Tag Archives: penalties

IRS Updates 13 December

National Tax Security Awareness Week

The IRS and Security Summit partners marked National Tax Security Awareness Week earlier this month with a series of tips and reminders for consumers, taxpayers, businesses, and professionals. Advice focused on protecting your personal and financial information while online shopping, guarding against email and phishing scams, creating strong passwords, tips for business owners to avoid identity theft, and encouraging tax professionals to have a data security plan. 

Foreign Tax Credit Regulations Finalized

The IRS and Treasury issued final regulations regarding the Foreign Tax Credit. This credit generally allows individuals and businesses to claim a US tax credit for income taxes paid to foreign governments. These regulations were updated due to changes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made in how taxable income is calculated and how the US taxes international income.

Jan 31 Filing Deadline For Businesses

The IRS reminds employers and other businesses that wage statements and independent contractor forms have a due date of January 31. While businesses used to have more time to file such forms as Form W-2, Form W-3, and 1099-MISC, the 2015 Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act permanently changed the due date to help protect against fraud. 

Dec 31 Deadline For Minimum Distributions

December 31 is the deadline for retirees to take their required minimum distributions (RMDs) from certain retirement plans. Those who turned 70½ in 2019 are allowed to wait until April 1, 2020, to take their first RMD. This deadline applies to most IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and workplace plans such as 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans. Roth IRAs don’t require distributions while the original owner is alive.

Interest Rates To Remain the Same

The IRS announced that interest rates will remain the same for the quarter beginning January 1, 2020. The rates will be: 

  • 5% for overpayments (4% in the case of a corporation)
  • 2.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000
  • 5% for underpayments
  • 7% for large corporate underpayments 

These rates are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during October 2019.

Tax Updates September 1

IRS Waives Penalty Automatically

More than 400,000 eligible taxpayers who were subject to a penalty for underestimated
tax payments for the 2018 tax year will automatically receive the waiver, the IRS has
announced . No action is required for eligible taxpayers to receive this waiver.
Additionally, taxpayers who already paid the penalty will receive refunds.

New Associate Chief Counsel Selected

The Income Tax and Accounting (ITA) Division has a new associate chief counsel in the
person of John Moriarty . This division provides legal advisory services regarding
fundamental rules of the federal tax system, including many income tax and tax
accounting issues. IRS Chief Counsel Mike Desmond calls him “an outstanding choice
for this important assignment.”

Tax Security Remains a Priority

The IRS continues to help tax professionals secure client data and reduce tax fraud.
“Taxes-Security-Together” – Step 5 reminds tax professionals to report data breaches
and thefts immediately, and to create a data recovery plan. If the IRS is notified quickly,
they can help stop fraudulent returns from being filed. The data recovery plan should
include the steps of notifying the IRS and law enforcement, other experts and officials,
and clients. This is the final step in the Taxes-Security-Together Checklist.

IRS Warns of New Email Scam

The IRS is warning taxpayers to be aware of a new email phishing/malware scam which
attempts to impersonate the IRS. Subject lines may include “Automatic Income Tax
Reminder” or “Electronic Tax Return Reminder.” The IRS reiterates that they DO NOT
contact taxpayers over email (or text message, social media, etc), and anything
purporting to be the IRS via email is not to be trusted. Malware can give imposters
access to taxpayer’s computer, files, even keystroke history, eventually giving them PIN
numbers and passwords to sensitive accounts. More information can be found at the
IRS’ Phishing and Online Scams page.