Tax practice

The Swiss government announced a new approach allowing banks to hand over data to U.S. authorities in a bid to solve a dispute over undeclared assets and forestall further indictments by the Department of Justice.

The Internal Revenue Service has proposed tax relief for money market fund investors in response to concerns about proposed reforms from the Securities and Exchange Commission in the money market industry that could trigger so-called “wash sale’ tax rules.

Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., has written a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew questioning regulations that would require U.S. banks and credit unions to collect and report information on nonresident aliens, urging him to cease enforcement of the Foreign Accounting Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, and stop negotiating intergovernmental agreements with other countries for FATCA enforcement.

The Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers and tax preparers that it would be closed Friday, July 5, due to the current budget situation, including the sequester, but filing and payment deadlines remain unchanged.

The National Taxpayer Advocate submits two annual reports to the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee each year.

BDO USA LLP has named CCH as the primary research provider for its professionals nationwide.

Thomson Reuters has introduced a mobile version of its ONESOURCE corporate tax software, allowing users to track the status of income tax e-filings from any mobile device.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., have introduced legislation in the Senate and the House to block foreign governments from collecting taxes on securities transactions.

The Obama administration has decided to postpone the employer responsibility payment and insurance reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act for one year to give businesses more time to comply with the health care reform law.

The American Institute of CPAs has requested changes in a Senate bill aimed at combating the growing problem of identity theft and tax fraud to avoid increased penalties for tax preparers who improperly disclose or use taxpayer information.

A Maryland businessman has pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return for tax year 2008 after admitting to concealing his foreign bank account at an Israel-based bank on his return.

The Internal Revenue did not always comply with legal guidelines when conducting seizures of taxpayers’ property, according to a new government report.

The chairmen of Congress’s two main tax-writing committees in the House and Senate plan to begin a tour across the country visiting with taxpayers and businesses as they plan a major tax reform overhaul.

Profitable U.S. corporations paid only about 13 to 17 percent of their pretax worldwide income in U.S. federal income taxes, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office based on data from the actual tax returns filed by the corporations.

As the wedding season hits full swing, the IRS has issued a reminder that a change in marital status can affect clients’ taxes.

On Jan. 18, 2013, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia threw a wrench into the developing Internal Revenue Service requirements for Registered Tax Return Preparers

Tax news from the previous month

Handicapping the chances of real change to the system

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, many large employers will be subject to the "play or pay" mandate, under which they must either play by offering their full-time employees and their dependents affordable health insurance coverage that provides minimum value or pay a penalty, referred to as the "play or pay penalty" or "shared responsibility penalty."

The IRS has released two notices related to employer-sponsored health plans under the Affordable Care Act.