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IR-2020-60, March 27, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced Erin M. Collins will start her term as the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) on Monday, March 30, and lead the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS.
The Advocate is a critical position inside the IRS, leading the Taxpayer Advocate Service and serving as a voice for taxpayers inside the IRS as well as being a senior adviser to IRS leadership. The NTA also reports to Congress on areas of the tax law that impose significant burdens on taxpayers or the IRS, including recommending potential legislative changes.
"Collins is an excellent choice for this key position because she is familiar with tax issues from inside and outside the IRS," said IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig. "The IRS leadership team and I look forward to a meaningful, productive working relationship with Collins and the Taxpayer Advocate Service to help improve our tax system for everyone."
"I will be starting my position as the National Taxpayer Advocate earlier than originally planned due to the recent national emergency," Collins said. "I can't imagine a more critical time to lead the Taxpayer Advocate Service and to help the nation's taxpayers during this time."
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appointed Collins on February 27, 2020, to replace Nina Olson, who left the office in July 2019 after serving more than 18 years.
"We are extremely thankful to Bridget Roberts for her efforts while serving as Acting Advocate following Nina Olson's many years of service and leadership," Rettig said.
Rettig added that he appreciated the work of Roberts and the TAS team, which has been working closely with IRS leadership on numerous issues related to COVID-19, including help for taxpayers in the new People First Initiative.
Roberts will resume her permanent role as the Deputy National Taxpayer Advocate.
Collins has extensive background in the tax community including 20 years as a Managing Director of KPMG's Tax Controversy Services practice for the Western Area. Before that, she was an attorney in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel for 15 years. Throughout her career, she represented individuals, partnerships and corporate taxpayers on technical and procedural tax matters. Collins has also provided pro bono services to taxpayers to resolve disputes with the IRS. Collins also donated her time to non-profit boards focusing on underserved communities where English is typically not the primary language spoken at home.
"Her interests fit in perfectly with the priorities of the Taxpayer Advocate Service, specifically, and the IRS, more generally," Rettig added.
TAS helps taxpayers and protects taxpayer rights. TAS has at least one local taxpayer advocate office in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. TAS helps taxpayers who need assistance resolving an IRS problem, if their problem is causing financial difficulty, or if they believe an IRS system or procedure isn't working as it should. Taxpayers can call their local advocate; whose number is in their local directory. Visit the TAS website to learn more about TAS and how it can help.
IR-2020-58, March 21, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.
Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax.
Taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline, can request a filing extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004.
The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds are still being issued within 21 days.
"Even with the filing deadline extended, we urge taxpayers who are owed refunds to file as soon as possible and file electronically," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds. Although we are curtailing some operations during this period, the IRS is continuing with mission-critical operations to support the nation, and that includes accepting tax returns and sending refunds. As a federal agency vital to the overall operations of our country, we ask for your personal support, your understanding – and your patience. I'm incredibly proud of our employees as we navigate through numerous different challenges in this very rapidly changing environment."
The IRS will continue to monitor issues related to the COVID-19 virus, and updated information will be posted on a special coronavirus page on IRS.gov.
This announcement comes following the President's emergency declaration last week pursuant to the Stafford Act. The Stafford Act is a federal law designed to bring an orderly and systematic means of federal natural disaster and emergency assistance for state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to aid citizens. It was enacted in 1988.
Treasury and IRS will issue additional guidance as needed and continue working with Congress, on a bipartisan basis, on legislation to provide further relief to the American people.
IR-2020-55, March 12, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the release of final regulations that increase the Offer in Compromise application fee to $205 and provide an additional way for the IRS to waive the Offer in Compromise application fee for low-income taxpayers, based on their adjusted gross income (AGI).
An Offer in Compromise (OIC) is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS to settle a tax debt for less than the full amount owed. Generally, it may be an option for taxpayers who can't pay their full tax debt, or if doing so would create a financial hardship. The IRS considers the taxpayer's overall financial circumstances when considering an OIC in an effort to administratively resolve the amount due.
Applicants who meet the definition of a "low-income taxpayer" receive a waiver of their OIC application fee. A new provision from the Taxpayer First Act provides an additional way for low-income taxpayers to qualify for a waiver of the OIC application fee.
