Tax Relief Blog

Poker Tournament Winnings Must be Reported to the IRS

March 8, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Starting March 2008, casinos and other sponsors of poker tournaments will be required to report most winnings to winners and the Internal Revenue Service, according to the IRS.

Mike Habib, EA
myIRSTaxRelief.com

The new requirement, which went into effect on March 4, 2008, was contained in guidance released Sept. 4 by the Treasury Department and the IRS. The guidance is designed to clear up confusion about the tax reporting rules that apply to poker tournaments. In recent years, some casinos and players have been confused over whether poker tournament sponsors who hold the money for participants in a poker tournament are required to report the winnings to the IRS and withhold tax on the winnings.

Tax audit of Exempt Organizations Non Profit Organizations

March 8, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Examination and Compliance Check Processes For Exempt Organizations

Mike Habib, EA

myIRSTaxRelief.com

Past due tax return what to do

March 8, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Help Yourself by Filing Past-Due Tax Returns

Mike Habib, EA
myIRSTaxRelief.com

Most citizens voluntarily file their tax returns and pay their taxes. Most people explain it by saying they want to pay their fair share. Others file to get a refund, claim a credit or avoid breaking the law.

Pension Protection Act of 2006 Tax Issues

March 8, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Guidance on timing of PPA-related amendments for calculating plan cash-outs starting in 2008

Mike Habib, EA
myIRSTaxRelief.com

IRS has issued guidance, in question and answer format, that addresses the timing of plan amendments made to comply with Sec. 302 of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA 2006, P.L. 109-280, Sec. 302), which changed the statutory assumptions that must be used beginning in 2008 for calculating the present value of plan cash-outs.

Retirement News for Employers

March 6, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS explains how to correct a failure to follow retirement plan terms
Retirement News for Employers

Mike Habib, EA

In its Retirement News for Employers, IRS has explained how to correct the common retirement plan mistake of failing to follow the plan terms in its operation. IRS clarified when a plan amendment can be used to correct this mistake via the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System’s (EPCRS) Self-Correction Program (SCP).

Payroll tax levy Employment tax levies Payroll Tax Problem

February 29, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS provides guidance on new rules for employment tax levies

Mike Habib, EA

The IRS has issued interim guidance to its directors and collection area offices that explains when it is permissible to issue a levy to collect employment taxes without first giving the taxpayer a pre-levy collection due process (CDP) notice.

Distressed asset trust DAT tax problem

February 28, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Distressed asset trust transactions identified as listed transactions

Mike Habib, EA

In a Notice, the IRS has identified a distressed asset trust (DAT) transaction as a listed transaction under Reg. § 1.6011-4(b)(2), Code Sec. 6111 and Code Sec. 6112. In such a transaction, a tax-indifferent party contributes one or more distressed assets with a high basis and low fair market value to a trust or series of trusts and sub-trusts, and a U.S. taxpayer acquires an interest in the trust for the purpose of shifting a built-in loss from the tax-indifferent party to the U.S. taxpayer that has not incurred the economic loss.

How to reconstruct tax records after a disaster

February 27, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Reconstructing Your Records

Mike Habib, EA

Reconstructing records after a disaster may be essential for tax purposes, getting federal assistance or insurance reimbursement. Records that you need to prove your loss may have been damaged or destroyed in a casualty. While it may not be easy, reconstructing your records may be essential for:

Is an IRS Offer In Compromise right for you? Know your options!

February 27, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Direct from the IRS

Mike Habib, EA

Is an Offer in Compromise Right for You?

What is an Offer In Compromise OIC – Why you need professional representation

February 27, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

As per the IRS Offer in Compromise

Mike Habib, EA

If taxpayers are unable to pay a tax debt in full and an installment agreement is not an option, they may be able to take advantage of an offer in compromise (OIC). Generally, an OIC should be viewed as a last resort after taxpayers have explored all other available payment options. The IRS resolves less than one percent of all balance due accounts through the OIC program.