SubscribeFor decades, large corporate taxpayers under continuous audit have been able to make disclosures under Revenue Procedure 94-69 at the beginning of an examination to notify the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of adjustments (both positive and negative) to their tax returns and thereby obtain protection from various penalties and obviate the need to file a formal amended tax return. In 2020, the IRS questioned the continuing utility of this disclosure process and invited comments on said process. With the new Revenue Procedure 2022-39, the IRS has moved the largest corporate taxpayers into a new era of voluntary disclosure. This is a significant development for impacted taxpayers.
Tax Refunds
Weekly IRS Roundup November 21 – November 25, 2022
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of November 21, 2022 – November 25, 2022.
November 21, 2022: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-47, which highlights the following:
- Revenue Procedure 2022-40: This revenue procedure provides that a plan sponsor that maintains a Section 403(b) individually designed plan will be permitted to submit a determination letter application for an initial plan determination, for a determination upon plan termination and in certain other circumstances.
- Announcement 2022-22: This announcement contains a correction to Notice 2022-41, which contained a typographical error in the first sentence of the “GUIDANCE” section. The sentence included a reference to a “non-calendar year” cafeteria plan but should instead refer to any cafeteria plan.
- Revenue Ruling 2022-21: This revenue ruling provides that the base period T-bill rate for the period that ended September 30, 2022, is 1.71%.
- Notice 2022-56: This notice requests comments related to the qualified commercial clean vehicles provisions and the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property.
- Notice 2022-57: This notice requests comments related to the tax credit for carbon oxide sequestration.
- Notice 2022-58: This notice requests comments related to the tax credit for the production of clean hydrogen and the clean fuel production credit.
November 21, 2022: The IRS released Tax Tip 2022-178, reminding individuals that the amount they can contribute to their Section 401(k) plans in 2023 will increase to $22,500. All of the cost‑of‑living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2023 are included in Notice 2022-55.
November 21, 2022: The IRS released Notice 2022-62, which contains the 2022 Required Retirement Plan Amendments List. This list establishes the end of the remedial amendment period and the plan amendment deadline for changes in qualification requirements and Section 403(b) requirements set forth on the list for qualified individually designed plans and Section 403(b) individually designed plans, respectively.
November 22, 2022: The IRS released Tax Tip 2022-179, providing guidelines to help keep online personal information safe. The tips include the following:
- Always protect personal data
- Only shop at reputable retailers
- Use security software
- Choose strong passwords and two-factor authentication
- Know the risk of public Wi-Fi
- Learn to recognize and avoid scams
- Be aware of compromised accounts.
November 22, 2022: The IRS encouraged taxpayers to get ready to file their 2022 federal income tax returns by gathering records, renewing expired tax ID numbers and bookmarking online tools at IRS.gov.
November 22, 2022: The IRS issued proposed regulations related to the foreign tax credit, which provide guidance with respect to the reattribution asset rule for purposes of allocating and apportioning foreign taxes, the cost recovery requirement and the [...]
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Weekly IRS Roundup November 14 – November 18, 2022
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of November 14, 2022 – November 18, 2022.
November 14, 2022: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-46, which highlights the following:
- Announcement 2022-21: The Office of Professional Responsibility announced recent disciplinary sanctions involving lawyers, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, enrolled actuaries, enrolled retirement plan agents and appraisers.
November 14, 2022: The IRS released Notice 2022-59, which provides the adjusted applicable dollar amount to be multiplied by the average number of covered lives for purposes of calculating the fee imposed by Sections 4375 and 4376 for policy years and plan years that end on or after October 1, 2022, and before October 1, 2023. The amount is $3.00, up from $2.79.
November 14, 2022: The IRS released Tax Tip 2022-174, which provides an overview of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TBOR). We have previously posted about TBOR.
November 15, 2022: The IRS released Tax Tip 2022-175, reminding people that Giving Tuesday is coming up and is a good time to review whether their charitable donation is tax deductible. Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
November 15, 2022: The IRS reminded taxpayers that IRS Free File will be closed after November 17. IRS Free File allows people with incomes of $73,000 or less to file a return online for free using brand name software.