Normally, the IRS determines if taxpayers fall at or below 250% of the poverty level by looking at their household's size and gross monthly income. The new law provides an additional standard for the IRS to use in making the calculation. The IRS will now also look at a taxpayer's AGI from the most recent tax return to determine whether it is at or below 250% of the poverty level.
Taxpayers with an outstanding tax debt are encouraged to timely respond to IRS notices and should not ignore correspondence received from the IRS. Taxpayers with an outstanding tax debt should contact the IRS at the phone number set forth in the notice, online or by visiting a local Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) – a listing of local TACs is available at IRS.gov. Taxpayers may also seek assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). Contact information for TAS is available online, including a listing of local TAS offices.
For more information, see Offer in Compromise on IRS.gov.
IR-2020-54, March 11, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today advised that high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) can pay for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related testing and treatment, without jeopardizing their status. This also means that an individual with an HDHP that covers these costs may continue to contribute to a health savings account (HSA).
In Notice 2020-15PDF, posted today on IRS.gov, the IRS said that health plans that otherwise qualify as HDHPs will not lose that status merely because they cover the cost of testing for or treatment of COVID-19 before plan deductibles have been met. The IRS also noted that, as in the past, any vaccination costs continue to count as preventive care and can be paid for by an HDHP.
Today's notice applies only to HSA-eligible HDHPs. Employees and other taxpayers in any other type of health plan with specific questions about their own plan and what it covers should contact their plan.
IR-2020-52, March 9, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers, businesses, tax professionals and others to take advantage of a wide variety of free IRS email subscription services that feature things like the annual "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams, which is coming this month.
The e-News Subscription service issues tax information by email for many different audiences providing tips, tools and helpful materials of interest to taxpayers and organizations. Among others, the IRS offers subscription services tailored to tax exempt and government entities, small and large businesses as well as individuals. The service is easy to use; sign up for by visiting IRS e-News Subscriptions.
The IRS currently has 20 registration-based e-News options, including:
IRS Tax Tips – These brief, concise tips in plain language that cover a wide-range of topics of general interest to taxpayers. They include the latest on tax scams and schemes, tax reform, tax deductions, filing extensions and amending a return. IRS Tax Tips are distributed daily during tax season and periodically throughout the year.
	 
IRS Newswire − Subscribers to IRS Newswire receive news releases the day they are issued. These cover a wide range of tax administration issues ranging from breaking news to details related to legal guidance.
	 
IRS News in Spanish (Noticias del IRS en Español) − Readers get IRS news releases, tax tips and updates in Spanish as they are released. Subscribe at Noticias del IRS en Español.
	 
e-News for Tax Professionals − Includes a weekly roundup of news releases and legal guidance specifically designed for the tax professional community. Subscribing to e-News for Tax Professionals gets tax pros a weekly summary, typically delivered on Friday afternoons.
	 
IRS Outreach Connection − This newest IRS subscription offering delivers up-to-date materials for tax professionals and partner groups inside and outside the tax community. The material for Outreach Connection is specifically designed so subscribers can share the material with their clients or members through email, social media, internal newsletters, e-mails or external websites. Subscribe by visiting IRS.gov/outreachconnect.
For more information and other IRS subscriptions designed for specific groups, visit IRS e-News Subscriptions. The resources will help taxpayers and organizations keep up with the latest information during and after filing season.
IR-2020-50, March 6, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has updated two comprehensive publications designed to help anyone making IRA contributions or receiving IRA distributions for tax year 2019 or considering making retirement donations before April 15, 2020.
The 2019 editions of Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) and Publication 590-B, Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), are both now available on IRS.gov. Both publications address the unique features of both Roth and traditional IRAs.
Most people who work can make contributions to a traditional or Roth IRA. Contributions to a traditional IRA are usually tax deductible and distributions are generally taxable. On the other hand, contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible, but qualified distributions are tax-free. Taxpayers can make contributions until April 15, 2020, and count them on their 2019 tax returns.
Publication 590-A explains the rules for contributing to an IRA, with examples and worksheets illustrating how to correctly figure the contribution and deduction limits. Other topics covered include rollovers, trustee-to-trustee transfers and what to do if too much is contributed to an IRA.
