Category Archives: IRS

It’s Time to Start Your 2019 Mileage Log

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Russ

I’m going to start the new year with a couple reposts of essential information. Yes, you do need to keep a mileage log: Wednesday was the first business day of the new year for many. You may have resolved to … Continue reading →

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The Freedom of Information Act Doesn’t Allow Access to President Trump’s Tax Returns

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Russ

Section 6103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) mandates that tax returns shall be confidential. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) wanted a peak at President Trump’s tax returns; might there be income from Russia? They submitted a Freedom of … Continue reading →

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Hug Your Tax Professional, or The Upcoming Horrible, Miserable, Rotten, and Delayed Tax Season

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Russ

A question I’ve been asked many times this month: When will the 2019 Tax Season (for filing 2018 tax returns) open? The answer I’ve given is, “I don’t know.” Normally by now the IRS has released the date. As of … Continue reading →

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IRS (and All Federal Agencies) Closed Tomorrow, December 5th

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Russ

The Internal Revenue Service and all federal agencies will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, December 5th, for the national day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush. The IRS also announced today that they have granted taxpayers an extra day, until … Continue reading →

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Haste Makes Waste

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Russ

Or so the cliche goes. And for the IRS, it certainly does. A client filed his tax return on October 2nd. He had a balance due (he had made an extension payment, but he still owed some tax). He paid … Continue reading →

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A Letter on Redacted Transcripts

Posted on October 18, 2018 by Russ

About a month ago I wrote Nina Olson, the IRS National Taxpayer Advocate, regarding the IRS’s new policy on redacting transcripts. I noted several issues: 1. While an unredacted transcript is available, it is only available to taxpayers, not tax … Continue reading →

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One Tiptoe Forward for Representation, With that Giant Step Backwards Still Coming

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Russ

The IRS released a Fact Sheet today on the new transcript redaction policy that begins on Monday. There’s one very slight piece of good news for tax professionals in the Fact Sheet: If necessary for return preparation, a client may … Continue reading →

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IRS Extends Deadlines for Those Impacted by Hurricane Florence

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Russ

Hurricane Florence is battering North and South Carolina. News reports indicate “biblical” amounts of rain will fall, with catastrophic flooding probable throughout the Carolinas. Today, the IRS announced that they are extending deadlines for those in the federal disaster zone … Continue reading →

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We’re Not Gonna Take It

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Russ

The IRS issued proposed regulations today on charitable contributions as it relates to state and local tax credits. Here’s a hint to politicians in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. The IRS is telling you: Here’s an excerpt from the … Continue reading →

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One Giant Step Forward for Security (Maybe), One Huge Step Backward for Representation

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Russ

If you are a tax professional who does any representation work, do I have news for you…and it’s not good. Yesterday, the IRS made an announcement about redacting information on transcripts. Here’s an excerpt of the announcement: Moving to better … Continue reading →

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