LA - Change in procedure for roof tax credit announced The Louisiana Department of Revenue has announced that a preliminary fortified home evaluation is no longer required to qualify for the fortified roof tax credit against personal income tax. Revenue I...
MS - Ackerman restaurant tax imposed Mississippi announced that restaurants within the corporate limits of the City of Ackerman must collect the miscellaneous Ackerman Tourism and Parks and Recreation Tax beginning October 1, 2026. The M...
The IRS has issued proposed and temporary regulations under Code Sec. 530A, regarding general requirements for Trump accounts, the establishment of an initial account, including automatic enrollment by the Secretary of the Treasury, and qualified general contributions. Proposed regulations issued in March 2026 (NPRM REG-117270-25) that provided guidance on establishing Trump accounts, but did not establish automatic enrollment due to time constraints in resolving legal and administrative issues, are withdrawn. The temporary regulations apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire on September 30, 2029.
The IRS has issued proposed and temporary regulations under Code Sec. 530A, regarding general requirements for Trump accounts, the establishment of an initial account, including automatic enrollment by the Secretary of the Treasury, and qualified general contributions. Proposed regulations issued in March 2026 (NPRM REG-117270-25) that provided guidance on establishing Trump accounts, but did not establish automatic enrollment due to time constraints in resolving legal and administrative issues, are withdrawn. The temporary regulations apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and expire on September 30, 2029.
General Requirements and Establishment of an Account
A Trump account is either (1) an initial Trump account, created or organized by the Treasury Secretary for an eligible individual or (2) a rollover Trump account, which is an account created during the growth period and funded by a qualified rollover contribution from the account beneficiary's existing Trump account. The written governing instrument of a Trump account must generally meet the rules of Code Sec. 408(a)(1) through (6) and Code Sec. 530A(b)(1)(C)(i) through (iii). Any person approved by the IRS as of December 31, 2025, to be a nonbank trustee of an IRA would have automatic approval to act as a trustee of a Trump account. The written instrument must clearly identify the account as a Trump account at the time of creation.
The Secretary may make an election to establish an auto account for a qualifying individual. Another person may elect to establish a Trump account for an eligible individual by filing Form 4547 or via the electronic application or webpage made available by the Secretary. A person may claim an auto account pursuant to Temp. Reg. §1.530A-1T(d)(1)(iv) by establishing a claimed initial Trump account and having the funds in the auto account transferred to the claimed initial Trump account. On or about October 1, 2026, the Secretary shall establish an auto account for each person whom the Secretary has determined to meet the requirements of Temp. Reg. §1.530-A-1T(b)(2) to be an eligible individual, and from whom no prior election has been made. Periodic elections to establish accounts for eligible individuals will be made after that date.
Administration of an auto account is the Secretary's responsibility. During the growth period, an account may only accept qualified general contributions under Code Sec. 530A(f) and a $1,000 pilot program contribution. An auto account's only investment must be its equitable interest in the master group trust, which is a trust established for the exclusive benefit of account beneficiaries of auto accounts for purposes of holding investments of those auto accounts and meets the applicable requirements of Rev. Rul. 81-100, as modified, and is exempt from tax under Code Sec. 408(e).
Qualified General Contributions and Qualified Stock Contributions
Temp. Reg. §1.530A-7T establishes the framework for qualified general contributions to Trump accounts. A qualified general contribution must originate from an eligible donor, be accepted by the Secretary through a Treasury acceptance agreement, be made to beneficiaries within an approved class, and be allocated equally among all beneficiaries in that class. An approved class must include at least 5,000 account beneficiaries and include all account beneficiaries who are still in their growth period, reside in the specified geographic location, and born in one or more years identified in the Treasury acceptance agreement.
The regulations also create rules for qualified stock contributions, allowing eligible donors to contribute certain publicly traded stock issued by domestic corporations directly to Trump accounts. Such stock is generally subject to a minimum holding period ending on the earlier of five years after contribution or the beneficiary’s growth period ending.
Contributions made to qualifying Code Sec. 501(c)(3) organizations to fund general funding contributions are deductible under applicable charitable deduction rules, and gifts to eligible donor organizations are treated as qualifying charitable transfers. A Code Sec. 501(c)(3) organization furthers its exempt purposes by making a qualifying general funding contribution, whether directly or through a donor-advised fund. In addition, such contributions are treated as expenditures for charitable purposes and generally are not considered grants or distributions to individuals for purposes of the private foundation and donor-advised fund expenditure responsibility rules.
The IRS has released the 2026-2027 special per diem rates. Taxpayers use the per diem rates to substantiate certain expenses incurred while traveling away from home. These special per diem rates include:
1. the special transportation industry meal and incidental expenses (M&IE) rates,
2. the rate for the incidental expenses only deduction,
3. and the rates and list of high-cost localities for purposes of the high-low substantiation method.
The IRS has released the 2026-2027 special per diem rates. Taxpayers use the per diem rates to substantiate certain expenses incurred while traveling away from home. These special per diem rates include:
1. the special transportation industry meal and incidental expenses (M&IE) rates,
2. the rate for the incidental expenses only deduction,
3. and the rates and list of high-cost localities for purposes of the high-low substantiation method.
Transportation Industry Special Per Diem Rates
The special M&IE rates for taxpayers in the transportation industry are:
$80 for any locality of travel in the continental United States (CONUS), and
$86 for any locality of travel outside the continental United States (OCONUS).
Incidental Expenses Only Rate
The rate is $5 per day for any CONUS or OCONUS travel for the incidental expenses only deduction.
High-Low Substantiation Method
For purposes of the high-low substantiation method, the 2026-2027 special per diem rates are:
$329 for travel to any high-cost locality, and
$230 for travel to any other locality within CONUS.
The amount treated as paid for meals is:
$86 for travel to any high-cost locality, and
$74 for travel to any other locality within CONUS
Instead of the meal and incidental expenses only substantiation method, taxpayers may use:
$86 for travel to any high-cost locality, and
$74 for travel to any other locality within CONUS.
Taxpayers using the high-low method must comply with Rev. Proc. 2019-48, I.R.B. 2019-51, 1390. That procedure provides the rules for using a per diem rate to substantiate the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses paid or incurred while traveling away from home.
For 2027, the Social Security wage cap will be $192,300, and Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase by 3.6 percent. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments to account for inflation.
For 2027, the Social Security wage cap will be $192,300, and Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase by 3.6 percent. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments to account for inflation.
Wage Cap for Social Security Tax
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax on wages is 7.65 percent each for the employee and the employer. FICA tax has two components:
a 6.2 percent social security tax, also known as old age, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI); and
a 1.45 percent Medicare tax, also known as hospital insurance (HI).
