Penalties for offshore assets disclosed

The IRS has issued a memorandum describing the penalty framework that will apply to those who voluntarily disclose assets hidden in offshore accounts. The new program is a followup to voluntary disclosure efforts conducted two years ago. Every U.S. citizen who has a...

Healthcare act may go to Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has refused, without comment, to bypass the court of appeals and review a Virginia district court decision that challenges the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.   In Virginia ex rel. Cuccinelli v. Sebelius...

Courts do not agree on IRS regulation

Several courts are addressing the legality of an IRS regulation, with mixed results.   Late last year, the IRS issued final regulations describing conditions under which it will be allowed six years – instead of the normal three years – to assess additional tax...

What’s new from Congress

Congress has passed, and the President has signed, the Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011. This bill repeals the expansion of the Form 1099 reporting requirement contained in 2010 legislation. Former...

What’s new from the IRS

A new revenue procedure creates a safe harbor for companies that have incurred “success fees.” Success-based fees are amounts that are contingent on the successful closing of a transaction (most often, investment banker fees). They are presumed to...

What’s new from the courts

In a case dealing with a charitable contribution for a façade easement, the Tax Court ruled that the gift did not result in a charitable contribution deduction because a bank held a mortgage on the underlying property. The easement involved a single-family rowhouse...