Tax Law Blog
Real Estate Professionals Are Subject to Material Participation Rules
Most individuals who invest in real estate to generate rental income hate the passive activity loss rules. These rules often prevent real estate investors from benefiting from the otherwise generous deductions that are associated with real estate. In G…
TIGTA Review of the IRS’s Practices in Levying on Social Security Payments
The IRS has the power to levy on or take a taxpayer’s property. This includes nearly all property, including Social Security payments. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the agency that audits the IRS, recently released a report that examined the IRS’s practices in levying on Social Security payments. Social Security Payments TIGTA’s[…]
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The Benefits of IRS’s Streamlined Procedures for Reporting Foreign Accounts
Given its limited resources and ability to detect foreign assets, accounts and income, the IRS has offered various voluntary programs to entice taxpayers to come clean and report this information. The IRS’s OVDP program and the more recent streamlined procedures are two examples. The Maze v. Internal Revenue Service, Nos. 15-1806 (D.D.C. 2016), highlights several[…]
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Online Payment Account Triggered FBAR Filing, Poker Websites Did Not
In Hom v. United States, No. 14-16214 (9th Cir. 2016), the court addressed whether an online payment account and whether poker websites triggered FBAR filing requirements. FBAR Filing Requirements Taxpayers with an interest in or authority over certain…
Court Says Five IRS Audits in Ten Years is Not Harassment
In Appenrodt v. United States, No. 3:16-cv-02010-LB (N.D. Cal. 2016), the court concluded that the IRS did not harass a taxpayer by subjecting the taxpayer to five audits in ten years. The facts and procedural history of the case are as follows: The IRS audited Mr. Appenrodt’s individual income tax returns for tax years 2005-2008.[…]
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IRS Whistleblower Claimants May Be Entitled to Larger Awards
In Whistleblower 11099-13W v. Commissioner, 147 T.C. 3, the court indicated that it may rule on the issue of whether a whistleblower claim can include tax collected in years after the years and whether the claim can include tax collected due to changes…
Taxpayer Not Entitled to Attorneys Fees Despite Prevailing In Lawsuit
The government makes mistakes. It is not perfect. The United States v. Appelbaum, No. 5:12-CV-186 (W.D.N.C. 2016) , case provides an example. In Appelbaum, the government sued the taxpayer for nearly $4 million that the taxpayer did not owe. The questi…
A Failing Businesses can Trigger Trust Fund Recovery Penalties
Taxes are often neglected when a business is having financial difficulties. This can have serious repercussions for the business and the individuals who are responsible for having taxes withheld and remitted to the IRS. The IRS has the ability to asses…
Choosing Not to Comply With an IRS Summons
The law requires taxpayers to keep certain records. The IRS expects taxpayers to produce these records on request. The IRS has the power to issue an administrative summons if the taxpayer does not cooperate. This begs the question as to what happens if…
Seismic Surveyor Entitled to G&G Expense Deductions
In CGG Americas, Inc. v. Commissioner, 147 T.C. 2, the U.S. Tax Court concluded that a seismic surveyor is entitled to geological and geophysical (G&G) expenses deductions even though they merely gathered data for license to third parties and did not engage in exploration or development work. The facts and procedural history of the case […]
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