Tag Archives: tax extensions

IRS Updates July 11, 2023

Design by Paul Davis

Refunds Deadline Approaching

The IRS reminds those who haven’t filed their 2019 tax return that the window for claiming potential refunds is closing. The deadline for filing and claiming any refund for 2019 is July 17, 2023. The law allows 3 years to file and claim refunds (although that deadline was extended for 2019 due to COVID-19), and requires taxpayers to properly address, mail, and ensure the tax return is postmarked by July 17, 2023. Over 18,000 South Carolina residents are presumed to be among those who haven’t filed. Unclaimed refunds become the property of the US Treasury. Refund checks may also be held if tax returns for 2020 and 2021 have not been filed. Prior year tax forms are available online, and key documents must be obtained from employers or the IRS. 

Disaster Victims Given Notice

The IRS is sending a “special follow-up mailing” to taxpayers in several states to let them know that they have additional time to pay their taxes. An initial mailing of a CP14 notice told taxpayers who have a balance due that they needed to pay within 21 days. These taxpayers actually have until later this year to pay, under the disaster declaration and relief. These new mailings, CP14CL, aim to mitigate confusion caused by the earlier CP14 notice and to help reassure people. The IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel says, “this mailing reflects how we’re trying to be more taxpayer-focused given the additional resources that we’ve been given under the Inflation Reduction Act.”

New Scam Warning Issued

The IRS is warning taxpayers to be on the lookout for a new scam mailing intended to mislead people into believing they are owed a tax refund. This new scheme involves a cardboard mailer from a delivery service and an enclosed letter with wording that the notice is “in relation to your unclaimed refund.” Naturally the contact information and phone number on the document do not belong to the IRS, but the notice seeks sensitive personal information from taxpayers – including detailed photos of drivers’ licenses – that can be used by identity thieves. The requests are often as follows: 

“A Clear Phone of Your Driver’s License That Clearly Displays All Four (4) Angles, Taken in a Place with Good Lighting.”

And: 

“You’ll Need to Get This to Get Your Refunds After Filing. These Must Be Given to a Filing Agent Who Will Help You Submit Your Unclaimed Property Claim. Once You Send All The Information Please Try to Be Checking Your Email for Response From The Agents Thanks”

The IRS urges taxpayers to note the multitude of warning signs, including odd punctuation, a mixture of fonts, and inaccuracies. Other known scams can be reviewed on the IRS Dirty Dozen list. 

 

 

Tax Updates End of June

IRS Updates June 2023 by Paul Davis
July 17 Deadline for 2019 Refunds

The IRS estimates that nearly 1.5 million people in the nation could be due refunds for tax year 2019, if they submit a tax return by the July 17 deadline. The usual deadline for submitting a tax return and getting a refund is 3 years from the initial deadline, but under the COVID-19 emergency, the deadline for 2019 was postponed. Taxpayers can still request key documents from their employers or banks, or request a wage and income transcript from the IRS, online or by filing Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. 

Advance Energy Project Guidance

The IRS has issued Notice 2023-44, providing further details for applicants seeking section 48C credit allocations in the qualifying advanced energy project credit allocation program under the Inflation Reduction Act. Notice 2023-18 earlier this year established the section 48C(3) program to allocate $10 billion in credits, at least $4 billion of which will be allocated to projects located in certain energy communities census tracts. This guidance is mainly of interest to owners of clean energy manufacturing and recycling projects, greenhouse gas emission reduction projects, and critical material projects. Notice 2023-44 updates the earlier guidance, defining qualifying advance energy projects and the Department of Energy (DOE) application process, in Appendices A and B, respectively. Appendix C has also been added, containing a list of the energy communities census tracts.