Publication 590-B explains how to correctly figure required minimum distributions (RMDs) from traditional IRAs. In 2019, the RMD rules generally apply to anyone born before July 1, 1949. Those who turned 70½ during 2019 can choose to wait until April 1, 2020, to take their first RMD.
Examples and worksheets help illustrate the calculation. There is also a discussion of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), including how to count them toward an RMD. For those who take money out of an IRA before reaching 59½, the publication also covers situations where the 10% tax on early distributions does and does not apply.
For those planning ahead for 2020 and future years, legislation enacted in December made several changes affecting IRAs and other retirement plans. One change generally allows those born after June 30, 1949, to wait until they turn 72 to begin taking distributions from their traditional IRAs. Another allows those 70½ or older to make contributions to traditional IRAs.
For details, visit IRS.gov/rmd or see fact sheet FS-2020-4, also available on IRS.gov.
IR-2020-78, April 23, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that provide guidance for tax-exempt organizations that are subject to the unrelated business income tax with more than one unrelated trade or business on how to calculate their unrelated business taxable income (UBTI).
The proposed regulations issued today provide guidance on identifying separate trades or businesses, including investment activities, as well as certain other amounts included in UBTI.
Changes under the TCJA require tax-exempt organizations subject to the UBTI tax to compute UBTI, including any NOL deduction, separately for each trade or business (referred to as a "silo").
Under prior law, UBTI was the gross income of all unrelated trades or businesses less the allowed deductions from all unrelated trades or businesses. Starting in tax-year 2018 (tax years beginning after December 31, 2017), the loss from one trade or business may not offset the income from another, separate trade or business.
Updates on the implementation of the TCJA can be found on the Tax Reform page of IRS.gov.
IR-2020-77, April 21, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today issued guidance that provides relief to individuals and businesses affected by travel disruptions arising from the COVID-19 emergency.
The guidance includes the following:
Revenue Procedure 2020-20PDF, which provides that, under certain circumstances, up to 60 consecutive calendar days of U.S. presence that are presumed to arise from travel disruptions caused by the COVID-19 emergency will not be counted for purposes of determining U.S. tax residency and for purposes of determining whether an individual qualifies for tax treaty benefits for income from personal services performed in the United States;
	 
Revenue Procedure 2020-27 PDF, which provides that qualification for exclusions from gross income under I.R.C. section 911 will not be impacted as a result of days spent away from a foreign country due to the COVID-19 emergency based on certain departure dates; and
	 
An FAQ, which provides that certain U.S. business activities conducted by a nonresident alien or foreign corporation will not be counted for up to 60 consecutive calendar days in determining whether the individual or entity is engaged in a U.S. trade or business or has a U.S. permanent establishment, but only if those activities would not have been conducted in the United States but for travel disruptions arising from the COVID-19 emergency.
The Treasury Department and the IRS are continuing to monitor these and other issues related to the COVID-19 emergency, and updated information about relief will continue to be posted on Coronavirus Tax Relief on IRS.gov.
IR-2020-67, April 9, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued guidance providing tax relief under the CARES Act for taxpayers with net operating losses. Recently the IRS issued tax relief for partnerships filing amended returns.
COVID Relief for taxpayers claiming NOLs
Revenue Procedure 2020-24PDF provides guidance to taxpayers with net operating losses that are carried back under the CARES Act by providing procedures for:
waiving the carryback period in the case of a net operating loss arising in a taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2021,
disregarding certain amounts of foreign income subject to transition tax that would normally have been included as income during the five-year carryback period, and
waiving a carryback period, reducing a carryback period, or revoking an election to waive a carryback period for a taxable year that began before Jan. 1, 2018, and ended after Dec. 31, 2017.
Six month extension of time for filing NOL forms
In Notice 2020-26PDF, the IRS grants a six-month extension of time to file Form 1045 or Form 1139, as applicable, with respect to the carryback of a net operating loss that arose in any taxable year that began during calendar year 2018 and that ended on or before June 30, 2019.  Individuals, trusts, and estates would file Form 1045PDF, and corporations would file Form 1139PDF.
COVID relief for partnerships
On April 8, 2020, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2020-23PDF, allowing eligible partnerships to file amended partnership returns using a Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, by checking the “Amended Return” box and issuing amended Schedules K-1, Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, to each of its partners. Partnerships filing these amended returns should write “FILED PURSUANT TO REV PROC 2020-23” at the top of the amended return.
