (same as in 2010), in contrast to an overall 1.5% rate for corporations (1.4% in 2010).
Building on earlier steps to help taxpayers buffeted by the economic slowdown, the IRS recently enhanced its "Fresh Start" initiative. The IRS has announced penalty relief for unemployed individuals who cannot pay their taxes on time and has increased the threshold amount for streamlined installment agreements.
Fresh Start
Many of the actions that economically-distressed taxpayers would like the IRS to take it cannot by law. The IRS cannot stop interest from accruing on unpaid taxes. The IRS also cannot move the filing deadline.
However, the IRS recognized that it can take some actions to help taxpayers who want to pay their taxes but cannot because of job loss or under-employment. In 2011, the IRS launched its Fresh Start initiative. The IRS made some taxpayer-friendly changes to its lien processes and also enhanced its streamlined installment agreement program for small businesses.
Installment agreements
An installment agreement allows taxpayers to pay taxes in smaller amounts over a period of time. Generally, individuals who owe less than $25,000 may qualify for a streamlined installment agreement. "Streamlined" means that taxpayers do not have to file extra information with the IRS, such as Collection Information Statement (Form 433-A or Form 433-F). The streamlined process is intended to be as simple as possible.
Effective immediately, the IRS has increased the threshold for entering into a streamlined installment agreement to $50,000. The maximum term for streamlined installment agreements has also been raised to 72 months from the current 60 month maximum. Taxpayers generally must pay an installment agreement fee and the IRS charges interest.
Before entering into an installment agreement, taxpayers should explore other options. It may be less expensive to pay your taxes on time with a credit card or a loan. Our office can help you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of an installment agreement.
Unemployed taxpayers
Taxes must be paid when due. This year, the deadline for filing individual returns is April 17, 2012. Taxpayers may request an automatic six-month extension but an extension does not provide additional time to pay.
Individuals who do not file by the deadline may be subject to a failure-to-file penalty. The IRS also may impose a failure-to-pay penalty if a taxpayer does not pay by the due date. The rules for the penalties are inter-related and are also complex.
Both the failure-to-file penalty and the failure-to-pay penalty may apply in any month. In these cases, the five percent failure-to-file penalty is reduced by the failure-to-pay penalty. However, if you file your return more than 60 days after the due date or extended due date, the minimum penalty is the smaller of $135 or 100 percent of the unpaid tax.
Now, the IRS is granting a six-month grace period on failure-to-pay penalties to certain wage earners and self-employed individuals. The IRS explained that the request for an extension of time to pay will result in relief from the failure to pay penalty for tax year 2011 only if the tax, interest and any other penalties are fully paid by October 15, 2012.
Penalty relief is not available to all individuals. The IRS is limiting penalty relief to:
--Wage earners who have been unemployed at least 30 consecutive days during 2011 or in 2012 up to the April 17 deadline for filing a federal tax return this year.
--Self-employed individuals who experienced a 25 percent or greater reduction in business income in 2011 due to the economy.
Penalty relief is also subject to income limits. Your income must not exceed $200,000 if your filing status is married filing jointly or not exceed $100,000 if your filing status is single or head of household.
Additionally, the IRS has imposed a cap on the balance due. Penalty relief is restricted to taxpayers whose calendar year 2011 balance due does not exceed $50,000.
If you have any questions about the IRS Fresh Start initiative, please contact our office.
Sometimes in a rush to file your income tax return, you may unintentionally overlook some income that had to be reported, or a deduction that you should or should not have taken. Now what? The solution is usually straightforward: you should file what is called an amended return.
Taxable income is measured on an annual basis so you cannot generally wait on correcting a mistake by “making up the difference” on the return that you file next year. You need to make the correction(s) directly on a revised return for the same tax year. Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, is used to amend any individual income tax return. Income tax returns other than individual income tax returns or returns filed on Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, or Form 1120-A, U.S. Corporation Short Form Income Tax Return, are amended by filing the same form originally used to file the return. Partnerships may use Form 1065X. Amended returns should clearly be marked as such. Some return forms such as Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts, contain a box to be checked if it is being filed as an amended return. For returns other than income tax returns, Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement, is used to claim a refund.
To amend a non-income tax return other than to claim a refund, the same form originally used to file the return generally should be used. Estate tax returns cannot be amended after they are due. However, supplemental information may be filed that can change the amount of estate tax due from the amount shown on the return.
When to file an amended return. A taxpayer must file an amended return and pay the additional tax due if the taxpayer omitted an item of income or incorrectly claimed a deduction for a tax year for which the limitation period is still open. A tax year ordinarily remains open for three years from the filing of a return. The three-year period starts running the day after the return is filed. A return that is filed early is treated as filed on the due date of the return. The limitations period on assessment for which a return remains open does not start over if an amended return is filed.
If you realize that you made a mistake on your return that is not in IRS’s favor, it is best to correct it through filing an amended return as soon as possible. If the IRS starts to audit you and finds the mistake first before you file your amended return, it can assess penalties on the original amount and treat you as if you had not come forward voluntarily on your own.
Special disaster loss option. Not all amended returns are filed to correct a mistake. One in particular –claiming a disaster loss—may be filed to effectively accelerate a casualty-loss deduction. A taxpayer may elect to deduct a disaster loss in the year of occurrence or the immediately preceding year. To qualify for the election, the loss must occur in a federally-declared disaster area. The election is made on a return (if you have not filed your return yet for the preceding tax year), an amended return or a refund claim. The amount of the deduction is determined using the casualty loss limitations.
As an individual or business, it is your responsibility to be aware of and to meet your tax filing/reporting deadlines. This calendar summarizes important tax reporting and filing data for individuals, businesses and other taxpayers for the month of April 2012.
April 4
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates March 28–30.
April 6
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates March 31–April 3.
April 10
Employees who work for tips. Employees who received $20 or more in tips during March must report them to their employer using Form 4070.
April 11
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates April 4–6.
April 13
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates April 7–10.
April 17
Individuals. Individuals file a 2011 income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040EZ) and pay any tax due (an automatic six-month extension to file (but not to pay) is available).
Partnerships. File of 2011 calendar year return (Form 1065). Provide each partner with a Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., or a substitute Schedule K-1.
April 19
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates April 11–13.
April 20
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates April 14–17.
April 25
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates April 18–20.
April 27
Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for payroll dates April 21–24.