For self-employed workers, the Self-Employment tax is 15.3 percent, consisting of:
a 12.4 percent OASDI tax; and
a 2.9 percent HI tax.
OASDI tax applies only up to a wage base, which includes most wages and self-employment income up to the annual wage cap.
For 2027, the wage base is $192,300. Thus, OASDI tax applies only to the taxpayer’s first $192,300 in wages or net earnings from self-employment. Taxpayers do not pay OASDI tax on earnings that exceed $192,300.
There is no wage cap for HI tax.
Maximum Social Security Tax for 2027
For workers who earn $192,300 or more in 2027:
an employee will pay a total of $11,922.60 in social security tax ($192,300 x 6.2 percent);
the employer will pay the same amount; and
a self-employed worker will pay a total of $23,845.20 in social security tax ($192,300 x 12.4 percent).
Additional Medicare Tax
Higher-income workers may have to pay an Additional Medicare tax of 0.9 percent. This tax applies to wages and self-employment income that exceed:
$250,000 for married taxpayers who file a joint return;
$125,000 for married taxpayers who file separate returns; and
$200,000 for other taxpayers.
The annual wage cap does not affect the Additional Medicare tax.
Benefit Increase for 2027
Finally, a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will increase social security and SSI benefits for 2027 by 3.6 percent. The COLA is intended to ensure that inflation does not erode the purchasing power of these benefits.
The IRS established the IRA Compliance Resolution System (ICRS) to permit IRA owners and custodians to correct failures related to individual retirement arrangements by submitting a request to the IRS. Failures eligible for ICRS include required minimum distribution failures and nonspouse beneficiary rollover failures. The revenue procedure will also govern requests for waivers from the 60-day rollover requirement from IRAs as well as qualified employer-sponsored plans. The revenue procedure is effective May 1, 2027.
The IRS established the IRA Compliance Resolution System (ICRS) to permit IRA owners and custodians to correct failures related to individual retirement arrangements by submitting a request to the IRS. Failures eligible for ICRS include required minimum distribution failures and nonspouse beneficiary rollover failures. The revenue procedure will also govern requests for waivers from the 60-day rollover requirement from IRAs as well as qualified employer-sponsored plans. The revenue procedure is effective May 1, 2027.
Self-Correction Not Available
The new system implements provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, P.L. 117-328, requiring expansion of the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) for qualified retirement plans to allow IRA custodians to address eligible inadvertent failures involving IRAs. The new ICRS consists of the IRA Voluntary Correction Program (IVCP), although additional correction programs may be introduced later. Self-correction of IRA failures is not currently available under ICRS. Instead, the IRA custodian or owner must make a submission to the IRS using the provided procedures and pay a fee on the Pay.gov website.
60-Day Rollover Waiver Requests
The procedure also establishes a process for requesting waivers of the 60-day rollover requirement under Code Secs. 402 and 408 through ICRS. During 2027, eligible applicants may request waivers through either ICRS or the existing private letter ruling process. Beginning in 2028, the IRS anticipates that such requests will be permitted only under ICRS.
Waiver requests may involve eligible rollover distributions from IRAs, qualified retirement plans, annuity plans, tax-sheltered annuities and governmental deferred compensation plans. Automatic waivers and waiver relief under previous guidance remains available.
The IRS updated the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), its comprehensive system of corrections programs for employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans. The updates reflect significant changes to EPCRS made by the SECURE 2.0 Act (P.L. 117-328) and subsequent guidance. Former procedures under Rev. Proc. 2021-30 are modified and superseded. The revised procedures are effective October 22, 2026.
The IRS updated the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS), its comprehensive system of corrections programs for employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans. The updates reflect significant changes to EPCRS made by the SECURE 2.0 Act (P.L. 117-328) and subsequent guidance. Former procedures under Rev. Proc. 2021-30 are modified and superseded. The revised procedures are effective October 22, 2026.
The bulk of the changes in the revised procedures reflect the SECURE 2.0 Act’s expansion of EPCRS’s Self Correction Program component to permit self-correction of eligible inadvertent failures, including plan loan failures. Other changes made by SECURE 2.0 and incorporated into the revised EPCRS include safe harbor corrections under Code Sec. 414(cc) and the recovery of retirement plan overpayments under Code Sec. 414(aa).
Other changes made in the revised revenue procedure include:
References to the availability of a separate compliance resolution system for IRA failures.
Updates reflecting changes to the determination letter and opinion letter programs.
Revisions to correction methods for SEPs and SIMPLE IRA plans.
Revisions to procedures for locating lost participants.
Revisions to the correction principle for failure to obtain spousal consent.
Changes to the Voluntary Correction Program (VCP) and the Audit Closing Agreement Program (Audit CAP), such as revised procedures for a group submission under VCP.
The IRS has issued final regulations under Code Sec. 6311 implementing changes made by the Taxpayer First Act. The regulations permit the IRS to pay fees under contracts for processing tax payments by credit or debit card, provided the fees are fully recouped from taxpayers making those payments. The regulations remove restrictions on the IRS’s payment of fees under such contracts and on the imposition of reimbursement fees on persons paying taxes by credit or debit card.
The IRS has issued final regulations under Code Sec. 6311 implementing changes made by the Taxpayer First Act. The regulations permit the IRS to pay fees under contracts for processing tax payments by credit or debit card, provided the fees are fully recouped from taxpayers making those payments. The regulations remove restrictions on the IRS’s payment of fees under such contracts and on the imposition of reimbursement fees on persons paying taxes by credit or debit card.
Payment Processing Fees
The regulations authorize the IRS to enter into contracts for receiving tax payments by credit or debit card if the contracts are cost beneficial to the government. Under certain contracts, the IRS may pay fees, charges, or other monetary consideration to payment processors. If the IRS pays fees under these contracts, it must recoup the full amount from taxpayers making payments by credit or debit card. The reimbursement fees are payable at the time of, and in addition to, the tax payment and are limited to the amounts paid by the IRS under the contracts. The IRS must seek to minimize the fees paid under these arrangements.
Under other contracts, the IRS may elect not to pay fees to payment processors. Such arrangements do not prohibit card issuers, financial institutions, or other persons participating in the transactions from imposing their own fees or charges. The IRS may not receive any portion of those fees.
Error Resolution Procedures
Payments of taxes by credit or debit card, including reimbursement fees paid under the regulations, are subject to applicable error-resolution procedures under the Truth in Lending Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, or similar state or local laws. These procedures apply to errors relating to the credit or debit card account but do not apply to disputes, errors, or adjustments concerning the underlying tax liability. Reimbursement fees paid under the regulations are not taxes imposed by the Internal Revenue Code and are not eligible for refund or credit under Code Sec. 6402.