IR-2020-66, April 9, 2020
WASHINGTON — To help taxpayers, the Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service announced today that Notice 2020-23PDF extends additional key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses.
Last month, the IRS announced that taxpayers generally have until July 15, 2020, to file and pay federal income taxes originally due on April 15. No late-filing penalty, late-payment penalty or interest will be due.
Today’s notice expands this relief to additional returns, tax payments and other actions. As a result, the extensions generally now apply to all taxpayers that have a filing or payment deadline falling on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. Individuals, trusts, estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers qualify for the extra time. This means that anyone, including Americans who live and work abroad, can now wait until July 15 to file their 2019 federal income tax return and pay any tax due.
Extension of time to file beyond July 15
Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline can request an extension to Oct. 15, 2020, by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004. An extension to file is not an extension to pay any taxes owed. Taxpayers requesting additional time to file should estimate their tax liability and pay any taxes owed by the July 15, 2020, deadline to avoid additional interest and penalties.
Estimated Tax Payments
Besides the April 15 estimated tax payment previously extended, today’s notice also extends relief to estimated tax payments due June 15, 2020. This means that any individual or corporation that has a quarterly estimated tax payment due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020, can wait until July 15 to make that payment, without penalty.  
2016 unclaimed refunds – deadline extended to July 15
For 2016 tax returns, the normal April 15 deadline to claim a refund has also been extended to July 15, 2020. The law provides a three-year window of opportunity to claim a refund.  If taxpayers do not file a return within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. The law requires taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is postmarked by the July 15, 2020, date.
IRS.gov assistance 24/7
IRS live telephone assistance is currently unavailable due to COVID-19. Normal operations will resume when possible. Tax help is available 24 hours a day on IRS.gov.  The IRS website offers a variety of online tools to help taxpayers answer common tax questions. For example, taxpayers can search the Interactive Tax Assistant, Tax Topics, Frequently Asked Questions, and Tax Trails to get answers to common questions. Those who have already filed can check their refund status by visiting IRS.gov/Refunds.
IR-2020-108, May 28, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations PDF to help businesses understand how legislation passed in 2018 may benefit those claiming carbon capture credits.
The proposed regulations provide guidance regarding two new credits for carbon oxide captured using equipment originally placed in service on or after February 9, 2018, allowing up to:
$50 per metric ton of qualified carbon oxide for permanent sequestration, and up to
$35 for Enhanced Oil Recovery purposes. 
Neither of these new credits is subject to a limitation on the number of metric tons of qualified carbon oxide captured.  The new law also expanded carbon capture to include “qualified carbon oxide,” a broader term than “qualified carbon dioxide.”  Prior to the change in law, carbon capture was limited to a total of 75,000,000 metric tons of qualified carbon oxide. 
Additionally, the proposed regulations address issues for which taxpayers had questions, including: procedures to determine adequate security measures for the geological storage of qualified carbon oxide, exceptions to the general rule for determining who the credit is attributable to, procedures for a taxpayer to make an election to allow third-party taxpayers to claim the credit, standards for measuring utilization of qualified carbon oxide and rules for credit recapture.
Prior guidance
After the enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Agreement in February 2018, the IRS issued Notice 2019-32PDF requesting comments from taxpayers regarding the changes to the carbon capture credit in the new law. After carefully considering the comments, the IRS is issuing the proposed regulations to provide clarity.  Earlier this year, the IRS issued other guidance regarding the definition of "beginning of construction" and providing a safe harbor for partnerships.
In Notice 2020-12PDF, the IRS provides guidance to help businesses determine when construction has begun on a qualified facility or on carbon capture equipment that may be eligible for the carbon capture credit. This notice provides broad guidance in lieu of taxpayers requesting private letter rulings in this area.
In Revenue Procedure 2020-12PDF , the IRS creates a safe harbor for the allocation rules for carbon capture partnerships similar to the safe harbors developed for partnerships receiving the wind energy production tax credit and the rehabilitation credit. The safe harbor simplifies the application of carbon capture credit rules to partnerships able to claim the credit.
