Deadline for ERC Voluntary Disclosure is Around the Corner... [ read ]
Blog readers are well aware of the IRS continuing enforcement efforts regarding the Employer Retention Credit (ERC). One tool in that enforcement effort is the ERC voluntary disclosure program for employers who received questionable ERC refunds. Introduced on December 22, 2024, the deadline for applying, March 22, 2024, is fast approaching. Any employer who has concerns about an ERC refund should consult with a competent tax advisor as soon as possible about whether they should be considering a voluntary disclosure.
IRS Launches New Effort at High Income Non-Filers: Impacted Taxpayers Should Seek Representation... [ read ]
On February 29, 2024, the IRS announced a new effort to target high-income individuals. This time the IRS announced that they have opened 125,000 cases focusing on millionaires who have failed to file income tax returns. The IRS believes that, based on third-party information received, there may be more than $100 billion of unreported financial activity and conservatively hundreds of millions of dollars of unpaid tax.
The Most Important Elements of a Successful IRS Voluntary Disclosure? Timing and Luck.... [ read ]
As in comedy, the most important element in an IRS voluntary disclosure is generally timing. However, a couple of U.S. Tax Court memorandum opinions in Whistleblower 14376-16W v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2017-181 and T.C. Memo 2024-22, point out that timing and luck are the most important elements of a voluntary disclosure
Another Shot Across the ERC Bow by the IRS... [ read ]
One of my ERC friends sent me the IRS letter below that was received by one of his ERC clients about their ERC filing. The letter, Notice CP271, says there has been aggressive advertising involving ERC and the employer should confirm they are entitled to the ERC amount they claimed.
Return Preparer Fraud Results in Harsh Outcome for Innocent Taxpayer... [ read ]
the IRS generally has three years to assess additional tax, pursuant to IRC Section 6501. The three years can be extended by agreement, the taxpayer filing for bankruptcy, the IRS issuing a Notice of Deficiency, or taxpayer involvement in a third party summons enforcement action.
IRS Announces New Audit Initiative Focused on Private Jet Usage... [ read ]
According to the IRS, private jet usage by certain taxpayers just doesn't fly. Today the IRS announced plans to initiate dozens of audits on business aircraft involving personal use. The audits will focus on aircraft usage by large corporations, large partnerships and high-income taxpayers and whether use of aircrafts is being properly allocated between business and personal reasons.
Can the U.S. Tax Court Hear ERC Lawsuits?... [ read ]
As more and more taxpayers consider filing lawsuits to receive an ERC refund, it is important to understand where the lawsuits can be filed. Before a taxpayer is legally allowed to file a refund lawsuit in court, taxpayers must first file a claim for refund with the IRS.
No Chocolate/Flowers: IRS Dishes Out the Threat of ERC Penalties as its Valentines Gift to Taxpayers... [ read ]
The IRS was not feeling the love this past Valentine's Day, releasing a new FAQ to its Employee Retention Credit Voluntary Disclosure Program that identifies the multitude of criminal and civil penalties that could apply to non-compliant taxpayers that choose not to participate in the program.
IRS Taps into its Inner ‘Letterman' in releasing Top 7 Signs of Improper ERC... [ read ]
For those of you who missed it, the IRS launched a voluntary disclosure program for taxpayers that may have improperly claimed employee retentions credits (ERCs). With the March 22nd program deadline looming, the IRS announced yesterday its "Top 7" list highlighting warning signs that an ERC claim may be questionable.
ERC Refund Litigation: The Role of Local Counsel... [ read ]
Given that the IRS Employee Retention Credit ("ERC" or "ERTC") moratorium is still in effect, and ERC claims not subject to the moratorium are being processed slowly, there are possibly many ERC refund lawsuits that may be filed soon. The rules of civil procedure generally provide that cases against the U.S. government can be filed only in the judicial district where the plaintiff resides or where a corporation has its principal place of business. So needless to say, if there are in fact many ERC lawsuits filed, they will likely be filed in many different courts.