"I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations," Lerner, the head of an IRS division overseeing tax-exempt groups that targeted conservative groups, said before the House Oversight Committee. Lerner then said she was following her counsel's advice not to testify. " "I know that some people will assume that I have done something wrong," she said. "I have not." [The Hill]
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The AICPA Doesn’t Mind If You Copy and Paste Their Letter for the Expressed Purpose of Telling the IRS That the Preparer Regs Suck
- Caleb Newquist
- August 25, 2010
The AICPA is following the ABA’s strategy of mass letter sending by urging its members to inundate the IRS with tearful pleas to reconsider the Service’s Tax Preparer Registration Proposal.
The issue is so serious that the Tax Vice President, Edward Karl, went on the Hill today to testify about the AICPA’s concerns, in what had to have been one raucous hearing:
The AICPA has serious concerns that the proposed IRS regulations are an overreach and would place immense burdens on CPA firms, particularly small- and medium-size firms. Further, the AICPA questions whether the IRS has adequately examined the costs that would be imposed on tax preparers and American taxpayers.
The IRS has proposed four broad new requirements for paid tax return preparers including: mandatory registration, application of enforceable ethical standards, competency testing and continuing education requirements. At [today’s] hearing, the IRS specifically requested comments about registration and the fees tax preparers will be charged for newly required personal taxpayer identification numbers, or PTINs.
While the AICPA has consistently supported the IRS’s efforts to increase tax compliance and elevate ethical conduct through the adoption of a registration process for paid tax return preparers, the AICPA does not believe other elements of the policy are fully justifiable or necessary, according to Karl.
The AICPA is urging all of its 360,000 members to contact the IRS about the proposed regulations to express opposition to elements of the plan.
Adrienne urges everyone to do the copy and paste thing ASAP and since there’s no mention of the IRS being anti-form letter, then we’d probably say that it’s safe to proceed with the letter with the AICPA’s language.
That being said, that’s a pretty boring approach and if you can muster the passion of either side of the fair value debate, we suggest you write from the heart.
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Deadline Watch ’10: Happy October 15th!
- Caleb Newquist
- October 15, 2010
Along with AG’s friendly reminder about the drop-dead deadline for nonprofits today, we’d be remiss if we didn’t call attention to the significance of October 15th deadline.
Maybe you finished things up earlier in the week and today is simply a formality but for many, today is a frantic mishmash of signatures, phone slamming, desperate, last minute emails and – for the holdouts on electronic filing – trips to the post office.
Sure you’re not getting the attention bestowed on April 15th or Chilean miners but – hey! – we remembered you and that should count for something.
So whether you’re finishing up a 1040, a benefit plan’s Form 5500 or converting some poor sap’s IRA, finish up ASAP and go blow off some steam. Another year down.
Earlier:
Deadline Watch ‘10: Happy September 15th!
See also:
Don’t miss these Oct. 15 tax deadlines! [DMWT]
Extended 1040s and Individual NOL Carryback Elections Are Due Today! [Tax Update Blog]
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Quote of The Day: The IRS Follows the Law, When They Can
- Adrienne Gonzalez
- September 10, 2014
Today, IRS Commissioner Koskinen painted a clear picture of how the IRS plans on “overseeing” […]