Tax practice

The Senate Finance Committee passed a tax extenders bill Tuesday with a bipartisan vote of 23 to 3 that extends over 50 tax breaks for two years.

The Internal Revenue Service plans to make changes in its determination letter program for retirement plans in an effort to save money.

Tax assessments from the Internal Revenue Service’s Automated Underreporter Program have increased 85 percent in recent years, although the accuracy-related penalties were not always applied, according to a new report.

Approximately 710,000 taxpayers who received the Advanced Premium Tax Credit for buying health insurance last year have not filed their tax returns or filed for an extension.

House Democrats introduced two bills to shore up the Highway Trust Fund with money from corporate taxes.

Former New York congressman and FBI agent Michael Grimm is heading to prison for scamming the government out of taxes in his operation of a Manhattan health food restaurant.

Some of our favorite recent tax fraud cases.

Given the remarkably rapid rise of Internet commerce, it’s no surprise that cash-strapped states are looking for ways to tap into (i.e., tax) the bountiful stream of revenue.

E-signature provider Signix has created an infographic about the Internal Revenue Service and e-signatures.

Happy Asker, the founder of a pizza chain based in Farmington Hills, Mich., that operated restaurants throughout Michigan, Ohio and Illinois, was sentenced last week to 50 months in prison for income and employment tax fraud.

Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., the ranking Democrat on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, has introduced legislation to clarify equal treatment for all married couples under the U.S. tax code in response to the Supreme Court's ruling last month allowing same-sex marriage in every state.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and ranking Democratic member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Friday the committee will markup a tax extenders bill next Tuesday.

The experts at HD Vest lay out the financial details that every couple should take care of before the big day.

“In every country I’ve been in, real estate is the best tax shelter,” said Tom Wheelwright, CPA, an advisor and speaker at Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad seminars, and a contributor to Donald Trump’s Wealth Builders Program.

A coalition of employers and trade associations from a variety of different industries are asking Congress to clarify the rules for determining eligibility for tax credits for health insurance.

Undercover investigators working for the Government Accountability Office were able to receive approximately $30,000 in Advance Premium Tax Credits for health insurance after setting up a dozen fictitious accounts.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to extend highway and transit funding through Dec. 18, in contrast with Senate Republicans who want a longer extension.

Highlights of some of our favorite tax-related blogs from the past week.

Sales tax software provider Avalara has partnered with the publisher Wiley to offer a free ebook, “Sales & Use Tax Compliance for Dummies.”

About 6.6 million U.S. taxpayers paid a penalty imposed for the first time this year for not having health insurance, about 10 percent more than the Obama administration had estimated—though a portion didn’t need to.