Penalty Relief for Corporations

The IRS and Treasury have issued Notice 2023-42, which will grant penalty relief for corporations that did not pay estimated tax in connection with the new corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT). The Inflation Reduction Act created the CAMT, which imposes a 25% minimum tax on the adjusted financial statement income of large corporations for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022. Due to the challenges associated with determining the amount of a corporation’s CAMT liability and whether a corporation is subject to the CAMT, the IRS will waive the penalty for failure to pay estimated income tax with respect to its CAMT for a taxable year that falls within specific dates. 

IRS Tax Updates

Filing Season Scams Abound

The IRS has issued an alert warning taxpayers of new scams that urge people to claim false tax credits with inaccurate wage information. One scheme encourages people to use tax software to manually fill out Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement with false income information. Scam artists instruct people to use the bogus information in their electronically-filed return with the aim of getting a large refund. A variation of the scam involves using Form 7202, Credits for Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals to claim a credit based on income earned as an employee. These credits are not available for 2022 tax returns. 

Another warning has been renewed, urging people to carefully review the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) guidelines before trying to claim the credit. Third parties are aggressively pushing ineligible people to use this, misleading people and businesses into thinking they can claim these credits. Penalties are wide-ranging and may include a $5000 fine or criminal prosecution. Those who have participated in such schemes can amend a previous return or consult with a trusted tax professional.

Digital Intake Ramps Up

The IRS has announced an expansion of digital scanning, having already scanned more than 120,000 paper Forms 940 since the beginning of the year. This is a 20-fold increase compared to all of 2022. The effort will expand soon to include scanning of Forms 1040 and Forms 941. The IRS has used various technologies to scan tax returns over the years, but recently took a leap forward thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Most tax returns are filed electronically but millions of forms are still filed by paper. With an increased capability to scan and electronically process these paper returns, the IRS will be able to shorten overall processing time.

Retiree Reminder: April 1 Deadline Approaches

The IRS reminds retirees who turned 72 during 2022 that, in most cases, Saturday, April 1, 2023 is the last day to begin receiving payments from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), 401(k)s and similar workplace retirement plans. These payments, called required minimum distributions (RMDs) are normally made by the end of the year. However, those who reached age 72 during 2022 are covered by a special rule that allows them to wait until as late as April 1, 2023 to take their first RMD. This delayed deadline only applies to the RMD for the first year. In subsequent years the RMD must be made by the year’s end. This means that those who opt for their 2022 RMD by April 1 must still receive their 2023 RMD by December 31, 2023. Both RMDs are taxable and will be reported on the 2023 tax return. Visit the RMD FAQs page for more information.

 

Tax Updates Beginning March

Business E-File Regulations Finalized

The IRS and Treasury have issued final regulations amending the rules for filing returns and other documents electronically. Filers of partnership returns, corporate income tax returns, unrelated business income tax returns, withholding tax returns, some information returns and other statements, notifications, and reports will be required to e-file beginning in 2024. A new online portal has been created to help businesses file form 1099 returns electronically.

May 15 Disaster Area Deadlines Extended

Disaster area taxpayers in much of California and parts of Alabama and Georgia now have until Oct 16, 2023 to file various federal tax returns and make payments, the IRS has announced. Previously, the deadline had been postponed to May 15 for these areas. This deadline includes individual and business returns normally due on March 15 and April 18; returns of tax-exempt organizations normally due on May 15. Those affected also have until October 16 to make 2022 contributions to IRAs and health savings accounts. The deadline also applies to various tax payments. Current tax-related disaster information can always be found on the IRS Disaster Tax Relief page.

AMT Guidance for Insurance Providers Issued

The Treasury and IRS have issued Notice 2023-20 which provides interim guidance for insurance companies and some other taxpayers for the new corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) until proposed regulations are issued. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 created the CAMT, imposing a 15% minimum tax on the adjusted financial statement income of large corporations for taxable years beginning in 2023. Large corporations, including insurance companies, with adjusted financial statement income exceeding $1 billion will be those generally affected by the CAMT. Comments on the rules are welcome and must be submitted by April 3, 2023. 

