Tax planning

The number of tax evasion prosecutions fell 5.3 percent last year, continuing a steady decline for at least two decades, according to a new study.

The American Institute of CPAs has sent the Internal Revenue Service a spreadsheet-full of comments on the draft instructions for the revised Form 990 that will be used by tax-exempt organizations to file their returns next year.

The Internal Revenue Service won another tax shelter case, this one involving a sale-in/lease-out transaction.

The New York State Society of CPAs has promoted Joanne Barry to deputy executive director.

The brother of the former manager of the Washington, D.C., tax office has pleaded guilty in a wide-ranging tax scandal.

The Internal Revenue Service reported that its e-file program set another record this tax season, with more than 86 million individual tax returns filed so far this year, a 12 percent increase over last year at this time.

A new initiative aims to create more diversity among corporate tax professionals.

The Virginia Society of CPAs has chosen a new chairman, Gregory F. Lawson, and a board of directors.

Cindy McCain, wife of presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has released the opening two pages of her 1040 return for 2006 after coming under pressure for refusing to provide details of the sources of her income.

The National Conference of CPA Practitioners held a quarterly meeting in Washington to meet with various senators and representatives as well as the Internal Revenue Service, and talk about tax policy.

The Internal Revenue Service's Spring 2008 Statistics of Income Bulletin is a bit of misnomer as it mainly covers income stats for 2006 and 2005, but the report does provide some interesting insights into income patterns and sources in recent years.

Under new regulations, taxpayers must consent to the disclosure or use of their tax information by return preparers. Stiff penalties can be imposed on the preparer who makes unauthorized disclosures.

The Senate has approved a bill offering more than $1.2 billion in tax relief to veterans and military families.

The Senate voted 82-13 to override President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill, which includes nearly $2 billion in tax relief.

Under new regulations, taxpayers must consent to the disclosure or use of their tax information by return preparers. Stiff penalties can be imposed on the preparer who makes unauthorized disclosures.

Actor Wesley Snipes will remain free on bond pending appeal of his conviction.

The Treasury Department said it plans to start sending out more tax rebate checks as soon as it finishes mailing checks for regular tax refunds.

Under new regulations, taxpayers must consent to the disclosure or use of their tax information by return preparers. Stiff penalties can be imposed on the preparer who makes unauthorized disclosures.

Presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has written to Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Douglas Shulman asking him to fix problems her constituents have reported with receiving the wrong amount on their tax rebates.

Investigators from the Treasury Department's watchdog agency, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, plan to discuss the impact of phishing schemes on tax professionals at a series of two-day IRS Tax Forums around the country.