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May 2020

“Get My Payment” Tool Available for Economic Impact Payments

The Treasury Department and the IRS have released the “Get My Payment” tool to assist Americans in receiving their “economic impact payments” issued under the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act ( P.L. 116-136). The free tool went live on April 15, and is located at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment.

Get My Payment
The “Get My Payment” tool generally allows consumers to check the status of their payments, […]

IRS Addresses Bonus Depreciation, Related Issues for Post-2017 Qualified Improvement Property

As a result of the retroactive assignment of a 15-year recovery period to qualified improvement property (QIP) placed in service after 2017, QIP generally qualifies for bonus depreciation, and typically at a 100 percent rate. IRS guidance requires taxpayers who previously filed two or more returns using what is now an “incorrect” depreciation period (usually 39 years) to file an accounting method […]

Guidance on NOL Carryback Under CARES Act

The IRS has issued guidance providing administrative relief under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act ( P.L. 116-136) for taxpayers with net operating losses (NOLs).

The CARES Act provides a five-year carryback for NOLs arising in tax years beginning in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ( P.L. 115-97) had eliminated carryback periods effective for tax […]

IRS Allows Temporary Filing by Fax for Forms 1139 and 1045

The IRS is allowing taxpayers to file by fax Form 1139, Corporation Application for Tentative Refund, and Form 1045, Application for Tentative Refund, for certain coronavirus relief, a senior IRS official said on April 13. On the same day, the IRS unveiled related procedures for claiming quick refunds of the credit for prior year minimum tax liability of corporations and net operating […]

Guidance on 163(j) Elections for Legislation, Farming, Real Property

The IRS has released guidance on making the following elections for the business interest deduction limitation:

the election out of the 50 percent adjusted taxable income (ATI) limitation for tax years beginning in 2019 and 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act ( P.L. 116-136);
the election to use the taxpayer’s ATI for the last tax year […]

BBA Partnerships Can Amend Returns for CARES Benefits

The IRS has set forth rules for BBA partnerships to file amended returns to immediately get benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act ( P.L. 116-136). “BBA partnerships” are those subject to the centralized partnership audit regime established by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) ( P.L. 114-74). The procedure allows BBA partnerships the option to file an amended […]

IRS Sets Start Date for Tax Credits Under Family First Coronavirus Response Act

The IRS has announced that the employment tax credits for paid qualified sick leave and family leave wages required by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( P.L. 116-127) will apply to wages and compensation paid for periods beginning on April 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, 2020. Additionally, days beginning on April 1, 2020, and ending on December 31, […]

IRS Provides Deposit Penalty Relief for New Refundable COVID-19 Employer Credits

The IRS has provided penalty relief for failure to deposit employment taxes under Code Sec. 6656 to employers entitled to the new refundable tax credits provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Families First Act) ( P.L. 116-127), and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act ( P.L. 116-136). The relief is provided the extent that the amounts not deposited are […]

April 2020

Trump Signs First Two Phases of Coronavirus Economic Response Package; Phase Three Underway

President Trump signed into law the first two phases of the House’s coronavirus economic response package. Meanwhile, the Senate has been developing and negotiating “much bolder” phase three legislation.

Families First Coronavirus Response ActThe House had sent its Families First Coronavirus Response bill (HR 6201) and accompanying technical corrections resolution to the Senate on the evening of March 16. “I have decided we are […]

Trump Administration Extends 2020 Tax Filing Season Through July 15

“At President Trump’s direction, we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a March 20 tweet. “All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties.”

The Treasury and IRS officially announced the extension on March 21 (IR-2020-58; more details can be found in Notice 2020-18).

The move […]

Due Date for Federal Income Tax Payments Extended to July 15

The Treasury Department and IRS have extended the due date for the payment of federal income taxes otherwise due on April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency. The extension is available to all taxpayers, and is automatic. Taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or contact the IRS to […]

HSA High-Deductible Health Plans Can Cover Coronavirus Costs

The IRS has provided emergency relief for health savings accounts (HSAs) and COVID-19 health plans costs. Under this relief, health plans that otherwise qualify as high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) will not lose that status merely because they cover the cost of testing for or treatment of COVID-19 before plan deductibles have been met. In addition, any vaccination costs will count […]

AICPA Asks for More QBI Deduction Guidance

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has requested additional guidance on tax reform’s Code Sec. 199A qualified business income (QBI) deduction.