Applicability
The final regulations amend existing regulations under Code Sec. 6311 to implement changes made by the Taxpayer First Act. The rules apply to tax payments and reimbursement fees made on or after the date of publication in the Federal Register.
The IRS has issued proposed and temporary regulations providing guidance on the new federal scholarship tax credit under Code Sec. 25F. Beginning after 2026, an individual may claim a nonrefundable federal income tax credit for contributions to certified scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) issuing scholarships to students in K-12 schools. The regulations clarify how the credit is calculated, including the treatment of state tax credits, credit carryforwards, and substantiation requirements. They also establish immediate administrative rules for SGOs and states that opt into the program and identify SGOs.
The IRS has issued proposed and temporary regulations providing guidance on the new federal scholarship tax credit under Code Sec. 25F. Beginning after 2026, an individual may claim a nonrefundable federal income tax credit for contributions to certified scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) issuing scholarships to students in K-12 schools. The regulations clarify how the credit is calculated, including the treatment of state tax credits, credit carryforwards, and substantiation requirements. They also establish immediate administrative rules for SGOs and states that opt into the program and identify SGOs.
Credit Eligibility and Calculation
An individual may claim a credit for qualified cash contributions made directly to eligible SGOs. The annual credit is generally limited to $1,700 per taxpayer or $3,400 for married individuals filing jointly. Contributions made through pass-through entities, including partnerships and S corporations, are not eligible for the credit. The taxpayer must reduce the federal tax credit by the amount of any state tax credit attributable to the same contribution before applying the federal limitation. Unused credit amounts may be carried forward for up to five years.
A taxpayer claiming the credit may not claim a charitable contribution deduction for the same contribution and must satisfy specified substantiation and reporting requirements. This includes use of a unique donor identification number on new Form 8525. The taxpayer donor must designate contributions as eligible for the credit at the time they are made. Once made, the designation is irrevocable.
A taxpayer may contribute to an eligible SGO regardless of their state of residence, allowing them to support qualifying SGOs across participating states.
Scholarship Granting Organizations
To qualify as an SGO, an organization must be recognized as a tax-exempt public charity, maintain separate accounts for qualified contributions and scholarship funds, and devote at least 90 percent of required expenditures to scholarships. SGOs must verify student eligibility, ensure scholarship funds are used solely for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses, and adopt procedures to prevent scholarships from benefiting disqualified persons. The regulations also require SGOs to register with the IRS, furnish acknowledgments to contributors, file annual reports, and maintain records demonstrating compliance with federal requirements.
State Participation
A state may elect to participate the federal scholarship tax program either through an advanced election or through the submission of a state SGO list. A state seeking to participate must annually certify eligible SGOs and provide the IRS with information demonstrating that the organizations satisfy federal requirements. The IRS will maintain and publish a nationwide list of eligible SGOs upon which taxpayers may generally rely when making contributions and claiming credits.
Applicability
Taxpayers, SGOs, and states may rely on the proposed regulations for qualified contributions beginning on or after January 1, 2027. The temporary regulations apply on or after September 1, 2026, and expire on October 1, 2029.
The Treasury Department and IRS have issued proposed regulations under Code Sec. 1062 governing the election to pay tax attributable to gain from qualified sales or exchanges of qualified farmland property in four annual installments. The proposed regulations define qualified farmland property and qualified farmers, provide rules for making the election, and address pass-through entities and acceleration events.
The Treasury Department and IRS have issued proposed regulations under Code Sec. 1062 governing the election to pay tax attributable to gain from qualified sales or exchanges of qualified farmland property in four annual installments. The proposed regulations define qualified farmland property and qualified farmers, provide rules for making the election, and address pass-through entities and acceleration events.
Qualified Farmland Property
Qualified farmland property generally is U.S. real property that was used by the taxpayer as a farm for farming purposes, or leased to a qualified farmer for farming purposes, during substantially all of the 10 years preceding the sale or exchange. The property also must be subject to a covenant prohibiting nonfarm use for 10 years following the sale or exchange. A copy of the covenant must be attached to the taxpayer's return for the taxable year of the sale or exchange.
The proposed regulations provide that certain periods of nonuse will be disregarded in applying the 10-year farming use requirement. These include periods during which property is removed from production under a government program, pursuant to recognized farming practices, or because of unforeseen events outside the taxpayer's control, provided the property continues to be maintained for farming purposes.
Election and Installment Payments
Taxpayers would make the election by filing Form 1062, Deferral of Tax on Gain from the Sale or Exchange of Qualified Farmland Property to Qualified Farmers, and Schedule A (Form 1062). Once made, the election generally may be revoked only by paying the remaining unpaid applicable net tax liability. Each installment payment equals 25 percent of the taxpayer's applicable net tax liability. The first installment generally must be paid by the return due date, determined without regard to the extensions, for the taxable year of the sale or exchange.
Pass-Through Entities and Acceleration Events
Under the proposed regulations, partners, S corporation shareholders, beneficiaries, and other owners generally may make the election with respect to applicable net tax liability arising from a qualified sale or exchange by a pass-through entity. Pass-through entities must furnish Schedule A information and the covenant to owners and beneficiaries and report each owner's allocable share of gain.
The proposed regulations also provide rules accelerating unpaid installment payments following certain events. Acceleration events include failure to timely pay an installment, the death of an individual taxpayer, and certain liquidations, dispositions of substantially all assets, and other specified events involving corporations, trusts, and estates. The proposed regulations also provide procedures under which an eligible transferee may assume the remaining installment obligations in certain transactions.
The proposed regulations would apply to qualified sales and exchanges occurring in taxable years ending after publication of final regulations in the Federal Register. Taxpayers may rely on the proposed regulations for qualified sales and exchanges occurring in taxable years beginning after July 4, 2025, provided they apply the rules consistently and in their entirety. Treasury and the IRS requested comments on the proposed regulations and requests for a public hearing within 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
As the excitement of understanding what artificial intelligence can do for the tax profession starts to subside, the conversation is beginning to shift to risk management and risk assessment. To that end, the American Institute of CPAs has launched a new initiative – the Council on AI Risk in Tax (CART) – to help tax professionals manage risk.
As the excitement of understanding what artificial intelligence can do for the tax profession starts to subside, the conversation is beginning to shift to risk management and risk assessment. To that end, the American Institute of CPAs has launched a new initiative – the Council on AI Risk in Tax (CART) – to help tax professionals manage risk.
CART was born out of a risk assessment framework recently developed by former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel that was published by AICPA after asking representatives of state tax authorities what he could do for them following his departure from the IRS.
