Category Archives: IRS

The NAEA Won’t Like This Post

I’m a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents. Generally, I’m supportive of their policies. However, I am not a fan of mandatory preparer regulation. Other than giving the IRS more money and getting rid of the lowest hanging … Continue reading

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IRS Removes Social Security Number from Some Notices But…

The IRS has begun removing social security numbers from some IRS notices in the header (leaving just the last four digits, such as xxx-xx-1234). The reason for this is the problem of identity theft. And I give kudos to the … Continue reading

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Sergeant Schultz to the Rescue!

Back in the 1960s there was a television show called Hogan’s Heroes. The comedy was set in a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany during World War II. One of the characters on the show was Sergeant Schultz. Here’s an excerpt via … Continue reading

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When Even IRS Employees Are Tempted to Commit Identity Theft…

…you know there’s a huge problem. Especially given that the employee should realize that the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) does look at alleged criminal activities by IRS employees. Yet it happens. Take Kenneth Goheen of Austin. Mr. … Continue reading

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IRS Data Breach Impacted 334,000, Not 100,000 as IRS First Said

The IRS announced today that the data breach impacting the online version of the “Get Transcript” application impacted approximately 334,000 taxpayers, not the 104,000 the agency had first said. The IRS will offer free credit monitoring services to victims. The … Continue reading

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IRS: Free Identity Protection Services After a Data Breach Isn’t Includable in Income

The IRS noted Announcement 2015-22 today, that states: [T]he IRS will not assert that an individual whose personal information may have been compromised in a data breach must include in gross income the value of the identity protection services provided … Continue reading

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Scammers Now Mailing Phony IRS Letters

The phone scammers are now going to the US mail. According to both the IRS and tax professionals, the scammers are broadening their efforts. Sure, they’re now committing mail fraud but since they’re already committing one crime what’s another? So … Continue reading

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Deadline Changes for 2016 Tax Returns and 2016 FBAR

Congress passed and President Obama signed the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 in late July. That law’s primary function has nothing to do with tax; however, it will have a major impact on entity … Continue reading

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Judge Threatens IRS, Justice Department; IRS Closely Monitored Tax-Exempt Applications; IRS Responses to Exempt Organizations Were Designed to Stop Inquiries to Congress

Yes, I’m still on vacation. But twin developments in the IRS scandal force me to post. Yesterday, the IRS released documents to Judicial Watch regarding the IRS scandal. Judicial Watch had sued the IRS under the Freedom of Information Act … Continue reading

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Judicial Watch: IRS Used Donor Lists to Target Audits

Remember the IRS Scandal? Well, the nuggets continue to drip out. On Friday, Judicial Watch announced that “New Documents Show IRS Used Donor Lists to Target Audits.” Here’s an excerpt: But then, in February 2011, at least five donors of … Continue reading

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