Once is enough as far as collection of the trust fund recovery penalty is concerned Chief Counsel Advice 200838027

The IRS has issued a new Chief Counsel Advice (CCA) on the trust fund recovery penalty. The IRS notes that the CCA may not be used or cited as precedent.
IRC §6672, imposes a penalty on [...]

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Leader of $181 million payroll tax scheme admits guilt [United States v. Amodeo, DC FL, Case No. 6:08-cr-176-Orl-28GJK
Frank Amodeo, the former head of Mirabilis Ventures Inc., has pleaded guilty to federal charges that he and his co-conspirators knowingly failed to remit payroll taxes to the IRS totaling between $172 million and $181 million. (The [...]

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TIGTA review finds small number of cases where IRS employees harassed taxpayers while attempting to collect taxes [Audit Report No. 2008-10-162]:
In 2007, there were five cases involving Fair Tax Collection Practices (FTCP) violations for which an IRS employee received administrative disciplinary action, according to a recent audit by the Treasury Inspector General [...]

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Year end planning moves that optimize enhanced election to expense business property

Thanks to the Stimulus Act of 2008, most small businesses, and even moderate-sized businesses that don’t have huge capital equipment needs, may be able to claim a full Code Sec. 179 expensing deduction for the cost of business machinery and equipment purchased [...]

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Texas Hurricane Ike Victims Qualify for IRS Disaster Relief

IR-2008-107, Sept. 18, 2008

WASHINGTON — Texas taxpayers who were adversely affected by Hurricane Ike qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service, including the postponement of tax filing and payment deadlines until Jan. 5, 2009.

Following the hurricane’s landfall on Saturday, Sept. 13, the [...]

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IRS explains how to collect from sole member of LLC law firm
Chief Counsel Advice 200836002

In Chief Counsel Advice (CCA), IRS has concluded that a levy served on a limited liability company (LLC) will attach to property or rights to property belonging to the LLC’s sole owner. He practiced law and received income from [...]

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IRS provides WHFIT penalty relief for 2008 and WHMT reporting relief for 2007 Notice 2008-77, 2008-40 IRB

In a Notice, IRS has informed trustees and middlemen of widely held fixed investment trusts (WHFITs) that it will not assert penalties under Reg. § 1.671-5(m) (dealing with WHFIT reporting rules) for calendar year 2008. In addition, [...]

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IRS OKs use of one property to engineer a reverse and forward like-kind swap Chief Counsel Advice 200836024

In Chief Counsel Advice (CCA), IRS has given its blessing to the use of one property to engineer both a completed reverse like kind exchange and an attempted forward like kind exchange. The forward exchange was necessary [...]

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Like many of us, you’ve probably dreamed of turning a hobby or avocation into a regular business. You won’t have any unusual tax headaches if your new business is profitable. However, if the new enterprise consistently generates losses (deductions exceed income), IRS may step in and say it’s a hobby—an activity not engaged in [...]

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California tax collectors to visit small businesses
As per Los Angeles Times

The effort is part of a new program to catch scofflaws. Investigators will be checking for seller’s permits, business licenses and evidence that firms are collecting and paying enough sales and use tax

By Cyndia Zwahlen Special to The Times
September 8, 2008
The tax man cometh [...]

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LLC may receive continuous wage levy on owner

Chief Counsel Advice 200835030

A new IRS Chief Counsel Advice (CCA) says that a limited liability company (LLC) may be required to honor a continuous wage levy on salary and wage payments to its sole owner. [Note:  The CCA may not be used or cited as precedent.]
Facts. [...]

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Victims of Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana qualify for tax relief
IR 2008-100
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=186409,00.html

An IRS news release says victims of Hurricane Gustav in the 34 parishes of Louisiana designated as presidential disaster areas have until Jan. 5, 2009, to make tax payments and file returns that would otherwise be due between Sept. 1, 2008, and Jan. [...]

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Do you have back tax returns that are Unfiled? Are you missing the records and forms necessary to file your tax returns?
The IRS will not allow you to file an offer in compromise or get an installment agreement if you are not current on filing your back tax returns.
If you have a refund coming to you and you file more than 3 years past the due date, the IRS will keep the refund.

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Employer not required to obtain worker status determination before withholding taxes

Nino v. Ford Motor Company, DC MI, 102 AFTR 2d ¶2008-5215, Dkt. No. 07-13545, 8/8/08

A federal district court has dismissed an employee’s pro se (“for self”; non-attorney) complaint that he should not have had withholding deducted until his employer obtained a worker status determination [...]

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Court rebuffs IRS and allows deduction for lease termination payment

ABC Beverage Corporation & Subsidiaries v. U.S., (DC MI 8/27/2008) 102 AFTR 2d ¶ 2008-5231

A district court has allowed a party that exercised an option to buy property that it was leasing to deduct a portion of the amount tendered in the transaction as [...]

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