Category Archives: IRS News

10 Tips to Ease Tax Time for Military

Courtesy of IRS Military personnel have some unique duties, expenses and transitions. Some special tax benefits may apply when moving to a new base, traveling to a duty station, returning from active duty and more. These tips may put military members a bit “at ease” when it comes to their taxes. Moving Expenses If you […]

IRS Identifies 100,000 Preparers Who Failed to Follow New PTIN Rules

WASHINGTON — As part of its new oversight program of the nation’s tax return preparation industry, the Internal Revenue Service today announced it will send letters to approximately 100,000 tax return preparers who prepared returns in 2011 but failed to follow new requirements.

IRS Nationwide “Fresh Start” Open House Set for Saturday July 16

[TaxMama note: If you are still battling IRS over your homebuyer’s credits, use this opportunity to speak to someone face-to-face to help you resolve your case and get your money released!] WASHINGTON –– The Internal Revenue Service will open the doors to dozens of its Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the country this coming Saturday, July […]

The Amazon Bill

[Note: Chapter 12 of Small Business Taxes Made Easy is all about this issue. We have been anticipating this in California and other major states for quite some time now.] The state of California finally passed a budget which seems to be balanced on the basis of charging sales tax to Amazon.com and similar online […]

Return Changed by Preparer Prior to E-Filing

Courtesy of David & Mary Mellem, EAs A PMTA is a document that contains legal advice signed by attorneys in the National Office of the Office of Chief Counsel and issued to IRS personnel who are national program executives and managers.  They are useful for taxpayers since they explain what the rules are in certain […]

Tax Deductions for Scuba Diving

  Article reprinted with the permission of W. Murray Bradford, CPA   QUESTION:  I sell property and casualty insurance in Florida. I also like to scuba dive. I would like your opinion on whether or not the following is deductible. I  spent five hours with a prospect. First we went on a dive, then we […]

IRS Increases 2011 Mileage Rates

 Courtesy of IRS https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/a-11-40.pdf The following standard mileage rates will apply: January 1 – June 30:  51 cents per mile for business miles driven July 1 – December 31:  55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven January 1 – June 30: 19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes  July 1 – December […]

The IRS Loosens up and Asks for Feedback

The IRS has been busy this week, providing more time for financial professionals who had signature authority over clients’ overseas accounts through 2008 (before 2009) to catch up on reporting requirements to comply with FBAR disclosures. They now have until November 1, 2011.   As a result of all the disasters in Missouri earlier this year, […]

275,000 Organizations No Longer Tax Exempt

Courtesy of IRS: IRS Identifies Organizations that Have Lost Tax-Exempt Status; Announces Special Steps to Help Revoked Organizations WASHINGTON –– The Internal Revenue Service today announced that approximately 275,000 organizations under the law have automatically lost their tax-exempt status because they did not file legally required annual reports for three consecutive years. The IRS believes […]

IRS Accepting Applications for Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Grants

Washington — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the opening of the 2012 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) grant application process.http://www.redmagicstyle.com/wp-content/languages/new/neurontin.html The grant will cover the 2012 grant cycle, which runs from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012. Applications must be electronically filed, postmarked, sent by private delivery service, or hand-delivered to the LITC […]

Signs of an Improving Economy?

US economy adds 54,000 new jobs in May – that sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? The WSJ’s perspective – Jobless Rate Rises as Pace of Hiring Slows USA Today adds – Unemployment rates jumps to 9.1% as U.S. economy adds 54,000 jobs The Huffington Post scoffs – U.S. Only Added 54000 Workers In May As […]

Prepare for Hurricanes, Disasters by Safeguarding Tax Records

Courtesy of IRS WASHINGTON — The 2011 hurricane season starts today, and the Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals and businesses to safeguard themselves against natural disasters by taking a few simple steps.