“They said, ‘you know Danny, we are seeing so many interesting, exciting demos of AI products that really have paradigm-shifting productivity … but we don’t know what the risks are. We don’t know what questions we should ask ourselves to make sure that, as a tax authority, we are ready to deploy these powerful AI tools responsibly,” Werfel, senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Government & Policy, said in an interview, adding that they also inquired about questions they should be asking vendors about safety features and other risks they should be looking out for.
“I did some immediate research and learned that there wasn’t an AI risk framework or risk register specific to tax,” he added, leading him develop version one of the recently published risk framework.”
From there, he approached AICPA as the place to publish the framework and through those conversations, created CART as a place for tax professionals and state tax administrators to collaborate on AI risk and further refine the framework.
“With AI, it’s obviously new,” Melanie Lauridsen, AICPA vice president of tax policy and advocacy, added. It’s ever evolving. There’s a huge interest. There’s a lot of unknowns, and there’s nothing really out there right now beyond what I have seen what Danny put forward to help guide people in this area.”
The Framework
The published framework states that it is more than a simple list of “relevant risks. The formulation and activation of the list means the organization has learned to:
Define how risks show up in practice;
Assign controls;
Establish indicators; and
Make course corrections as the environment evolves.
In this way the register is part of a broader risk governance framework to help organizations chart a sensible path forward from strategy to implementation.”
The publication includes distinct frameworks for both tax authorities and tax preparers. For tax authorities, the publication highlights 20 risk areas across four categories:
Information integrity – The wrong information reaching taxpayers at scale.
Fairness and legitimacy – Disparate or unfair treatment across groups.
Security and data – Compromised systems, corrupted data, or the exploitation of sensitive taxpayer information at AI systems aggregate, surface, or make newly accessible to band actors.
Institutional capacity – Loss of the knowledge and capacity by the institution needed to govern AI responsibility over time.
For tax preparers, there are 15 risk areas across 5 categories:
Technical – Incorrect or unreliable AI outputs that establish the conditions for downstream errors.
Practice – Failures of professional judgement, documentation, or oversight.
Legal and regulatory – Increased exposure to legal liability (e.g., malpractice claims, regulatory sanctions).
Business – Erosion of client trust and firm relationships.
Workforce and Strategic – Loss of the expertise and institutional knowledge needed to practice responsibly.
The framework “establishes a notional risk register for tax authorities and presents that side-by-side with a distinct register for tax preparers,” the framework document states. “It also identifies important areas of overlap across the two.”
A Living Framework
Werfel noted that this is not intended to be a one-and-done framework, but rather a living document that he anticipates will be updated on a regular basis.
“I wanted to give myself six months of feedback and iteration,” he said. “I told CART at our kickoA meeting [that] once we issue version two after six months, then I think it’s an annual [update] from there. But in this form, version one to version two, I wanted to put a little bit more accelerated because that’s the highest risk point for it missing something big in the risk register itself.”
Lauridsen add that convening CART regularly and discussing risks and best practices associated with those risks and updating the framework “is the right approach” as opposed to trying to build a firm set of standards for risk assessment and risk management of AI.
“We don’t know what it’ll be in a month, two months, much less six months or a year,” Lauridsen said, noting the fast evolution AI is currently experiencing. “I think it would be a disservice to come forward with a standard right now.”
She continued: “Right now, it’s more best practices. Everybody’s trying to get their minds and arms around it and how to implement it.”
Werfel added that the feedback will be very important when the framework goes through future iterations, as the CART members will be able to report back when the framework works and more importantly, when it “missed the bullseye” by the cross section of accounting, law firms, government associations and AI vendors.
“My hope is that if it’s oA bullseye, we’ll hear about it and update it,” Werfel said.
He did not rule out seeing the framework converted into an industry standard somewhere down the line, but for now, the focus is to just keep this a framework that users can use as a best practices guide to assessing risks of AI tools that states and practitioners are considering for implementation.
In the near term, Werfel said that an idea was floated to CART to make a voluntary pledge to follow the framework that CART produces. It would be completely voluntary, but a pledge to follow it would be “hopefully helpful to rally attention to AI risk.”
Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said there are no plans to extend the Beneficial Ownership Information reporting deadline.
Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said there are no plans to extend the Beneficial Ownership Information reporting deadline.
"I don't think it's going to be necessary to extend the timeframe,"she testified during a July 9, 2024, House Financial Services Committeehearing, highlighting ongoing outreach and what the agency considers a good amount of reporting so far.
During the hearing, a number of committee members noted that there are still a lot of small business owners who do not know that they have this BOI reporting requirement from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and could be facing significant financial penalties that might create a financial hardship if they miss the deadline to report BOI by the end of the year.
However, Secretary Yellen does not expect this to be an issue, relying on specific wording of the reporting regulations that will help small business owners who may not be aware they have to file that could protect from the $250,000 fine associated with not filing a BOI report.
"The fine is for a ‘willful’ violation,"she said, although when pressed, she could not provide a clear definition of what constitutes a willful violation. Yellen added that"FinCEN is not going to prioritize going after small businesses."
She also noted that FinCEN is engaged in extensive and ongoing outreach to make sure small business owners are aware of and educated on the requirement to file a BOI report.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has published a SmallEntityComplianceGuide (Guide) to provide an overview of the Beneficial Ownership Information Access and Safeguards Rule (Access Rule) requirements for smallentities that obtain beneficial ownership information (BOI) from FinCEN.
TheFinancial Crimes Enforcement Network(FinCEN) has published aSmallEntityComplianceGuide(Guide) to provide an overview of theBeneficial Ownership InformationAccess and Safeguards Rule (Access Rule) requirements forsmallentitiesthat obtainbeneficial ownership information(BOI) fromFinCEN. Under theAccess Rule, issued in December 2023,BOIreported toFinCENis confidential, must be protected and may be disclosed only to certain authorized federal agencies; state, local, tribal and foreign governments; and financial institutions. Theguideincludes sections summarizing the Access Rule’s requirements that pertain tosmallfinancial institutions’ access toBOI.
Further,FinCENintends to provide access to certain categories of financial institutions with obligations under the current Customer Due Diligence (CDD) Rule. Therefore, thisGuideincludes sections summarizing the Access Rule’s requirements that pertain to thesesmallfinancial institutions only
Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen touted the corporate transparency that will come with the new beneficial ownership reporting requirements, which went into effect at the start of 2024.
Department of the Treasury Secretary JanetYellentouted the corporate transparency that will come with the new beneficial ownershipreportingrequirements, which went into effect at the start of 2024.
"“Thebenefitsof increasing corporate transparency through gatheringbeneficial ownership information– put simply, knowing who owns what – start with with protecting our national security,”"shesaidJanuary 8, 2024, at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network office in Vienna, Va."Information on beneficial ownership will support our law enforcement colleagues in making arrests, prosecuting offenders, and seizing ill-gotten assets."
