Critics are calling for the IRS to clarify certain rules relating to the new 3.8 percent Medicare surtax on net investment income (NII) that kicks in this year. Proposed regulations were issued in December, but advocates of business owners and estates have asked the IRS to shed more light on several murky areas.

The IRS often puts charitable deductions under the microscope. This area has been ripe for abuse in the past, but the rules for establishing and documenting gifts to charity were recently tightened.

As part of its growing efforts to stanch identity theft crime, the IRS announced the nationwide expansion of its program designed to help state and local law enforcement agencies obtain tax return data needed for their local efforts in investigating and prosecuting thieves.

Mark W. Everson, the former Commissioner of the IRS, sees a bumpy road ahead in tax circles due to pending sequester cuts, growing taxpayer identification theft, and looming health care reforms. But Everson has complete faith in the nation's tax collector's ability to rise to the challenges it will be facing.

On March 27, a federal appeals court refused to lift an injunction issued January 18 by a lower court against the IRS' effort to license tax preparers. The ruling means the IRS' requirements for mandatory testing and continuing education of all tax preparers remain suspended.

On March 27, the IRS announced the expedited processing of some 600,000 tax returns filing Form 8863, Education Credits, that were delayed due to "a problem with a limited number of software company products."

The IRS has issued its annual "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams for 2013 to remind taxpayers to use caution during tax season to protect themselves against a wide range of schemes, ranging from identity theft to impersonation of charitable organizations.

Responding to criticism by a high-ranking member of the House's tax-writing committee, the IRS now admits it should have scuttled a quirky video based on the iconic "Star Trek" TV show. But the agency continues to maintain that another video parody, this one based on "Gilligan's Island," should not be cast away.

No excuses for former Chicago Bear Christopher Zorich. He simply told the judge in March that he didn't file his taxes for 2006 to 2009 "in a timely fashion." He pled guilty on four misdemeanor counts of not filing federal income tax on more than $1 million.