IR-2020-107, May 28, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that later this summer taxpayers will for the first time be able to file their Form 1040-X, Amended U.S Individual Income Tax Return, electronically using available tax software products.
Making the 1040-X an electronically filed form has been a goal of the IRS for a number of years. It's also been an ongoing request from the nation's tax professional community and has been a continuing recommendation from the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) and Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC).
Currently, taxpayers must mail a completed Form 1040-X to the IRS for processing. The new electronic option allows the IRS to receive amended returns faster while minimizing errors normally associated with manually completing the form.
"This new process is a major milestone for the IRS, and it follows hard work by people across the agency," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "E-filing has been one of the great success stories of the IRS, and more than 90 percent of taxpayers use it routinely. But the big hurdle that's been remaining for years is to convert amended returns into this electronic process. Our teams have worked diligently to overcome the unique challenges related to the 1040-X, and we look forward to offering this new service this summer."
About 3 million Forms 1040-X are filed by taxpayers each year.
The new electronic filing option will provide the IRS with more complete and accurate data in an easily readable format to enable customer service representatives to answer taxpayers' questions. Taxpayers can still use the "Where's My Amended Return?" online tool to check the status of their electronically-filed 1040-X.
When the electronic filing option becomes available, only tax year 2019 Forms 1040 and 1040-SR returns can be amended electronically. In general, taxpayers will still have the option to submit a paper version of the Form 1040-X and should follow the instructions for preparing and submitting the paper form. Additional enhancements are planned for the future.
"Adding amended returns to the electronic family also complements our partnership with the tax software industry, which continues to work with us to provide better ways to help taxpayers," said Ken Corbin, Commissioner of the IRS Wage and Investment division.
IR-2020-106, May 27, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today provided tax relief for taxpayers that develop renewable energy projects that produce electricity from sources such as wind, biomass, geothermal, landfill gas, trash, and hydropower, and use technologies such as solar panels, fuel cells, microturbines, and combined heat and power systems.
Because COVID-19 has caused industry-wide delays in the supply chain for components needed to complete renewable energy projects otherwise eligible for important tax credits the IRS has issued Notice 2020-41PDF to provide tax relief to affected taxpayers.
For some projects that began construction in 2016 or 2017, Notice 2020-41 adds an extra year to the four year "Continuity Safe Harbor" provided in existing guidance, such that if these projects are placed in service in five years construction will be deemed continuous.
Notice 2020-41 also provides a 3½ Month Safe Harbor for services or property paid for by the taxpayer on or after September 16, 2019 and received by October 15, 2020. 
By extending the Continuity Safe Harbor and providing a 3½ Month Safe Harbor, today's guidance will provide flexibility for taxpayers to satisfy the beginning of construction requirements and limit the impact of COVID-19-related delays on the ability to claim tax credits.
Additional information about tax relief for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on IRS.gov.
IR-2020-104, May 27, 2020
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today issued a proposed regulation updating the federal income tax withholding rules for periodic retirement and annuity payments made after December 31, 2020.
Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), if no withholding certificate was in effect for a taxpayer's periodic payments, the amount to be withheld from the payments was determined by treating the taxpayer as a married individual claiming three withholding exemptions.
The TCJA amended this rule to provide that the rate of withholding on periodic payments when no withholding certificate is in effect would instead be determined under rules prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
In Notice 2020-03PDF, the IRS provided that, for 2020 the default rate of withholding on periodic payments will continue to be based on treating the taxpayer as a married individual claiming three withholding allowances when no withholding certificate is in effect.
Under the proposed regulation for 2021 and future calendar years, the Treasury Department and the IRS will provide the rules and procedures for determining the default rate of withholding on periodic payments when a taxpayer has no withholding certificate in effect in applicable forms, instructions, publications and other guidance.
For more information about this and other TCJA provisions, visit IRS.gov/taxreform.
IR-2020-103, May 26, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service today issued final regulationsPDF clarifying the reporting requirements generally applicable to tax-exempt organizations.
The final regulations reflect statutory amendments and certain grants of reporting relief announced by the Treasury Department and the IRS in prior guidance to help many tax-exempt organizations generally find the reporting requirements in one place.
