Thursday November 10, 2022 – With the expansion of the IRS and the push to collect additional tax dollars, the IRS is pushing Criminal Investigations.

In my practice, I have not had many encounters with the Criminal Investigations unit of the IRS – but I think that is about to change.

Using the intimidation of the IRS Criminal Investigations should bolster the amount of money the IRS collects. Did you know it is a crime to fail to file your tax return? The penalty is one year in prison for every year of unfiled returns.

Before COVID, the IRS announced it will visit more taxpayers who haven’t filed tax returns for prior years in an effort to increase tax compliance and further enforce the law.

So expect to hear more stories in the news reenforcing this initiative.

Attorney Steven A. Leahy discusses this new development on Today’s Tax Talk.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-increasing-focus-on-taxpayers-who-have-not-filed-tax-return

https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2022/11/03/irs-criminal-investigation-had-90-conviction-rate-in-2022/72807/

Wednesday November 9, 2022 – The IRS calls an audit an “Examination of Returns.” The IRS accepts most federal tax returns just as they are filed. Some returns, however, are selected for review. The IRS selects returns for audit by computerized screening, random sample, or by an income document matching program.

An examination can take place in several ways. Some audits are handled exclusively by US Mail, in the taxpayer’s home or place of business, at an IRS office or at your representative’s office. The time, place, and manner of the audit are negotiable.

Attorney Steven A. Leahy reviews the 11 things you need to know to avid an IRS audit (plus one bonus).

Monday November 7, 2022 – This space has been reporting on the Cash App law created by the American Rescue Plan of March 2021. The law changed the tax reporting requirements for third-party payment apps from 200 Transactions AND $20,000 or more to $600 or more, no matter the number of transactions.
This change went into effect on January 1, 2022. That means the new rule won’t really come to light until February 2023 when the information Returns must be delivered to taxpayers. Third-party payment apps, like Venmo, paypall, Cash app, etc. are subject to this rule.

But, early on, Zelle let consumers know they were not subject to this new rule. Because Zelle is not a third-party payment app. Instead, Zelle is a bank-to-bank payment service not subject to the 1099-K reporting rules.

Attorney Steven A. Leahy will take a close look at Zelle’s claim on Today’s Tax Talk.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-07/zelle-becomes-loophole-for-business