199A Deduction GuidanceThe IRS issued final and proposed regulations in February 2019 on the Code Sec. 199A QBI deduction enacted in 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97). Additionally, the IRS later issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the computation […]

Reporting Relief for U.S. Individuals’ Transactions With Certain Foreign Trusts

The IRS has issued guidance that:

exempts certain U.S. citizens and residents from Code Sec. 6048 information reporting requirements for their transactions with, and ownership of, certain tax-favored foreign retirement trusts and foreign nonretirement savings trusts; andestablishes procedures for these individuals to request abatement or refund of penalties assessed or paid under Code Sec. 6677 for failing to comply with the information reporting requirements.

The guidance […]

Final Covered Asset Acquisition Rules Adopted

The Treasury and IRS have adopted as final the 2016 proposed regulations on covered assets acquisitions (CAAs) under Code Sec. 901(m) and Code Sec. 704. Proposed regulations issued under Code Sec. 901(m) are adopted with revisions, and the Code Sec. 704 proposed regulations are adopted without revisions. The Code Sec. 901(m) rules were also issued as temporary regulations. The CAA rules impact taxpayers claiming either direct or deemed-paid foreign […]

March 2020

Practitioners’ Corner: Wolters Kluwer Interviews TCPI Symposium Experts on Current and Future State of Tax Policy

Tax reform legislation widely known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97) was signed into law on December 22, 2017. The TCJA brought forth the most sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax code in over 30 years. However, widespread efforts to implement the TCJA amidst ongoing tax-related global developments continue to this day. Now, two years following […]

2021 Budget Outlines Administration Priorities for Extending Tax Cuts, Increased IRS Funding

On February 11, the White House released President Donald Trump’s fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget proposal, which outlines his administration’s priorities for extending certain tax cuts and increasing IRS funding. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testified before the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) on February 12 regarding the FY 2021 budget proposal.

Extension of TCJA’s Individual Tax CutsTrump’s FY 2021 budget proposal indicates […]

House Democrats Unveil Framework for $760 Billion Infrastructure Plan

House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, “Moving Forward Framework”; House Ways and Means Committee, January 29 hearing witnesses’ testimony

House Democrats on January 29 unveiled their framework for a $760 billion infrastructure plan. Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing the same day to examine proposals for funding infrastructure and various “tools” within the Tax Code to encourage investment.

Democratic Infrastructure FrameworkNotably, House […]

House Writers Debate Effects of Corporate Income Tax Cut

House Democratic and Republican tax writers debated the effects of tax reform’s corporate income tax cut during a February 11 hearing convened by Democrats. Democratic lawmakers have consistently called for an increase in the corporate tax rate since it was lowered from 35 percent to 21 percent in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97).

During the […]

Small Farmers Can Revoke Election Out of Capitalization Rules That Require MACRS ADS, Section 1245 Recapture

The IRS will allow a farmer that is exempt from the uniform capitalization (UNICAP) rules by reason of having average annual gross receipts of $25 million or less to revoke a prior election out of the UNICAP rules made under Code Sec. 263A(d)(3) with respect to pre-productive plant expenditures. The guidance also explains how a farmer may make an election out under Code […]

Calculation of “Average Income” Minimum Set Aside Test for Low Income Housing Credit Explained

Taxpayers claiming the low-income housing credit should apply the “average income” minimum set aside test by reference to the “very low-income” limits calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for purposes of determining eligibility under the HUD Section 8 program. HUD determinations for very low-income housing families are currently used to calculate the low-income housing credit income limits under the […]

Fleet-Average and Vehicle Cents-Per-Mile Base Valuation Amounts Updated

Final regulations increase a vehicle’s maximum value for eligibility to use the fleet-average valuation rule or the vehicle cents-per-mile valuation rule. The regulations provide transition rules for certain employers. The final regulations are effective on February 5, 2020, the date of publication in the Federal Register.

TCJA Increased Maximum Vehicle ValuesBefore the Tax Cuts and Job Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97), the […]

Guidance Provided on Qualifying for EITC

The IRS has provided guidance on qualifying for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a refundable tax credit that is intended to be a financial boost for families with low to moderate incomes.

Due to changes in marital, parental or financial status, millions of workers may qualify for EITC for the first time this year. The IRS urges […]

Proposed Regulations Reflect Changes to Wage Withholding, Redesigned W-4

The IRS has proposed regulations with guidance for employers on withholding federal income tax from employee’s wages. The proposed regulations:

implement recent changes made to Code Secs. 3401 and 3402 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97); andreflect the redesigned 2020 Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate, and the related wage withholding tables and computational procedures published in IRS Pub. 15-T, Federal Income Tax Withholding […]

February 2020

Trump Signs Bipartisan Year-End Government Spending, Tax Package

On December 20, President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan, year-end government spending and tax package, just hours before federal funding was set to expire. Trump’s signature on the over 2,000-page spending package avoided a government shutdown.

Year-End Tax PackageThe Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, (HR 1865), logs just over 700 pages and serves as only half of the government spending package […]

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