November 15, 2022: The IRS Advisory Council issued its 2022 Public Report, which includes recommendations for new and continuing issues in tax administration. The report emphasized the need for “consistent and multi-year funding for the IRS to achieve its goals of providing efficient, effective, modern service to the nation’s taxpayers.” The 146-page report details recommendations for 21 issues, including:
- IRS business and information technology modernization
- Reduction in electronic filing threshold for information return filers
- Alignment of electronic signature requirements on withholding certificates
- Accelerated issuance of IRS Form 6166, Certification of US Residency
- Series 8038 Form Redesign and Updates
- Business Master File Transcript Delivery Service
November 15, 2022: The IRS issued Revenue Rule 2022-22, which provides the applicable federal rates for federal income tax purposes for December 2022. The short-term federal interest rate will increase to 4.55%, the mid-term rate will rise to 4.27% and the long-term rate will rise to 4.34%.
November 16, 2022: The IRS released Revenue Procedure 2022-39, which obsoletes Revenue Procedure 94-69, 1994-2 C.B. 804, and sets out the procedures for eligible taxpayers to file an amended return in accordance with Section 1.6664-2(c)(4)(ii) of the regulations. This revenue procedure also sets out the procedures for eligible taxpayers to avoid the Sections 6662(b)(1) and 6662(b)(2) accuracy related penalties to the extent that the taxpayers report errors resulting in additional tax or adequately discloses the tax treatment of an [...]
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Update on Schedule UTP Comments
We previously discussed the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) announcement regarding draft changes to Schedule UTP, Uncertain Tax Position Return Statement, and Instructions to Schedule UTP (Form 1120). The IRS requested comments by November 18, 2022.
On November 14, 2022, we submitted our comments to the IRS outlining some of our concerns with the draft changes, focusing primarily on the scope of disclosure. We made the following recommendations:
- Reconsider whether any changes should be made to Schedule UTP given the current rules in place regarding other disclosures (g., Forms 8275 and 8275-R) and the serious privilege concerns raised by the additional disclosure requirements.
- Remove the requirement to disclose any positions that are “contrary” to any authorities or, at a minimum, to any Private Guidance.
- If changes are made to Schedule UTP, work with taxpayers to determine the appropriate standard for determining whether there is “contrary” authority and what steps a taxpayer or return preparer must take before being able to satisfy the jurat requirement.
- Issue published guidance clarifying that proper disclosure on Schedule UTP will satisfy the adequate disclosure requirement for purposes of both the disregard of rules and regulations and substantial understatement of tax grounds for imposing penalties under I.R.C. § 6662.
- If changes are made to Schedule UTP, delay the effective date to the 2023 tax year (processing year 2024).
We will continue to track potential changes to Schedule UTP and Form 1120 and will provide updates as they are made known.
Weekly IRS Roundup October 31 – November 4, 2022
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 31, 2022 – November 4, 2022.
October 31, 2022: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-44, which highlights the following:
- Treasury Decision 9966: These final regulations increase the renewal user fee for enrolled retirement plan agents from $67 to $140 and also increase both the enrollment and renewal of enrollment user fees for enrolled agents from $67 to $140.
- Proposed Regulations 113068-22: These proposed regulations relate to recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the average income test for purposes of the low-income housing credit.
- Revenue Ruling 2022-19: This revenue ruling provides a rule for valuing noncommercial flights on employer-provided aircraft, including the three Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) rates: the Unadjusted SIFL Rate, the SIFL Rate Adjusted for PSP Grants, and the SIFL Rate Adjusted for PSP Grants and Promissory Notes.
- Treasury Decision 9967: This document contains final and temporary regulations, which set forth guidance on the average income test for purposes of the low-income housing credit.
October 31, 2022: The IRS released COVID Tax Tip 2022-166, announcing that more than nine million people may qualify for tax benefits they did not claim by filing a 2021 federal income tax return. Many of these people may be eligible to claim some or all of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, among others, which were expanded last year under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and other legislation.
