Kevin Spencer

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Kevin Spencer focuses his practice on tax controversy issues. Kevin represents clients in complicated tax disputes in court and before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at the IRS Appeals and Examination divisions. In addition to his tax controversy practice, Kevin has broad experience advising clients on various tax issues, including tax accounting, employment and reasonable compensation, civil and criminal tax penalties, IRS procedures, reportable transactions and tax shelters, renewable energy, state and local tax, and private client matters. After earning his Master of Tax degree, Kevin had the privilege to clerk for the Honorable Robert P. Ruwe on the US Tax Court. Read Kevin Spencer's full bio.

Weekly IRS Roundup November 13 – November 17, 2023


By on Nov 21, 2023
Posted In IRS Guidance, Tax Reform, Tax Refunds

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of November 13, 2023 – November 17, 2023. November 13, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-46, which includes the following: Proposed regulations that would update the requirements a plan sponsor of a single-employer defined benefit...

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Weekly IRS Roundup November 6 – November 10, 2023


By on Nov 13, 2023
Posted In IRS Guidance, Tax Reform

Check out our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of November 6, 2023 – November 10, 2023. November 6, 2023: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2023-45, which includes the following: Final regulations that increase the user fees for new and renewal enrollment of enrolled actuaries...

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Federal District Court Rules Codified Economic Substance Doctrine Vitiates Tax Transaction Benefits


By , and on Nov 3, 2023
Posted In Court Procedure Matters, Trial Courts

On October 31, 2023, the US District Court for the District of Colorado, in Liberty Global, Inc. v. United States, applied the codified economic substance doctrine and held—on summary judgment—that Liberty Global, Inc. (LGI) must recognize $2.4 billion in taxable gain. At issue was a four-step transaction that took place in 2018, as a result...

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IRS Announces New Compliance Initiatives to Collect More Corporate Tax Using Inflation Reduction Act Funds


By , and on Oct 24, 2023
Posted In IRS Audits, IRS Guidance

On October 20, 2023, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new initiatives “to ensure large corporations pay taxes owed.” These initiatives leverage the substantial additional congressional funding that was given to the IRS thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). (We previously reported on how IRS enforcement is impacted by IRA funding here.)...

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IRS Criminal Investigation Division Is on the Hunt for Malta Pension Plan Participants and Promoters


By , , and on Jul 25, 2023
Posted In Uncategorized

There has been a growing trend of US taxpayers contributing non-cash assets, such as appreciated property, securities and cryptocurrency, into Maltese pension plans since the US-Malta Tax Treaty went into effect in 2011. These transactions were marketed to many US taxpayers as a way to cash in on their earnings without being subject to US federal taxation....

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Can the Government Sue for Tax Debts Outside Internal Revenue Code Procedures?


By , and on Jul 21, 2023
Posted In Appellate Courts, Court Procedure Matters, Trial Courts

On June 1, 2023, in United States v. Liberty Global, Inc., the US District Court for the District of Colorado held that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) can assert and seek judgment for federal income tax deficiencies using a common law right of action, bypassing the usual statutory tax deficiency procedures outlined in the Internal...

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Tax Court Says Pollution Control Systems Are Not Pilot Models, Rejects Tax Research Credits


By and on Jul 14, 2023
Posted In Court Procedure Matters, Trial Courts

On July 6, 2023, the US Tax Court issued its decision in Betz v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2023-84. Betz considers the application of the pilot model supply rule to expenses incurred by a designer (CPI[1]) of made-to-order air pollution control systems called oxidizers. At issue was approximately $500,000 of research and development tax credits pursuant...

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With the IRS, Mail Delivery Counts!


By and on Jun 29, 2023
Posted In Appellate Courts, Court Procedure Matters, Tax Refunds, Trial Courts

Over the years, case law has developed around when a mail delivery method is acceptable to prove that a tax filing was made. The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit’s recent decision in Pond v. United States[1]  addresses how a taxpayer can prove delivery of a filing where the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)...

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IRS Reminds Taxpayers of Upcoming Deadline to File for 2019 Tax Refunds


By and on Jun 9, 2023
Posted In IRS Guidance, Tax Refunds

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a news release reminding taxpayers to submit their 2019 income tax returns by July 17, 2023, to claim their refunds. Internal Revenue Code Section 6511 provides the period in which a taxpayer may request a refund or credit: Claim for credit or refund of an overpayment of any tax...

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President Biden Announces IRS Chief Counsel Nominee


By and on Jun 6, 2023
Posted In Uncategorized

On June 2, 2023, US President Joe Biden announced that he has picked Marjorie Rollinson as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Chief Counsel, the top attorney position at the IRS. Rollinson has had a distinguished career in tax service, both in the public and private sectors, and would be the first woman to serve in...

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