She added that it will also"inform strategic, targeted actions, such as sanctions. Corporate transparency can bring economicbenefitsas well: protecting our financial system, reducing due diligence costs, enabling fair business competition, and increasing tax revenue."
More than 100,000 filings ofBOIreportshave been made in the first week of thereportingrequirement, Sec.Yellensaid.
She also emphasized that the systems that support the filing of thereports"have been designed with data security as a core priority. Companies will use a filing system through FinCEN’s website and FinCEN will store the information it received in a non-public database with rigorous controls."
Yellenalso noted that that the process to file aBOIreportis simple and small businesses should not need to hire any outside help toreportthe required information.
"A small business shouldn’t need a certified public accountant or lawyer"to file, she said.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Treasury Department today released for publication in the Federal Register final regulations [PDF 276 KB] extending the filing deadline for initial beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports under regulations becoming effective January 1, 2024, that require certain corporations, limited liability companies, and other similar entities created in or registered to do business in the United States to reportbeneficial ownership information to FinCEN (i.e., information on the persons who ultimately own or control the company). Read TaxNewsFlash
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Treasury Department today released for publication in the Federal Registerfinal regulations[PDF 276 KB] extending thefiling deadlinefor initialbeneficial ownership information(BOI)reportsunder regulations becoming effective January 1, 2024, that requirecertaincorporations, limited liability companies, and other similar entities created in or registered to do business in the United States toreportbeneficial ownership informationto FinCEN (i.e., information on the persons who ultimately own or control the company). ReadTaxNewsFlash
Under the current regulations, entities created or registered on or after the January 1, 2024 effective date must file initialBOIreportswith FinCEN within 30 days of notice of their creation or registration.
Today's final regulations extend thatfiling deadlinefrom 30 days to 90 days for entities created or registered on or after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2025, to give those entities additional time to understand the newreportingobligation and collect the necessary information to complete the filing.
Entities created or registered on or after January 1, 2025, will continue to have 30 days to file theirBOIreportswith FinCEN, as generally required under the current regulations.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has published its first set of guidance materials to aid the public, and especially the small business community, in understanding the beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements which will take effect on January 1, 2024.
TheFinancial Crimes Enforcement Network(FinCEN) has published its first set ofguidancematerials to aid the public, and especially the small business community, in understanding thebeneficial ownership information(BOI)reportingrequirements which will take effect on January 1, 2024.
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) established uniformBOIreportingrequirements for certain types of corporations, limited liability companies, and other similar entities created in or registered to do business in the United States. NewFinCENregulations require these entities toreporttoFinCENinformation about their"beneficial owners"—the persons who ultimately own or control the company.
In an effort to make the process as simple as possible, particularly for small businesses who may have never heard of or interacted withFinCENbefore,FinCENhas placed several items on itsBOIreportingwebpage (https://www.fincen.gov/boi), including:
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would implement the beneficial ownership information provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) that govern access to and protection of beneficial ownership information.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would implement the beneficial ownership information provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) that govern access to and protection of beneficial ownership information. The proposed regulations address the circumstances under which beneficial ownership information may be disclosed to certain governmental authorities and financial institutions, and how that information must be protected.
The proposed regulations would—
specify how government officials would access beneficial ownership information in support of law enforcement, national security, and intelligence activities;
describe how certain financial institutions and their regulators would access that information to fulfill customer due diligence requirements and conduct supervision; and
set high standards for protecting this sensitive information, consistent with CTA goals and requirements.
The NPRM also proposes amendments to the final reporting rule issued on September 30, 2022, effective January 1, 2024, to specify when reporting companies may report FinCEN identifiers associated with entities.
Limiting Access to Beneficial Ownership Information
The NPRM follows the final reporting rule which requires most corporations, limited liability companies, and other similar entities created in or registered to do business in the United States, to report information about their beneficial owners to FinCEN. Per CTA requirements, the proposed regulations limit access to beneficial ownership information to—
federal agencies engaged in national security, intelligence, or law enforcement activities;
state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies, if authorized by a court of competent jurisdiction;
financial institutions with customer due diligence requirements, and federal regulators supervising them for compliance with those requirements;
foreign law enforcement agencies, judges, prosecutors, central authorities, and other agencies that meet specific criteria, and whose requests are made under an international treaty, agreement, or convention, or via law enforcement, judicial, or prosecutorial authorities in a trusted foreign country; and
U.S. Treasury officers and employees whose official duties require beneficial ownership information inspection or disclosure, or for tax administration.
The proposed regulation would subject each authorized recipient category to unique security and confidentiality protocols that align with the scope of the access and use provisions.
Proposed Effective Date
FinCEN is proposing an effective date of January 1, 2024, to align with the date when the final beneficial ownership information reporting rule becomes effective.
Request for Comments
Interested parties can submit written comments on the NPRM by or before February 14, 2023 (60 days following publication in the Federal Register). Comments may be submitted by the Federal E-rulemaking Portal (regulations.gov), or by mail to Policy Division, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, P.O. Box 39, Vienna, VA 22183. Refer to Docket Number FINCEN-2021-0005 and RIN 1506-AB49/AB59.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a final rule implementing the beneficial ownership information reporting provisions under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( P.L. 116-283). The CTA amended the Bank Secrecy Act by adding a new provision on beneficial ownership reporting ( 31 USC §5336).
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a final rule implementing the beneficial ownership information reporting provisions under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( P.L. 116-283). The CTA amended the Bank Secrecy Act by adding a new provision on beneficial ownership reporting ( 31 USC §5336).
The rule is intended to (1) enhance the ability of FinCEN and other agencies to protect U.S. national security and the U.S. financial system from illicit use, and (2) provide essential information to national security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies, state, local, and tribal officials, and financial institutions, to help prevent illicit actors from laundering or hiding money and other assets in the United States.
The rule requires reporting companies to file reports with FinCEN that identify the beneficial owners of the entity and the entity’s company applicants. The rule also describes who must file a report, what information must be reported, and when a report is due.
Reporting Companies
There are two types of reporting companies: domestic and foreign. A domestic reporting company is a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or any entity created by filing a document with a secretary of state or any similar office under state or tribal law. A foreign reporting company is an entity formed under the law of a foreign country that is registered to do business in a state or tribal jurisdiction by filing a document with a secretary of state or any similar office.
FinCEN expects limited liability partnerships, limited liability limited partnerships, business trusts, and most limited partnerships to be reporting companies. FinCEN also expects companies with simple management and ownership structures to be the majority of reporting companies.
Twenty-three types of entities are exempt from “reporting company” treatment, including certain governmental authorities, tax-exempt organizations, banks, broker or dealers, investment companies, insurance companies, accounting firms, and others.
