Friday Night Recap

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There have been several interesting IRS-themed stories in the news this week.

For one, the IRS recently missed its deadline to appeal an adverse federal District Court decision that denied them the authority to regulate all tax preparers under the Registered Tax Return Preparer program.  This is a big win for tax preparers specifically and a win for small businesses in general.   Perhaps the IRS is going to turn to some kind of voluntary scheme instead.

And if you pay any attention at all to financial news, you wouldn’t have been able to avoid all the press about the IRS paying out something like $15 billion in improper claims for the Earned Income Tax Credit.  Anything that shows how the IRS is wasting our tax dollars or is staffed with incompetent boobs is usually going to remain in the news a few days longer than necessary.  However, this time it really is a big deal.  The IRS admits that about 25% of all EITC payments are issued to people who should not qualify!  What’s worse is the IRS has made little progress on fixing this over the past 4 years.

The last thing I noticed today is not something that everyone will find incredibly captivating, but it caught my eye.  Anytime I see the words “compliance initiative program” it makes me uneasy.  The IRS is going to begin a CIP that will last approximately 12 months and will focus on IRC Section 409A which governs deferred compensation plans.  Thomas Scholz, an IRS executive speaking at an ABA meeting, indicated how many people would be selected for this audit program (less than 50), from what group of taxpayers they would be selected (from an existing pool of employment law cases), and how the IRS will begin the process (through document information requests).  Although stated in off-the-record comments, the IRS revealed some specifics about this CIP that I would love to see them give in ordinary audit situations.

New Commish, 2014 Tax Season, EITC

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A few noteworthy events caught my eye in the world of tax relief today.

First, the Senate approved Obama’s nomination of John Koskinen in a 59-36 vote, confirming him to fill the top position at the IRS; a position that has been vacant for over a year.  Commissioner Koskinen will take his post beginning next week and we’ll definitely keep a close eye on him to see if he will fulfill his promise of restoring public trust to the agency that has been fighting a dismal public perception for years.  Obviously, this is not something that he’ll be able to do overnight.

Second, the IRS announced that the opening of the 2014 tax season will be on January 31st.  This is when the IRS will begin accepting 2013 tax returns.  The IRS encourages taxpayers to file electronically.  If you are due a refund, this is definitely the quickest way to get it.  Also, the IRS reminds us that we always have the option of requesting an automatic six-month extension using Form 4868.  The IRS tends to encourage extensions because it spreads out the influx of tax returns so that things don’t get too bottlenecked.

And finally, TIGTA, the IRS watchdog, reported on increasing abuse of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) by tax preparers.  The IRS has always had a problem with EITC abuse and fraud because it is a refundable tax credit that can mean money in the pocket of whoever claims it and qualifies (or appears to qualify).  TIGTA noted that too many tax preparers fail to do their due diligence by completing and attaching Form 8867, the Paid Preparer’s Earned Income Credit Checklist.

Wal-Mart and the EITC

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The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax credit that was first offered to taxpayers back in 1975 to help prevent low income families from slipping into poverty.  EITC can mean tax relief (lower taxes) for some and a tax refund (cash in pocket) for others.  When EITC exceeds the amount of tax owed, it results in a tax refund for those who qualify.  As you can imagine, the EITC is one of the tax provisions that is most susceptible to fraud.

Most people who file early expect a tax refund, often due to EITC claims.  Apparently Wal-Mart stores possess a key indicator of how many EITC claims are being made each tax season.  So far this year Walmart’s numbers are low.  Wal-Mart stores have cashed a mere $1.7 billion in refund checks so far this year compared to $3 billion this time last year.

The reason why Wal-Mart’s numbers are off is actually two-fold.  First, the start of tax season was delayed this year, and a whole week’s worth of tax refund checks could add up to at least another $1 billion or so.  Second, and more importantly, the IRS is reviewing as many EITC claims as possible this year to try to identify fraudulent claims.  However, according to the IRS no more than 5 percent of EITC claims are being delayed.

Tax Relief via the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

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The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit you may be able to take advantage of this tax season to get the tax relief you need. Since the EITC is refundable, this means taxpayers may get money back, even if they have no tax withheld. However, to get the credit, taxpayers need to file a tax return and specifically claim the EITC, even if they don’t have a filing requirement.

Recent changes to the EITC make the credit available to more taxpayers than in years past. Eligibility for the EITC varies based on income and family size. Households with three or more qualifying children will receive a 2012 tax credit of $5,891 if their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is less than $45,060 when filing individually or $50,270 when married filing jointly. The equivalent credit for tax year 2011 was $5,751 for individuals with an annual AGI less than $43,998 or $49,078 when married filing jointly.

On the other end of the EITC spectrum, for tax year 2012, households with no qualifying children will receive a $475 tax credit if their AGI is less than $13,980 when filing individually or $19,190 when filing married filing jointly. Similar middle tier credit adjustments are available for taxpayers claiming one or two qualifying children.

Eligibility for the EITC is very fact specific as to eligibility requirements and prone to errors. Even if someone else prepares your tax return, a taxpayer is still responsible for the accuracy their own tax return. Taxpayers should seek tax advice if they are not sure whether they qualify for the EITC. Common EITC errors identified on the IRS website include:

  • Claiming a child who is not a qualifying child.
  • Filing as single or head of household when actually married.
  • Reporting incorrect income or expense amounts.
  • Missing or incorrect Social Security numbers for self, spouse or qualifying children.

While claiming the EITC will get you immediate tax relief, avoiding these common tax errors will give you stress relief.

 

IRS Will be Watching EITC Claims More Closely in 2012

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The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable credit for low to moderate income households. It is a very desirable form of tax relief because it actually puts money back in their pockets . . . if they qualify.  The problem is that over the years the IRS has also paid out in circumstances where the taxpayer doesn’t really qualify. In fact, in 2009 over 26 million people received nearly $59 billion through the EITC.

In an effort to promote more accuracy (and less fraud) in connection with EITC, the IRS is likely going to make it a requirement that all paid tax preparers include Form 8867 with all returns that include the credit. Right now it is a proposed regulation still awaiting public comment and final approval. In years past, tax preparers were required to complete this form (to prove their due diligence) and retain it in case of audit. But under the proposed regulation, paid tax preparers would be required — beginning January 1, 2012 — to actually file the form along with the return.