Tax news

Tax

TIGTA Report: IRS Computer Security Center Effective, Could Be Better

The CSIRC, which is responsible for monitoring the IRS network for cyber attacks and computer vulnerabilities, "is effectively performing most of its responsibilities for preventing, detecting, and responding to computer security incidents," according to a new report publicly released by TIGTA.
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Tax

Two Tax Evasion Cases Loom over Lohan as Other Legal Issues Fade Away

According to documents filed at the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office on February 13, 2012, Lindsay Lohan never paid her federal income taxes for 2010, totaling $140,203.30. The IRS made its assessment of Lohan’s latest failure to pay on September 19, 2011. This is in addition to the $93,701.57 she still owes for 2009.
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Tax

Will the Courts Uphold IRS Efforts to License Tax Preparers?

The IRS is confident that its initiatives to increase regulation of tax preparers will be found legal, despite challenges from opponents. Last week, IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman, said the new requirements were being implemented carefully and would "help smoke out unscrupulous preparers."
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Tax

TaxMasters and CEO Cox Ordered to Pay Penalty of $195 Million

TaxMasters and its CEO Patrick Cox had been accused of defrauding consumers by promising that the firm could walk clients through audits, settle tax disputes, and recover property seized by the IRS. In 2010, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit stating that some of the company's claims were false.
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Tax

Illinois Federal Court Shuts Down "Employee Benefit Plan" Tax Scheme

On March 6, the Justice Department announced that a federal court permanently barred Tracy L. Sunderlage, Linda Sunderlage, and four companies from operating an alleged scheme to help high-income individuals attempt to avoid income taxes by funneling money through purported employee benefit plans.
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Tax

Tax Tip: How Do You Spell Tax Relief? C-a-s-u-a-l-t-y Loss

This is the ninth article in our series of tax return tips for 2011 returns. Last year was a violent year across the country due of a flurry of natural disasters. If insurance proceeds didn't make your clients whole, they may be entitled to limited tax relief on their 2011 returns.
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Tax

Alabama Woman Gets Sixty-One Months for Identity Theft and Tax Fraud

On March 13, the Justice Department and the IRS announced that Melinda Clayton of Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to sixty-one months in prison. Clayton plead guilty to conspiracy to make false claims, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. She was also ordered to pay $494,424 in restitution.
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Tax

What To Do if You Can't Pay Your Taxes

With the end of tax season just around the corner, millions may be cringing over income tax bills they simply can't afford to pay. Ignoring payment is not an option, but there are alternatives that taxpayers facing this situation should know about, according to CCH.
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Tax

Tax Tip: Add on Medical Expenses for a Nondependent

This is the eighth article in our series of tax return tips for 2011 returns. It's often difficult for taxpayers to qualify for medical expense deductions - but not impossible. Although the annual threshold is daunting, clients often overlook or ignore deductible expenses that can help pad their total.
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Tax

New Online Tool for Donors Offers Peace of Mind

The IRS has announced that is making it easier for taxpayers and tax return preparers to do their due diligence on tax-exempt organizations. It has launched a new online tool, Exempt Organizations Select Check (EO Select Check), that provides all the important information in one location (IR-2012-34).
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A&A

Update: Health Care Law under the Microscope

On March 30, the US Supreme Court held closed-door deliberations on President Obama's health care overhaul law. It is likely they cast their preliminary votes on how they will eventually rule. As the Supreme Court is known for keeping its secrets, no leaks are expected before formal opinions are written and announced from the bench. This is not expected until late June.
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AccountingWEB Life

Sales Tax Levies on Digital Downloads Facing Headwinds for Now

It is hard for legislators in cash-strapped states to ignore the explosion in the use of electronic devices - handheld computers, smart phones, iPods, iPads, and e-readers - and not view the many products these devices deliver as a basis for a new sales and use tax.
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Tax

New York State Is Attempting to Tax Its Yoga Studios

Last year, after the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision attempted to subject yoga studios to licensing regulations, the proposed "Yoga Bill" was signed into law by Governor Paterson on March 24, 2010. The bill exempts yoga and martial arts studios from state educational certification.
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Education & Careers

Tax Tip: Spell Out Tax Rules for Business Education

This is the seventh article in our tax return tips for 2011 returns. Did any of your clients go "back to school" in 2011? They may be entitled to a tax deduction for their unreimbursed education costs as employee business expenses. But the tax rules aren't exactly back and white - there's plenty of "gray area."
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Tax

Maryland CPAs Are Fighting Proposed Tax on Professional Services

Maryland CPAs are mounting a coordinated effort to fight a proposed sales and use tax on professional services that will specifically apply to management consulting and tax preparation services. Lawmakers in Maryland have proposed the measure as one way to solve their budget problems.
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Tax

TIGTA Finds IRS Not Fully Compliant

According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) report that was released March 22, the IRS is not fully compliant with a federal law that requires it to eliminate and report improper payments made to taxpayers.
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Tax

AICPA Calls for Improvements to IRS Examination Program

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has raised a number of concerns with the IRS about the burden its correspondence audit program places on taxpayers selected for examination, Patricia Thompson, the chair of the AICPA Tax Executive Committee, told the IRS Oversight Board at a February 28 meeting.
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Tax

Tax Tip: A Party at Home? That's (Deductible) Entertainment!

This is the sixth article in our series of tax return tips for 2011 returns. The days of the three-martini lunch are long gone, but savvy taxpayers can still savor plenty of tax treats for entertaining their top customers. In fact, some clients may be entitled to write-offs for hosting get-togethers at their own homes.
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Tax

Refunds Showing Up Later This Year

Liberty Tax Services' CEO Rufe Vanderpool reports that there are no abnormal delays in client federal income tax refunds at this time, but individual taxpayers continue to report delays. Carmen Gorgone of H&R Block in Reno says, "Refunds are most definitely delayed. About twenty-one days."
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Tax

TaxMasters, a Tax-Resolution Firm, Is under Fire in Two States

TaxMasters, a tax-resolution firm that is up to $10 million in debt, is filing for bankruptcy protection following investigations by two attorneys general. The firm is known for its television commercials in which the red-bearded CEO, Patrick Cox, says TaxMasters can "solve your tax problems."
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Pages

Voice of the Editor

Even though any accounting auditor would tell you it seems like there are an awful lot of tax accountants out there, surely one-third of the country isn't made up of tax preparers, so it's rather startling news to learn that one-third of Americans like to do their taxes. Who knew?
Read more
Gail Perry, CPA
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, AccountingWEB
editor@accountingweb.com
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