An entity that is a “large operating company” is not a reporting company if it:
employs more than 20 full time employees in the United States;
has an operating presence at a physical office within the United States; and
filed a federal income tax or information return in the United States for the previous year demonstrating over $5,000,000 in gross receipts or sales (excluding gross receipts or sales from sources outside the United States).
Other legal entities, including certain trusts, are also excluded to the extent that they are not created by filing a document with a secretary of state or similar office.
Beneficial Owners
A beneficial owner includes any individual who, directly or indirectly, either (1) exercises substantial control over a reporting company, or (2) owns or controls at least 25 percent of the ownership interests of a reporting company. The rule defines “substantial control” and “ownership interest.”
A beneficial owner does not include a minor child; an individual acting as a nominee, intermediary, custodian, or agent on behalf of another individual; a reporting company employee (but not a senior officer) whose substantial control over or economic benefits from the entity are derived solely from his or her employment status; an individual whose only interest in a reporting company is a future interest through right of inheritance; or a creditor of a reporting company.
Company Applicants
A company applicant is: (1) the individual who directly files the document that creates the entity (for a foreign reporting company, the document that first registers the entity to do business in the United States); and (2) the individual who is primarily responsible for directing or controlling the filing of the relevant document by another.
Reporting companies existing or registered on the effective date of the rule are not required to identify and report on their company applicants. Reporting companies formed or registered after the effective date must report company applicant information but do not need to update it.
Beneficial Ownership Information Reports
In the report filed with FinCEN, a reporting company must identify itself and report four pieces of information about each of its beneficial owners: name, birth date, address, and a unique identifying number and issuing jurisdiction from an acceptable identification document (and the image of that document). Reporting companies created after January 1, 2024, must also provide this information and document image for company applicants.
An individual who provides his or her information to FinCEN directly can obtain a unique identifying number assigned by FinCEN (“FinCEN identifier") which can then be provided to FinCEN on a report instead of the required information about the individual.
Effective Date and Reporting Deadlines
The rule is effective January 1, 2024. Reporting companies created or registered before the effective date have until January 1, 2025, to file their initial reports. Reporting companies created or registered after the effective date have 30 days after receiving notice of their creation or registration to file their initial reports.
A reporting company has 30 days to report changes to the information in its previously filed reports. It also must correct inaccurate information in previously filed reports within 30 days of when it becomes aware or has reason to know of the inaccuracy.
FinCEN has provided afact sheetwhich summarizes the new rule.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is behind but making progress on implementing the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (which includes the Corporate Transparency Act), FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das told Congress.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is behind but making progress on implementing the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (which includes the Corporate Transparency Act), FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das told Congress.
According to writtentestimonyprovided to the House Committee on Financial Services prior to an April 28, 2022,hearing, Das noted that"timely and effective implementation of the AML Act, which includes the CTA, is a top priority,"but he also acknowledged that"we are missing deadlines, and we will likely continue to do so"due to lack of funding from the government forcing the agency to make prioritization decisions, promoting Dim to advocate for Congress to accept the White House budget request of $210.3 million for fiscal year 2023.
That being said, Das highlighted the implementation progress to date.
"The AML Act has helped put FinCEN in the position to address today’s challenges, such as illicit use of digital assets, corruption, and kleptocrats hiding their ill-gotten gains in the U.S. financial system, including through American shell companies and real estate."
Combating the latter is a key focus of the activity surrounding the Corporate Transparency Act that the agency is undertaking. The CTA"will establish a beneficial ownership reporting regime to assist law enforcement in unmasking shell companies used to hide illicit activities,"Das said, adding that beneficial ownership information"can add valuable context to financial analysis in support of law enforcement and tax investigations"in addition to providing information to the intelligence and national security professionals protecting the nation.
FinCEN has three regulations planned to implement the CTA, the first of which was published in the Federal Register in December 2021 as a notice of proposed rulemaking and is focused on the reporting requirements of beneficial ownership. The agency is currently reviewing the more than 240 comments received on this NPRM. Das said the timing of when the rule would be finalized"is not clear yet. It is a complex rulemaking that we need to get right—both for law enforcement and because of the effect that it will have on stakeholders such as small businesses and financial institutions."
The second NPRM under development will rules around access to beneficial ownership information by law enforcement, national security agencies, financial institutions, and other relevant stakeholders. That proposed rule is expected to be issued this year.
Finally, FinCEN also is working on a revision to the Customer Due Diligence regulation, which must be issued one year after the reporting requirement rule goes into effect. Dim did not provide a timeframe for when that proposal would be available for comment.
The agency also is developing a beneficial ownership database, known as the Beneficial Ownership Secure System.
"These beneficial ownership reporting obligations will make our economy—and the global economy—stronger and safer from criminals and national security threats,"Das said.
FinCEN also is looking at the real estate market to close gaps in the nation’s anti-money laundering framework. Din referenced an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking that was issued in December 2021 to solicit comments on developing a rule to address money-laundering vulnerabilities in the real estate market. The ANPRM generated 150 comments and will ultimately lead to a proposed rule, although he said that"it is still too early to identify the scope of any NPRM or final rule."
The agency also is examining how to use its information collection authorities to enhance transparency and understand money laundering and terrorism financing through investment advisers.
"Even though investment advisers in the United States are not expressly subject to AML/CFT requirements under BSA [Bank Secrecy Act] regulations, investment advisers may fulfill some AML/CFT obligations in certain circumstances,"Das said."For example, investment advisers may perform certain AML/CFT functions because they are a part of a bank holding company, are affiliated with a dually-registered broker-dealer, or share joint custody with a BSA-regulated entity such as a mutual fund."
The testimony outlines a number of other AML Act requirements that the agency is working on, including understanding minimum standards for AML/CFT programs, certain information sharing requirements, technology, and training requirements and other modernization efforts.
"The FinCEN team is working diligently with law enforcement and regulatory stakeholders to promulgate rules and take other steps under the legislation that will further the national security of the United States and promote a more transparent financial system,"Das concluded.
Transactions involving digital content and cloud computing have become common due to the growth of electronic commerce. The transactions must be classified in terms of character so that various provisions of the Code, such as the sourcing rules and subpart F, can be applied.
Transactions involving digital content and cloud computing have become common due to the growth of electronic commerce. The transactions must be classified in terms of character so that various provisions of the Code, such as the sourcing rules and subpart F, can be applied.
Digital Content Transactions Existing Reg. §1.861-18 provides rules for classifying transactions involving computer programs. The proposed regulations broaden the scope of the rules to apply to all transfers of digital content. "Digital content" is defined as any content in digital format that is either protected by copyright law or is no longer protected due solely to the passage of time.