November 1, 2022: The IRS released COVID Tax Tip 2022-167, alerting taxpayers in areas covered by certain Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declarations that they may have more time to file their returns and may qualify for penalty relief under Notice 2022-36.
November 2, 2022: The IRS released COVID Tax Tip 2022-168, reminding people to review their tax withholdings to avoid tax surprises, such as a balance due or a larger-than-expected refund.
November 3, 2022: The IRS requested comments on three notices related to different aspects of extensions and enhancements of energy tax benefits in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The IRS hopes that comments will aid the agency in drafting the related guidance items. Feedback should be submitted by December 3, 2022. The notices include:
- Notice 2022-56, which requests comments related to the qualified commercial clean vehicles provisions and the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property
- Notice 2022-57, which requests comments related to the carbon capture tax credit
- Notice 2022-58, which requests comments related to the tax credit for the production of clean hydrogen and the clean fuel production tax credit.
November 3, 2022: The IRS
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Weekly IRS Roundup October 24 – October 28, 2022
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 24, 2022 – October 28, 2022.
October 24, 2022: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-43, which highlights the following:
- Revenue Procedure 2022-31: This procedure provides guidance on the development, printing and approval of 2022 substitute tax forms.
- Revenue Procedure 2022-37: This procedure provides the amounts of unused housing credit carryovers allocated to qualified states under Section 42(h)(3)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code for calendar year 2022.
- Notice 2022-41: This notice expands the application of permitted change-in-status rules for health coverage under a Section 125 cafeteria plan. Specifically, this notice addresses when a plan participant may want to revoke an employee’s election under the cafeteria plan for family coverage under a group health plan (other than a flexible spending arrangement) in order to allow one or more family members to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan through a Health Insurance Exchange in the individual market.
- Notice 2022-46: This notice requests comments on tax credits for clean vehicles.
- Notice 2022-47: This notice requests comments on energy security tax credits for manufacturing.
- Notice 2022-48: This notice requests comments on incentive provisions for improving the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings.
- Notice 2022-49: This notice requests comments on certain energy generation incentives.
- Notice 2022-50: This notice requests comments on the elective payment of applicable credits and the transfer of certain credits.
- Notice 2022-51: This notice requests comments on prevailing wage, apprenticeship, domestic content and energy community requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
- Notice 2022-52: This notice provides additional temporary relief from certain requirements under Section 42 by extending the placed-in-service deadlines for qualified low-income housing projects. The notice is a result of numerous inquiries received related to labor and supply chain disruptions delaying the construction, rehabilitation and restoration of properties.
October 24, 2022: The IRS reminded taxpayers who sell goods and provide services that they may receive a Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions, for transactions that amount to more than $600 for the year. Income from part-time work and side jobs is taxable, and taxpayers must report all their income unless it is excluded by law. Money received from friends and relatives as personal gifts or reimbursements for expenses is not taxable.
October 24, 2022: The IRS released COVID Tax Tip 2022-162, providing information related to early withdrawals from retirement funds.
October 25, 2022: The IRS reminded farmers, ranchers and farm workers that they can find ag-related tax information on IRS.gov.
October 26, 2022: The IRS released Tax Tip 2022-164, advising [...]
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Weekly IRS Roundup October 17 – October 21, 2022
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 17, 2022 – October 21, 2022.
October 17, 2022: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-42, which highlights the following:
- Notice 2022-45: This notice extends the deadline for amending an eligible retirement plan to reflect the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 (Relief Act). Both allow for special tax treatment with respect to a coronavirus-related distribution or a qualified disaster distribution.
- Notice 2022-43: This notice provides guidance regarding the extension of the four-year replacement period for livestock sold because of the drought. The relief extends to 44 states, two US territories and two independent nations. It generally applies to capital gains realized on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes.
October 17, 2022: The IRS announced its continued support to fight fraud targeting charities, businesses and individuals during Charity Fraud Awareness Week, which was October 17 to October 21. The IRS estimates that charities lose 5% of their revenue each year to fraud.
