The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Monday it would not hear two cases that could have long-ranging effects on the nexus rules followed by state taxing authorities. The cases both involved situations where states assessed income and franchise taxes to companies with no physical presence in the state.In West Virginia, Bank of America's FIA Card Services, formerly MBNA, was attempting to seek a refund of $460,000 in income and franchise taxes assessed by the state.

National CPA firm BDO Seidman LLP has been found grossly negligent by a Florida jury for failing to find fraud in an audit that resulted in costing a Portuguese Bank $170 million. The verdict opens up the opportunity for the bank to pursue punitive damages that could exceed $500 million.The audit in question was of a now-defunct financial services company, E.S. Bankest LLC, located in Miami, Florida. Two former executives of E.S.

In response to a congressional mandate for the development of a five-year plan, the Internal Revenue Service submitted to Congress the completed Taxpayer Assistance Blueprint.The Blueprint is the result of extensive IRS research conducted into the needs, preferences and behaviors of taxpayers and partners who assist them in complying with the tax laws, such as volunteer and paid tax return preparers.The plan includes a variety of specific recommendations for improving IRS services for taxpayers and partners, an important element of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the tax gap by helpin

The Florida Legislature is considering a bill establishing a tax tribunal. The tribunal would settle all disputes sought under the state’s tax laws while holding the powers of an administrative court. The bill, FL HB 1369, would allow licensed accountants, enrolled agents and attorneys would be allowed to represent taxpayers before the tribunal.

Six freshman Democratic Senators joined with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to introduce S. 614, the Middle Class Opportunity Act of 2007, which focuses on the alternative minimum tax, the dependent care credit, the child tax credit, and education credits, NAEA E@lert reports.

Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) introduced H.R. 228, a bill designed to encourage savings among low and middle-income taxpayers and by allowing the exclusion of $400 of interest income from gross income ($800 for joint filers). It also would save tax preparers the trouble of tracking down information on small amounts of interest earned. E@lert estimates that this bill is only marginally more likely to pass than another bill recently authored by Rep. Stearns that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed at the U.S. Capitol.

The Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Treasury recently issued guidance regarding how employers can rollover their health Flexible Spending Arrangements (health FSAs) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for their employees. The guidance provides a special transition rule for transfers for 2006. Under the transition rule, the amendment, election and transfer must take place by March 15, 2007.The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, Pub. L. No. 109-432, enacted Dec.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled a plan Thursday to give lower-income homeowners the same type of property tax breaks available to some senior citizens, in an attempt to fulfill a key campaign pledge, the Associated Press reports.Beginning in January, an estimated 100,000 families and individuals would be eligible for a state tax credit of up to $860 a year under the new program. The current average statewide property tax bill is $3,800 per household.“The bottom line is that people in Massachusetts have been paying more and getting less," said Patrick.

Big Four firm KPMG has received more setbacks in the firm's quest to clear its name of wrongdoing in the much-publicized tax shelter fraud scandal. Judge T. John Ward of the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ruled recently that Blips, the name of one of the tax shelters created, marketed, and sold by KPMG and the subject of ongoing legislation against 16 former KPMG employees, is not a legitimate tax shelter.Blips stands for Bond-Linked Issue Premium Structure.