Among other provisions, the final regulations incorporate the existing exception from having to file an annual return for certain organizations that normally have gross receipts of $50,000 or less. That exception was previously announced in Revenue Procedure 2011-15. The regulations also provide that the requirement to report contributor names and addresses on annual returns generally applies only to returns filed by Section 501(c)(3) organizations and Section 527 political organizations. All tax-exempt organizations must continue to maintain the names and addresses of their substantial contributors in their books and records. This change will have no effect on transparency, as contributor information that is open to public inspection will be unaffected by this regulation.
The final regulations allow tax-exempt organizations to choose to apply the regulations to returns filed after September 6, 2019.
IR-2020-98, May 20, 2020
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service announced today that Andy Keyso has been selected to serve as the Chief of the IRS Independent Office of Appeals.
Keyso, who has an extensive background with the IRS and Chief Counsel organizations, will set strategy and oversee the operations of Appeals, which seeks to resolve tax controversies between taxpayer and the IRS without litigation. Keyso has served as the Deputy Chief of Appeals since July 2017 and has been acting as the Appeals Chief since January.
"Andy has a wide range of experience and expertise inside the IRS as well as Chief Counsel," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "His leadership will complement the talented team of Appeals employees. Andy and Appeals have done a fabulous job of helping continue their important work during this challenging time."
Appeals is independent of the IRS compliance functions, including the examination and collection functions that make tax assessments and initiate collection actions. Appeals' mission is to resolve tax controversies without litigation on a basis that is fair and impartial to both the government and taxpayers. Appeals has approximately 1,200 employees across the country.
Prior to joining Appeals, Keyso had more than 25 years of experience across the IRS, including serving as the IRS Chief of Staff. Before joining the Chief of Staff's office, he served for 18 years in various positions in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, including as Associate Chief Counsel of the Income Tax and Accounting Division. He previously served as Special Counsel to the Chief Counsel and as an attorney in the Procedure and Administration Division. Prior to joining Chief Counsel, Keyso was a revenue agent in the former Newark, New Jersey District, where he later served as a technical advisor to the Chief, Examination Division.
Keyso is a graduate of Temple University School of Law, a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and a certified public accountant.
IR-2020-97, May 18, 2020
WASHINGTON — Today, the Internal Revenue Service is starting to add 3,500 telephone representatives to answer some of the most common questions about Economic Impact Payments.
IRS telephone assistance and other services will remain limited, and answers for most of the common questions related to Economic Impact Payments are available on IRS.gov. The IRS anticipates bringing back additional assistors as state and local advisories permit.
Answers for most Economic Impact Payment questions are available on the automated message for people who call the phone number provided in the letter (Notice 1444). Those who need additional assistance at the conclusion of the message will have the option of talking to a telephone representative.
Americans are encouraged to use IRS.gov
The IRS regularly posts new and updated answers to the most frequently asked questions about Economic Impact Payments and the Get My Payment tool. Those who wish to know the status of their Economic Impact Payment are reminded to check Get My Payment regularly; the information is frequently updated as the IRS continues to process the remaining payments for delivery.
For those who are eligible for an Economic Impact Payment but aren't required to file a tax return, the IRS reminds them the Non-Filers tool also remains available in English or Spanish for them to register for a payment.
IR-2020-95, May 12, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today released guidance to allow temporary changes to section 125 cafeteria plans. These changes extend the claims period for health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) and dependent care assistance programs and allow taxpayers to make mid-year changes.
The guidance issued today addresses unanticipated changes in expenses because of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and provides that previously provided temporary relief for high deductible health plans may be applied retroactively to January 1, 2020, and it also increases for inflation the $500 permitted carryover amount for health FSAs to $550.
Notice 2020-29 PDF provides greater flexibility for taxpayers by:
extending claims periods for taxpayers to apply unused amounts remaining in a health FSA or dependent care assistance program for expenses incurred for those same qualified benefits through December 31, 2020.
expanding the ability of taxpayers to make mid-year elections for health coverage, health FSAs, and dependent care assistance programs, allowing them to respond to changes in needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
applying earlier relief for high deductible health plans to cover expenses related to COVID-19, and a temporary exemption for telehealth services retroactively to January 1, 2020.