October 17, 2022: The IRS released Tax Tip 2022-158, reminding taxpayers to review their withholdings and estimated tax payments.
October 17, 2022: The IRS released Revenue Ruling 2022-20, providing various prescribed rates for federal income tax purposes for November 2022.
October 17, 2022: The IRS released Notice 2022-54, which provides guidance on the corporate bond monthly yield curve and corresponding spot segment rates and the 24-month average segment rates for October 2022. The notice also provides guidance as to interest rates on 30-year Treasury securities and 30-year Treasury weighted average rates.
October 17, 2022: The IRS reminded families that they may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit if they claim at least one child as their dependent. The IRS specifically urges grandparents, foster parents or people caring for siblings or other relatives to check whether they are eligible to receive the 2021 Child Tax Credit.
October 18, 2022: The IRS released Tax Tip 2022-159, suggesting that taxpayers with an outstanding tax bill consider making an Offer in Compromise. An Offer in Compromise is an option for taxpayers who cannot pay their full tax liabilities or in situations where paying the balance would create financial hardship.
October 18, 2022: The IRS announced the 2023 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is extending certain tax breaks related to energy for the first time in 2023. The standard deduction for a married couple filing jointly and single and married taxpayers filing separately is also increasing. All of the 2023 adjustments can be found in
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IRS Releases 2023 Annual Inflation Adjustments
On October 18, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the annual inflation adjustments for 2023 related to more than 60 tax provisions, with some increasing, some maintaining and some new additions to the list. The tax adjustments generally apply to tax returns for the 2023 tax year that will be filed in 2024 (i.e., the adjustment will not apply to tax returns filed next year for the 2022 tax year). The highlights are summarized below, but you can find the complete list detailed in Revenue Procedure 2022-38.
2023 Marginal Income Tax Brackets
Tax Rate Single Taxpayers,Income Greater Than: Married Couples Filing Jointly, Income Greater Than: 37% $578,125 $693,750 35% $231,250 $462,500 32% $182,100 $364,200 24% $95,375 $190,750 22% $44,725 $89,450 12% $11,000 $22,000 10% $11,000 or less $22,000 or less
2023 Standard Deduction
Married couples filing jointly $27,700 (increase of $1,800) Single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately $13,850 (increase of $900) Heads of households $20,800 (increase of $1,400)
Alternative Minimum Tax Exemption
- Unmarried individuals: $81,300
- Joint returns or surviving spouses: $126,500
- Married individuals filing separately: $63,250
- Estates and Trusts: $28,400
Earned Income Tax Credit
- $3,995 for one qualifying child
- $6,604 for two qualifying children
- $7,430 for three or more qualifying children
Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit
- $300
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
- $120,000
Basic Exclusion Amount for Estates of Decedents
- $12,920,000
Annual Exclusion for Gifts
- $17,000
New for 2023: Energy-Efficient Commercial Building Deduction
- The applicable dollar value used to determine the maximum allowance of the deduction is $0.54 (increased by $0.02), but not above $1.07, for each percentage point by which the total annual energy and power costs for the building are certified to be reduced by a percentage greater than 25%.
- The applicable dollar value used to determine the increased deduction amount for certain property is $2.68 (increased by $0.11), but not above $5.36, for each percentage point by which the total annual energy and power costs for the building are certified to be reduced by a percentage greater than 25%.
Items Not Changing
- Personal exemption for the 2023 tax year remains at zero
- No limit on itemized deductions (same as 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018)
Practice Point: The above adjustments are a welcome development for taxpayers in the wake of inflation. However, it is important to note that any tax relief will not be immediate as the adjustments are for the 2023 tax year and will be reflected on tax returns filed in 2024.
Weekly IRS Roundup October 10 – October 14, 2022
Presented below is our summary of significant Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance and relevant tax matters for the week of October 10, 2022 – October 14, 2022.
