As human beings, we strive to understand the laws of nature and our place in the world. Despite the advancements in technology, research, and science, there still remains much that is unknown. However, we do observe patterns and repetitions in both the natural world and human behavior. With each passing experience and as we age,…
Tax Articles
Serial IRS Whistleblower Cannot Remain Anonymous
You would think that an IRS whistleblower could always remain anonymous. That is a fundamental feature of the whistleblower program. In Whistleblower 14377-16W v. Commissioner, 148 T.C. 25, the U.S. Tax Court concluded that a whistleblower claimant could not remain anonymous when litigating his claim in court. This case is one all whistleblowers should read…
Tax Law is Not Determined by Common Industry Term
Just because businesses in a particular industry commonly use a term to describe a particular transaction or event, the industry term does not necessarily have any bearing on the Federal income tax consequences of the transaction or event. The court addresses this in Greenteam Materials Recovery Facility PN v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2017-122, in the…
Issue for the New Partnership Audit Procedures Raised in TEFRA Case
The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (“TEFRA”) procedures were intended to make it easier for the IRS to audit partnership tax returns. TEFRA failed to deliver. The rules are nuanced and hard to apply. The new partnership audit procedures are intended to remedy this. With the new partnership IRS audit procedures coming…
Penalty Abatement for Reliance on Tax Advisor Who Made Obvious Errors
The IRS often willing to abate or remove tax penalties. To do so, taxpayers usually have to show that they acted with reasonable cause and in good faith. Relying on a competent tax professional can be one way taxpayers can make this showing. But what exactly is a competent tax professional? The court addressed this…
Wholly Owned Corp and Parent Not the “Same Corporation” for Interest Netting
In Ford Motor Co. v. United States, No. 14-458T (Ct. Cl. 2017), the court addressed whether a wholly owned corporation and its parent were the “same corporation” when computing the amount of interest the taxpayer owed to the IRS. This “same corporation” issue is one that comes up in most interest-netting cases. The Interest Netting…
Two Years to File Refund Suit in District Court, Six Years in Federal Court of Claims
If the IRS owes the taxpayer a refund, the general rule is that the taxpayer has to file a refund claim with the IRS, wait for the IRS to disallow the claim, and then, within two years of the date the claim is disallowed, file suit to recoup the refund. This is the general rule.…
Do You Have to Use the IRS’s Official Forms?
Do taxpayers have to use the official forms published by the IRS? In May v. United States, No. 15-16599 (9th Cir. 2017), the court considered whether a taxpayer is subject to the listed transaction penalty if he fails to file the IRS’s reportable transaction form, but the IRS is otherwise furnished with all of the information…
Duty of Consistency for Different Types of Tax Returns
Taxpayers have to report tax positions consistently from year to year. They cannot get a tax benefit from taking inconsistent positions. The duty of consistency doctrine provides for this. But does this doctrine require items to be reported consistently on different types of tax returns? The court addressed this in Musa v. Commissioner, No. 16-1841 (7th…
IRS Must Refund Penalties Despite Tax Malpractice Recovery
Can the IRS withhold or set off a penalty refund owing to a taxpayer if the taxpayer has already recovered the amount in excess of the penalty from its tax attorney for malpractice? The court considered this in Ervin v. United States, No. 4:13-CV-00127-JHM (W.D. Ky. 2017). Facts & Procedural History Ervin participated in a tax shelter…