2022 Return Tax Time Guide

The IRS reminds taxpayers to gather their necessary information and visit IRS.gov or their trusted tax preparer for help with their 2022 tax return. Several changes have been implemented due to the Inflation Reduction Act and American Rescue Plan Act, including the reduction in Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Child and Dependent Care Credit amounts. Additionally, those that don’t itemize cannot deduct their charitable contributions this year. More in the Tax Time Guide series will be forthcoming.

IRS Updates End of August

Interest Rates to Increase

The IRS has announced that interest rates will increase again, beginning October 1, 2022. Individuals will see an increase of 1% as compared to the quarter that began in July, with 6% as the rate for underpayments (taxes owed but not yet paid) and overpayments (payments made in excess of the amount owed). Other rates are as follows:

  • 6% for overpayments (5% for corporations). 
  • 3.5% for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.
  • 6% for underpayments.
  • 8% for large corporate underpayments. 

These interest rates are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during July 2022.

Pandemic-Related Penalty Relief

The IRS has issued a notice which provides penalty relief to most people and businesses who file certain 2019 or 2020 returns late. In addition, the IRS will be issuing more than $1.2 billion in refunds and credits to those who already paid these penalties, nearly 1.6 million taxpayers. They say this aims to allow the IRS to focus resources on processing backlogged tax returns and other correspondence before next year’s filing season. The relief will be automatic for those who qualify, so no action is required on the part of businesses or individuals. To qualify for this relief, however, tax returns for those years must be filed on or before September 30, 2022.

Reminder to Extension Filers

The IRS reminds taxpayers who haven’t filed their 2021 tax return to make sure they take advantage of available entitlements and to file electronically as soon as possible. These tax benefits include Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Credit, Charitable Giving Deduction, and others. Taxpayers will need to have their year-end statements available, as well as the letters issued by the IRS showing advance Child Tax Credit payments and third round Economic Impact Payments.

Input Requested

The IRS is requesting input from both taxpayers and tax professionals regarding its best practices for conducting video conferences with those who have cases pending before Appeals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, video conferences were expanded. These allowed taxpayers to be seen and heard and be able to visually share documents without going in-person to an Appeals office. This garnered positive feedback, so Appeals will continue to offer video conferences as an option. Public input is sought for permanent guidance regarding scheduling and conducting the conferences, procedures for verification, and recommendations for establishing a professional meeting environment. Public comments can be sent to ap.taxpayer.experience@irs.gov by Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

Tax Updates for the End of September

Tax Relief For Disaster Victims

The IRS has provided tax relief to victims of the Oregon wildfires that began on September 7, as well as those affected by Hurricane Sally on September 14. Taxpayers in these FEMA-designated areas now have until January 15, 2021 to file returns and make any payments that were due after the September 7 or 14 date. This means those who filed extensions to file their 2019 taxes by October 15 now have until the January deadline to file. Updated relief information can always be found at the IRS’ disaster relief page.

100% Depreciation Rules Finalized

The IRS has issued final guidelines regarding the implementation of the 100% additional first year depreciation deduction that allows businesses to write off the cost of most depreciable business assets in the year they are placed in service. This deduction was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017 and applies to depreciable business assets with an expected recovery of 20 years or less, such as computers, machinery, furniture, and appliances. Rules for used equipment and self-constructed components were also included.

Non-Filers: Do You Qualify For Economic Impact Payments?

The IRS has released a state-by-state breakdown of the number of people they’re attempting to contact this month, to encourage them to see if they’re eligible to receive an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) , including more than 350,000 in the Carolinas. Those who do not usually have to file a tax return and haven’t received an EIP can check their eligibility and register to receive the payment. The due date for registration is October 15, 2020. The IRS is attempting to send letters to over 8 million potentially eligible individuals.

IRS Reminds Extension Filers: Due Date Approaches

Taxpayers who were granted an extension on filing their 2019 taxes have until October 15, 2020, to file their tax return. There are convenient electronic filing options available, as well as direct deposit for refunds and multiple options for scheduling and making electronic tax payments.