October 11, 2022: The IRS released Internal Revenue Bulletin 2022-41, which highlights the following:
- Notice 2022-42: This notice announces that the IRS and the US Department of the Treasury (Treasury) intend to amend the regulations under Section 901 with respect to the application of the noncompulsory payment regulations to certain amended Puerto Rico tax decrees.
- Notice 2022-44: This notice provides annual awareness of the 2022-2023 special per diem rates for taxpayers to use when substantiating the amount of business expenses incurred while traveling away from home. The guidance addresses (1) the special transportation industry meal and incidental expenses rates, (2) the rate for the incidental expenses only deduction and (3) the rates and list of high-cost localities for purposes of the high-low substantiation method.
- Revenue Procedure 2022-19: This revenue procedure provides guidance to allow S corporations and their shareholders to resolve frequently encountered issues with certainty and without requesting a private letter ruling issued by the IRS.
October 11, 2022: The IRS issued Notice 2022-41, which expands the application of permitted change-in-status rules for health coverage under a Section 125 cafeteria plan. This guidance addresses when a plan participant may want to revoke the employee’s election under the cafeteria plan for family coverage under a group health plan (other than a flexible spending arrangement) in order to allow one or more family members to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan through a Health Insurance Exchange in the individual market.
October 11, 2022: The IRS announced that seminars from the 2022 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum are now available online. The platform offers 18 self-study seminars, including ones on the following topics:
- IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig’s Keynote Address
- Tax Law Changes for Tax Year 2022 – in English and Spanish
- Professional Responsibility Obligations (Ethics) – in English and Spanish
- Tax Treatment of Digital Assets
- Tax-Exempt Organizations Update
- Emerging Cyber Crimes – in English and Spanish
October 11, 2022: The IRS announced that it is expanding dyed diesel penalty relief in response to Hurricane Ian. The IRS will not impose a penalty when dyed diesel fuel with a sulfur content that does not exceed 15 parts-per-million is sold for use or used on highways in the state of Florida. The relief began on September 28, 2022, and lasts through October 19, 2022. The penalty relief previously only applied to emergency vehicles.
October 11, 2022: The IRS issued a statement related to uncertain tax positions (UTP) reporting. Draft changes to the Schedule UTP and the UTP instructions are available at Draft Task Forms. The draft changes are intended to improve the form’s usefulness by incorporating additional relevant examples and [...]
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IRS to Update Schedule UTP to Require Additional Transparency
On October 11, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced draft changes to Schedule UTP, Uncertain Tax Position Return Statement, and Form 1120, Instructions for Schedule UTP, for the 2022 tax year (processing year 2023). Since the 2010 tax year, Schedule UTP has been used by certain corporations to report uncertain tax positions. Corporations filing Forms 1120, 1120-F, 1120-L or 1120-PC are required to file Schedule UTP if their total assets equal or exceed the applicable asset threshold for the tax year and if the corporation records a liability for unrecognized tax benefits for a US federal income tax position in audited financial statements.
The changes to the form include a new field for the incremental dollar amount of the uncertain tax positions taken. Also, for tax positions reported on Schedule UTP, rather than filing Form 8275, Disclosure Statement, or Form 8275-R, Regulation Disclosure Statement, new columns will identify the rulings or regulation sections that are contrary to positions taken on the tax return. (Proper disclosure on Schedule UTP may allow taxpayers to avoid certain penalties). Finally, the instructions incorporate more relevant examples and provide enhanced guidance on what constitutes an adequate disclosure for the concise description. Comments can be submitted to the IRS regarding the draft changes.
Practice Point: The IRS is continuing its effort of having corporations self-identify uncertain tax positions (although there remain questions on how the IRS actually uses the information disclosed on a Schedule UTP). Requiring the identification of specific IRS guidance that is contrary to the taxpayer’s position is noteworthy given the IRS’s recent position that challenges to regulations will not be resolved at the examination or IRS Appeals levels. Corporations subject to the Schedule UTP reporting requirement will need to review their past practices and ensure that future Schedule UTP filings comply with the draft changes once finalized.
