Tax regulations

The days when big U.S. technology companies could easily slice tax bills in Europe are coming to an end.

The European Union’s finding that Apple Inc. owes Ireland more than $14 billion in back taxes reveals the high cost the U.S. Treasury may pay by failing to keep pace in a global effort to stem corporate tax avoidance—and Apple might represent only the first major U.S. loss.

The Internal Revenue Service has modified a policy it instituted earlier this year on not providing letter rulings or determination letters on certain tax questions related to distributions of stock of controlled corporations and will now provide them in two specific areas.

The Internal Revenue Service has released new guidance for taxpayers making certain elections and filing amended returns to take advantage of the tax extenders in last December’s PATH Act for bonus depreciation.

The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department are providing new guidance on the requirements for professional employer organizations seeking voluntary certification, relaxing some of the original requirements for submitting written opinions and attestations from CPAs.

The Internal Revenue Service is offering a safe harbor for businesses using property that has been financed with tax-exempt bonds.

Jacob J. Lew looks set to close out his tenure as one of just two Treasury secretaries to serve during the Obama administration. Not since the days of Eisenhower has a two-term U.S. president had such stability at the helm of the Treasury Department.

Republican leaders of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee are asking the Treasury Department to go back to the drawing board on proposed regulations for changing the tax treatment of corporate debt and equity to curb corporate earnings stripping.

The Internal Revenue Service has created a new webpage with information to help people who participate in the so-called “sharing economy” get timely tax advice.

The Internal Revenue Service’s Chief Counsel has released its annual Priority Guidance Plan for 2016 to 2017.