Through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, taxpayers now have up to two years to file an administrative claim and bring suit for a wrongful levy by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) where the IRS has already sold the property it levied. This time limit is a significant extension on the previous nine-month time limit and applies to levies made after December 22, 2017, and on or before that date if the shorter time limit hadn't yet expired.
Taxpayers Now Have More Time to Challenge IRS Levies
IRS Supervisor Loses Passport, May Face 10 Years in Prison for Theft and False Statements
An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) supervisor in the Central District of California, Leslie Williams, was arrested this week on charges of theft of government property and making false statements. Williams allegedly embezzled federal funds and lied to obtain death benefit payments related to her former spouse. She continued to lie about her relationship to her deceased former spouse when interviewed in 2017 by special agents for the Treasury Inspector General of Tax Administration (TIGTA). She was released on a $10,000 appearance bond and had to surrender her passport; Williams could serve up to 10 years in prison for the charges.
IRS Puts Taxpayers on Notice Regarding State and Local Tax Deductions
The Internal Revenue Service recently issued a notice about proposed regulations that will address the deductibility of state and local tax payments for federal income tax purposes, specifically reminding taxpayers that the IRS position is that federal law controls the characterization of payments, regardless of the treatment under state law. To read the IRS press release, click here.
Registration Open for 2018 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum
The 2018 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum dates and locations are now available for this annual tax law event featuring education sessions, training, and networking for tax law professionals. Betty Williams will be speaking about "Representing the Taxpayer Without Records: How and When Can a Preparer Use Taxpayer Estimates & Reconstructions to Prepare a Return" during the forum scheduled for August 7 - 9, 2018 in San Diego. To register, click here: https://www.irstaxforum.com/index
CA Supreme Court Enhances Independent Contractor Restrictions for Employers
The long-anticipated case Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles, was issued on April 30, 2018. The case dealt with whether delivery drivers classified as independent contractors were misclassified as such under California Industrial Wage Commission Wage Order No. 9-2001.