Notice 2020-33 PDF responds to Executive Order 13877, which directs the Secretary of the Treasury to "issue guidance to increase the amount of funds that can carry over without penalty at the end of the year for flexible spending arrangements." The notice increases the limit for unused health FSA carryover amounts from $500, to a maximum of $550, as adjusted annually for inflation.
IR-2020-94, May 12, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that provide guidance to taxpayers and governments with respect to fines, penalties and certain other amounts.
The TCJA disallows a deduction for the payment of fines, penalties, and certain other amounts. Specifically, taxpayers may not deduct amounts that, pursuant to court orders or settlement agreements, are paid to, or at the direction of, governments in relation to the violation of any law or the investigation or inquiry into the potential violation of any law.
Under the TCJA, this disallowance may not apply to amounts that taxpayers establish, and court orders or settlement agreements identify, are paid as restitution, remediation, or to come into compliance with a law so long as the amounts otherwise qualify as deductible under the Internal Revenue Code.
The proposed regulations describe how taxpayers may meet these requirements and define key terms and phrases such as restitution, remediation, and paid to come into compliance with a law.
The TCJA also requires governments to report these amounts to the Internal Revenue Service and taxpayers. The proposed regulations provide guidance to governments related to these reporting requirements.
For more information about this and other TCJA provisions, visit IRS.gov/taxreform.
IR-2020-90, May 7, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations that provide guidance for estates and trusts clarifying that certain deductions of estates and non-grantor trusts are not miscellaneous itemized deductions.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) prohibits individual taxpayers from claiming miscellaneous itemized deductions for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026.
Specifically, the proposed regulations clarify the following deductions are allowable in figuring adjusted gross income and are not miscellaneous itemized deductions:
Costs paid or incurred in connection with the administration of the estate or trust which would not have been incurred otherwise.
Deductions concerning the personal exemption of an estate or non-grantor trust.
Deductions for trusts distributing current income.
Deductions for trusts accumulating income
Finally, the guidance clarifies how to determine the character, amount and manner for allocating excess deductions that beneficiaries succeeding to the property of a terminated estate or non-grantor trust may claim on their individual income tax returns.
For more information about this and other TCJA provisions, visit IRS.gov/taxreform.
IR-2020-88, May 6, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is accepting applications for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant programs, which will allow some organizations to apply for annual funding for up to three years.
Applications will be accepted through June 1, 2020, on grants.gov. The application packages and guidelines are available on the IRS website. For the 2020 filing season, the IRS awarded 27 TCE grantees $11 million and 238 VITA grantees $18 million. Last year, the two grant programs filed nearly 3 million returns at almost 9,000 sites nationwide.
The TCE program was established in 1978 to provide tax counseling and return preparation to persons age 60 or older and to give training and technical assistance to the volunteers who provide free federal income tax assistance within elderly communities across the nation. For more information on the TCE program visit the TCE webpage on IRS.gov.
The VITA Grant program was established in 2007 to supplement the VITA program, which was created in 1969. VITA provides underserved communities with free tax filing assistance. The grant program enables VITA partners to extend services to underserved populations in the hardest-to-reach urban and non-urban areas, to increase the capacity of targeted taxpayers to file returns electronically, to enhance training of volunteers and to maintain the high accuracy rate of returns prepared at VITA sites. For more information on the VITA Grant program, visit the VITA Grant webpage on IRS.gov.
More information:
Applying for a TCE grant
Publication 4671, VITA Grant Program Overview and Application InstructionsPDF
Applying for a VITA grant
Publication 1101, Application Package and Guidelines for Managing a TCE ProgramPDF
IR-2020-128, June 24, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued final regulations permitting a regulated investment company (RIC) that receives qualified real estate investment trust (REIT) dividends to report dividends the RIC pays to its shareholders as section 199A dividends.
Section 199A, enacted as part the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), allows individual taxpayers and certain trusts and estates to deduct up to 20 percent of certain income (section 199A deduction).
The section 199A deduction is available to eligible taxpayers with qualified business income (QBI) from qualified trades or businesses operated as sole proprietorships or through partnerships, S corporations, trusts, or estates, as well as for qualified REIT dividends and income from publicly traded partnerships. The section 199A deduction is not available for C corporations.
The regulations issued today provide that a shareholder in a RIC may, subject to limitations, treat a section 199A dividend received from a RIC as a qualified REIT dividend for purposes of determining the section 199A deduction.
