Supreme Court won’t review case holding that partner must pay tax on escrowed disputed funds
The Supreme Court has declined to review a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit that an individual who was a partner in a partnership had to pay tax on his distributive share of the partnership’s income, notwithstanding that the partnership’s receipts had been placed in escrow pending the outcome of a suit by the individual against the other partner.
As you probably know by now, I specialize in representing individuals and businesses before the IRS and any taxing authority.
IRS strengthened enforcement policies, along with their new and complex tax regulations, makes it essential to properly plan for and manage IRS examinations or collections efforts in a proactive manner. Applying new dispute resolution procedures and best practices is critical to managing IRS examinations or collections, resolving disputes at the earliest point, and containing administrative and tax costs. The Tax Controversy services we offer are:
Want to stop a wage levy or a bank levy? Read on….
If you have not noticed, the IRS is getting more aggressive in their collection, and audit activities. Enforcement actions is at its highest level for years now!
Tax Return Preparer Fraud
Since I recently represented an innocent couple who were victims of Tax Return Preparer Fraud, and successfully helped them in their audit, I thought you might be interested in the info below.
Per the IRS:
In an effort to stimulate the economy, the recently-enacted Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 requires the U.S. Treasury to send rebate checks to eligible individuals.
Who qualifies for rebates, how they are calculated, and what, if anything extra, needs to be done to get one.
You’ve probably heard that the government is going to be sending rebate checks to most Americans in an effort to stimulate the economy. This letter explains, among other items, who gets rebates, how they are calculated, how higher income can reduce or eliminate a rebate, and what, if anything extra, you’ll need to do to get one.
Tax problem with capital gain taxes, S Corp capital gain tax problem
Ninth Circuit holds that gain was recognized on disputed sale in shareholder’s forced buyout
Glenn Hightower v. Comm., (CA9 2/12/2008)
IRS gets tougher on variable prepaid forward contracts with share lending arrangements Variable Prepaid Forward Contracts Incorporating Share Lending Arrangements
An IRS coordinated issue paper for all industries concludes that variable prepaid forward contract (VPFC) transactions that incorporate a share lending or similar agreement permitting the counterparty to borrow or dispose of the pledged shares results in a current taxable sale of the underlying stock.
Observation: VPFCs are sophisticated tools used by wealthy individuals with large stock gains who want to cash out some of their shares but defer the tax until a later year.
Final substitute return regs adopt temporary and proposed regs with one minor change
T.D. 9380, 2/12/2008; Reg. § 301.6020-1
In 2005, IRS issued temporary (also issued as proposed regs) that broadened the scope of when IRS-prepared substitute returns (SFR) are valid. Specifically, the temporary regs provide that a document or set of documents (including a Form 13496, Code Sec. 6020(b) Certification) signed by an authorized IRS officer or employee is a “return” under Code Sec. 6020(b) if it identifies the taxpayer by name and taxpayer identification number, contains sufficient information to compute his tax liability, and purports to be a return. IRS has now adopted the temporary and proposed regs as final regs with one minor change.
IRS tax problem, IRS penalty, IRS Tax court ruling in favor of taxpayer
Tax Court found that it could hear challenge to frivolous return penalty before rejecting summary judgment in favor of IRS
Callahan (2008), 130 TC No. 3
IRS targets tool reimbursement plans that recharacterize wages
Employee Tool & Equipment Alert
on IRS’s website https://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=178028,00.html
IRS has established a cross divisional team to address significant concerns with employee tool and equipment plans that purport to be valid accountable plans. Taxpayers that are considering implementing these plans, which are widely marketed to various industries, including the automotive, heavy equipment, construction, aircraft maintenance, agriculture, and other industries, are cautioned to be wary of them.
Tax Relief Blog