The proposed regulations clarify that a transfer of the mere right to public performance or display of digital content for advertising does not alone constitute a transfer of a copyright.
Additionally, the proposed regulations clarify the title passage rule. When there is a sale of a copyrighted article through an electronic medium, the sale will occur at the location of the download or installation onto the end user’s device, or, in the absence of that information, the location of the customer.
A sale of personal property occurs at the place where the rights, title, and interest of the seller in the property are transferred to the buyer. If bare legal title is retained by the seller, the sale occurs where beneficial ownership passes.
Cloud Computing Transactions Cloud computing transactions are typically characterized by on-demand network access to computer resources. The proposed regulations classify a "cloud transaction" as either:
a lease of property (i.e., computer hardware, digital content, or other similar resources); or
a provision of services.
The proposed regulations provide a nonexhaustive list of factors for determining how a cloud transaction is classified. In general, application of the relevant factors will result in a transaction being treated as a provision of services, rather than a lease of property. The factors include both statutory factors under Code Sec. 7701(e)(1) and factors applied by the courts.
In recent years, the IRS has been cracking down on abuses of the tax deduction for donations to charity and contributions of used vehicles have been especially scrutinized. The charitable contribution rules, however, are far from being easy to understand. Many taxpayers genuinely are confused by the rules and unintentionally value their contributions to charity at amounts higher than appropriate.
In recent years, the IRS has been cracking down on abuses of the tax deduction for donations to charity and contributions of used vehicles have been especially scrutinized. The charitable contribution rules, however, are far from being easy to understand. Many taxpayers genuinely are confused by the rules and unintentionally value their contributions to charity at amounts higher than appropriate.
Vehicle donations
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), there are approximately 250 million registered passenger motor vehicles in the United States. The U.S. is the largest passenger vehicle market in the world. Potentially, each one of these vehicles could be a charitable donation and that is why the IRS takes such a sharp look at contributions of used vehicles and claims for tax deductions. The possibility for abuse of the charitable contribution rules is large.
Bona fide charities
Before looking at the tax rules, there is an important starting point. To claim a tax deduction, your contribution must be to a bona fide charitable organization. Only certain categories of exempt organizations are eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.
Many charitable organizations are so-called “501(c)(3)” organizations (named after the section of the Tax Code that governs charities. The IRS maintains a list of qualified Code Sec. 501(c)(3) organizations. Not all charitable organizations are Code Sec. 501(c)(3)s. Churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques, for example, are not required to file for Code Sec. 501(c)(3) status. Special rules also apply to fraternal organizations, volunteer fire departments and veterans organizations. If you have any questions about a charitable organization, please contact our office.
Tax rules
In past years, many taxpayers would value the amount of their used vehicle donation based on information in a buyer’s guide. Today, the value of your used vehicle donation depends on what the charitable organization does with the vehicle.
In many cases, the charitable organization will sell your used vehicle. If the charity sells the vehicle, your tax deduction is limited to the gross proceeds that the charity receives from the sale. The charitable organization must certify that the vehicle was sold in an arm’s length transaction between unrelated parties and identify the date the vehicle was sold by the charity and the amount of the gross proceeds.
There are exceptions to the rule that your tax deduction is limited to the gross proceeds that the charity receives from the sale of your used vehicle. You may be able to deduct the vehicle’s fair market value if the charity intends to make a significant intervening use of the vehicle, a material improvement to the vehicle, or give or sell the vehicle to a qualified needy individual. If you have any questions about what a charity intends to do with your vehicle, please contact our office.
Written acknowledgment
The charitable organization must give you a written acknowledgment of your used vehicle donation. The rules differ depending on the amount of your donation. If you claim a deduction of more than $500 but not more than $5,000 for your vehicle donation, the written acknowledgment from the charity must:
Identify the charity’s name, the date and location of the donation
Describe the vehicle
Include a statement as to whether the charity provided any goods or services in return for the car other than intangible religious benefits and, if so, a description and good faith estimate of the value of the goods and services
Identify your name and taxpayer identification number
Provide the vehicle identification number
The written acknowledgement generally must be provided to you within 30 days of the sale of the vehicle. Alternatively, the charitable organization may in certain cases, provide you a completed Form 1098-C, Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes, that contains the same information.
The written acknowledgment requirements for claiming a deduction under $500 or over $5,000 are similar to the ones described above but there are some differences. For example, if your deduction is expected to be more than $5,000 and not limited to the gross proceeds from the sale of your used vehicle, you must obtain a written appraisal of the vehicle. Our office can help guide you through the many steps of donating a vehicle valued at more than $5,000.
If you are planning to donate a used vehicle, please contact our office and we can discuss the tax rules in more detail.
The number of tax return-related identity theft incidents has almost doubled in the past three years to well over half a million reported during 2011, according to a recent report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Identity theft in the context of tax administration generally involves the fraudulent use of someone else’s identity in order to claim a tax refund. In other cases an identity thief might steal a person’s information to obtain a job, and the thief’s employer may report income to the IRS using the legitimate taxpayer’s Social Security Number, thus making it appear that the taxpayer did not report all of his or her income.
The number of tax return-related identity theft incidents has almost doubled in the past three years to well over half a million reported during 2011, according to a recent report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Identity theft in the context of tax administration generally involves the fraudulent use of someone else’s identity in order to claim a tax refund. In other cases an identity thief might steal a person’s information to obtain a job, and the thief’s employer may report income to the IRS using the legitimate taxpayer’s Social Security Number, thus making it appear that the taxpayer did not report all of his or her income.
In light of these dangers, the IRS has taken numerous steps to combat identity theft and protect taxpayers. There are also measures that you can take to safeguard yourself against identity theft in the future and assist the IRS in the process.
IRS does not solicit financial information via email or social media
The IRS will never request a taxpayer’s personal or financial information by email or social media such as Facebook or Twitter. Likewise, the IRS will not alert taxpayers to an audit or tax refund by email or any other form of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels.
If you receive a scam email claiming to be from the IRS, forward it to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. If you discover a website that claims to be the IRS but does not begin with 'www.irs.gov', forward that link to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
How identity thieves operate
Identity theft scams are not limited to users of email and social media tools. Scammers may also use a phone or fax to reach their victims to solicit personal information. Other means include:
-Stealing your wallet or purse -Looking through your trash -Accessing information you provide to an unsecured Internet site.
How do I know if I am a victim?
Your identity may have been stolen if a letter from the IRS indicates more than one tax return was filed for you or the letter states you received wages from an employer you don't know. If you receive such a letter from the IRS, leading you to believe your identity has been stolen, respond immediately to the name, address or phone number on the IRS notice. If you believe the notice is not from the IRS, contact the IRS to determine if the letter is a legitimate IRS notice.