The regulations also provide additional guidance on the treatment of previously disallowed losses that are included in QBI in subsequent years and provide guidance for taxpayers who hold interests in split-interest trusts or charitable remainder trusts.
For more information about this and other TCJA provisions, visit IRS.gov/taxreform.
IR-2020-127, June 23, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that anyone who already took a required minimum distribution (RMD) in 2020 from certain retirement accounts now has the opportunity to roll those funds back into a retirement account following the CARES Act RMD waiver for 2020.
The 60-day rollover period for any RMDs already taken this year has been extended to August 31, 2020, to give taxpayers time to take advantage of this opportunity.
The IRS described this change in Notice 2020-51PDF, released today. The Notice also answers questions regarding the waiver of RMDs for 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act.
The CARES Act enabled any taxpayer with an RMD due in 2020 from a defined-contribution retirement plan, including a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, or an IRA, to skip those RMDs this year. This includes anyone who turned age 70 1/2 in 2019 and would have had to take the first RMD by April 1, 2020. This waiver does not apply to defined-benefit plans.
In addition to the rollover opportunity, an IRA owner or beneficiary who has already received a distribution from an IRA of an amount that would have been an RMD in 2020 can repay the distribution to the IRA by August 31, 2020. The notice provides that this repayment is not subject to the one rollover per 12-month period limitation and the restriction on rollovers for inherited IRAs.
The notice provides two sample amendments that employers may adopt to give plan participants and beneficiaries whose RMDs are waived a choice as to whether or not to receive the waived RMD.
IR-2020-125, June 19, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued proposed regulations that provide guidance for the deduction of qualified transportation fringe and commuting expenses.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) does not allow deductions for qualified transportation fringe (QTF) expenses and does not allow deductions for certain expenses of transportation and commuting between an employee's residence and place of employment.
The law also provided that a tax-exempt organization's unrelated business taxable income is increased by the amount of the QTF expense that is nondeductible. However, on December 20, 2019, this was repealed as part of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020. This repeal was retroactive to the original date of enactment by the TCJA.
These proposed regulations specifically address the elimination of the deduction for expenses related to QTFs provided to an employee of the taxpayer. The proposed regulations also provide guidance and methodologies to determine the amount of QTF parking expense that is nondeductible.
The guidance also includes definitions and special rules to clarify and simplify the calculations underlying the methodologies.
For more information about this and other TCJA provisions, visit IRS.gov/taxreform.
IR-2020-122, June 17, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has advised that new rules under the CARES Act provide flexibility for health care spending that may be helpful in the current environment where more people may need at-home services due to measures to fight the coronavirus.
Telehealth and High Deductible Health Plans
Under the CARES Act, a high deductible health plan (HDHP) temporarily can cover telehealth and other remote care services without a deductible, or with a deductible below the minimum annual deductible otherwise required by law. Telehealth and other remote care services also are temporarily included as categories of coverage that are disregarded for the purpose of determining whether an individual who has other health plan coverage in addition to an HDHP is an eligible individual who may make tax-favored contributions to his or her HSA. Thus, an otherwise eligible individual with coverage under an HDHP may still contribute to an HSA despite receiving coverage for telehealth and other remote care services before satisfying the HDHP deductible, or despite receiving coverage for these services outside the HDHP. The temporary rules under the CARES Act, as extended by IRS Notice 2020-29PDF, apply to services provided on or after Jan. 1, 2020, with respect to plan years beginning on or before Dec. 31, 2021.
Expansion of qualified medical expenses
The CARES Act also modifies the rules that apply to various tax-advantaged accounts (HSAs, Archer MSAs, Health FSAs, and HRAs) so that additional items are "qualified medical expenses" that may be reimbursed from those accounts. Specifically, the cost of menstrual care products is now reimbursable. These products are defined as tampons, pads, liners, cups, sponges or other similar products. In addition, over-the-counter products and medications are now reimbursable without a prescription. The new rules apply to amounts paid after Dec. 31, 2019. Taxpayers should save receipts of their purchases for their records and so that they are able to submit claims for reimbursements.
More information
The IRS will provide any further updates as soon as they are available on its webpage at IRS.gov/coronavirus.