Most of us file taxes electronically without any need for paper forms. However, paper forms are allowed in most cases and may be useful. Here are three downloadable and printable IRS forms from cpapracticeadvisor that may be useful now: 2019 Form 1040 for individual income tax filing 2019 Form W2 for reporting wages paid 2020 […]
IRS is expanding the use of private collection agencies to collect tax debt. If you are among the 1 in 15 adults who owes tax debt then there are specific steps that you should take to protect your money and your privacy. 1. You have rights. But it is up to you to know those […]
The recently issued court opinion in Finnegan v. Commissioner, No. 17-10676 (11th Cir. 2019) emphasizes two points for taxpayers: Intentional fraud by the tax preparer can extend and hold open the statute of limitations. If a taxpayer wants to make an argument about statute of limitations, it should be raised at tax court, not in […]
High risk category The highest risk of audit is born by the President of the Unites States who is automatically audited by the IRS every year. President Trump says this is very unfair. But what about the rest of us? Any taxpayer who omits an income item filed by a third party (a W2 form […]
How do tax preparers get into trouble with the IRS? In 2018 the Office of Professional Responsibility, under the Internal Revenue Service, investigated over 2,600 cases of tax preparer misconduct. According to the Office’s latest report, the three most common problems were: Claiming false credentials on Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) or using that power […]
I would guess that half of the IRS client tax dispute matters I handle involve some form of failed notification in the storyline. The most common cause is a failure to record an appropriate change of address. Changing address with IRS is simple: Complete a form 8822 (8822-B for businesses) and mail it in. Here […]
We are only half way through the tax filing season but so far the IRS reports that tax filer behaviors are significantly different than a year ago. The number of tax returns filed has dropped by more than 12% and the number of paid preparer returns (often including the more complicated tax returns) dropped even […]
This comes directly from an IRS email: “Offering time-saving alternatives to a telephone call, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers they can get fast answers to their refund questions by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool available on IRS.gov and through the IRS2Go app. The IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in less than […]
Of the first 5 individual income tax returns that I prepared this week, 4 had unexpected problems and complications. Other tax preparers report unexpected and disturbing taxpayer reactions. Income tax filing season opened four days ago on January 29. Day by day now the real impact of the new federal tax law is hitting home […]
Everyone hopes to avoid a tax audit but sometimes it happens anyway. An audit always starts with a written notification by mail from the IRS, state, or local tax authority. It might just be triggered by a simple computer-generated “mismatch” error or it might be the beginning of one of the more rare types of […]