If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost wallet, questionable credit card activity, or credit report, you need to provide the IRS with proof of your identity. You should submit a copy of your valid government-issued identification, such as a Social Security card, driver's license or passport, along with a copy of a police report and/or a completed IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, which should be faxed to the IRS at 1-978-684-4542.
What should I do if someone has stolen my identity?
If you discover that someone has filed a tax return using your SSN you should contact the IRS to show the income is not yours. After the IRS authenticates who you are, your tax record will be updated to reflect only your information. The IRS will use this information to minimize future occurrences.
What other precautions can I take?
There are many things you can do to protect your identity. One is to be careful while distributing your personal information. You should show employers your Social Security card to your employer at the start of a job, but otherwise do not routinely carry your card or other documents that display your SSN.
Only use secure websites while making online financial transactions, including online shopping. Generally a secure website will have an icon, such as a lock, located in the lower right-hand corner of your web browser or the address bar of the website with read “https://…” rather than simply “http://.”
Never open suspicious attachments or links, even just to see what they say. Never respond to emails from unknown senders. Install anti-virus software, keep it updated, and run it regularly.
For taxpayers planning to e-file their tax returns, the IRS recommends use of a strong password. Afterwards, save the file to a CD or flash drive and keep it in a secure location. Then delete the personal return information from the computer hard drive.
Finally, if working with an accountant, query him or her on what measures they take to protect your information.
Claiming a charitable deduction for a cash contribution is straightforward. The taxpayer claims the amount paid, whether by cash, check, credit card or some other method, if the proper records are maintained. For contributions of property, the rules can be more complex.
Claiming a charitable deduction for a cash contribution is straightforward. The taxpayer claims the amount paid, whether by cash, check, credit card or some other method, if the proper records are maintained. For contributions of property, the rules can be more complex.
Contributions of property
A taxpayer that contributes property can deduct the property's fair market value at the time of the contribution. For example, contributions of clothing and household items are not deductible unless the items are in good used condition or better. An exception to this rule allows a deduction for items that are not in at least good used condition, if the taxpayer claims a deduction of more than $500 and includes an appraisal with the taxpayer's income tax return.
Household items include furniture and furnishings, electronics, appliances, linens, and similar items. Household items do not include food, antiques and art, jewelry, and collections (such as coins).
To value used clothing, the IRS suggests using the price that buyers of used items pay in second-hand shops. However, there is no fixed formula or method for determining the value of clothing. Similarly, the value of used household items is usually much lower than the price paid for a new item, the IRS instructs. Formulas (such as a percentage of cost) are not accepted by the IRS.
Vehicles
The rules are different for "qualified vehicles," which are cars, boats and airplanes. If the taxpayer claims a deduction of more than $500, the taxpayer is allowed to deduct the smaller of the vehicle’s fair market value on the date of the contribution, or the proceeds from the sale of the vehicle by the organization.
There are two exceptions to this rule. If the organization uses or improves the vehicle before transferring it, the taxpayer can deduct the vehicle’s fair market value when the contribution was made. If the organization gives the vehicle away, or sells it far well below fair market value, to a needy individual to further the organization’s purpose, the taxpayer can claim a fair market value deduction. This latter exception does not apply to a vehicle sold at auction.
To determine the value of a car, the IRS instructs that "blue book" prices may be used as "clues" for comparison with current sales and offerings. Taxpayers should use the price listed in a used car guide for a private party sale, not the dealer retail value. To use the listed price, the taxpayer’s vehicle must be the same make, model and year and be in the same condition.
Most items of property that a person owns and uses for personal purposes or investment are capital assets. If the value of a capital asset is greater than the basis of the item, the taxpayer generally can deduct the fair market value of the item. The taxpayer must have held the property for longer than one year.
Please contact our office for more information about the tax treatment of charitable contributions.
Maintaining good financial records is an important part of running a successful business. Not only will good records help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your business' operations, but they will also help out tremendously if the IRS comes knocking on your door.
Maintaining good financial records is an important part of running a successful business. Not only will good records help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your business' operations, but they will also help out tremendously if the IRS comes knocking on your door.
The IRS requires that business owners keep adequate books and records and that they be available when needed for the administration of any provision of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., an audit). Here are some basic guidelines:
Copies of tax returns. You must keep records that support each item of income or deduction on a business return until the statute of limitations for that return expires. In general, the statute of limitations is three years after the date on which the return was filed. Because the IRS may go back as far as six years to audit a tax return when a substantial understatement of income is suspected, it may be prudent to keep records for at least six years. In cases of suspected tax fraud or if a return is never filed, the statute of limitations never expires.
Employment taxes. Chances are that if you have employees, you've accumulated a great deal of paperwork over the years. The IRS isn't looking to give you a break either: you are required to keep all employment tax records for at least 4 years after the date the tax becomes due or is paid, whichever is later. These records include payroll tax returns and employee time documentation.
Business assets. Records relating to business assets should be kept until the statute of limitations expires for the year in which you dispose of the asset in a taxable disposition. Original acquisition documentation, (e.g. receipts, escrow statements) should be kept to compute any depreciation, amortization, or depletion deduction, and to later determine your cost basis for computing gain or loss when you sell or otherwise dispose of the asset. If your business has leased property that qualifies as a capital lease, you should retain the underlying lease agreement in case the IRS ever questions the nature of the lease.
For property received in a nontaxable exchange, additional documentation must be kept. With this type of transaction, your cost basis in the new property is the same as the cost basis of the property you disposed of, increased by the money you paid. You must keep the records on the old property, as well as on the new property, until the statute of limitations expires for the year in which you dispose of the new property in a taxable disposition.
Inventories.If your business maintains inventory, your recordkeeping requirements are even more arduous. The use of special inventory valuation methods (e.g. LIFO and UNICAP) may prolong the record retention period. For example, if you use the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of accounting for inventory, you will need to maintain the records necessary to substantiate all costs since the first year you used LIFO.
Specific Computerized Systems Requirements
If your company has modified, or is considering modifying its computer, recordkeeping and/or imaging systems, it is essential that you take the IRS's recently updated recordkeeping requirements into consideration.
If you use a computerized system, you must be able to produce sufficient legible records to support and verify amounts shown on your business tax return and determine your correct tax liability. To meet this qualification, the machine-sensible records must reconcile with your books and business tax return. These records must provide enough detail to identify the underlying source documents. You must also keep all machine-sensible records and a complete description of the computerized portion of your recordkeeping system.
Some additional advice: when your records are no longer needed for tax purposes, think twice before discarding them; they may still be needed for other nontax purposes. Besides the wealth of information good records provide for business planning purposes, insurance companies and/or creditors may have different record retention requirements than the IRS.
