Tax practice

by Roger Russell

NEW TAXPAYER ACCOUNT, PROCESSING SYSTEM DEBUTS: A modernized system designed to replace the Internal Revenue Service central database of taxpayer account information has processed its first live returns, the IRS announced.

San Francisco — After announcing a 10 percent drop in earnings for the second quarter, discount brokerage Charles Schwab said that chief executive David S. Pottruck would be stepping aside in favor of company founder and chairman Charles R. Schwab.

Washington — The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to stop an East Cleveland tax return preparer from preparing federal tax returns and from promoting an alleged tax scheme that omits wages from taxpayers’ returns.

by George G. Jones and Mark A. Luscombe

by Roger Russell

AICPA SUPPORTS PREPARER REGISTRATION, WITH RESERVATIONS: While the American Institute of CPAs supports the concept of tax preparer regulation, it raised some public policy and drafting concerns about the registration proposal in S. 882 (H.R. 1528), known as the Tax Administration and Good Government Act, which passed the Senate in May.

by Ken Rankin

by George G. Jones and Mark A. Luscombe

by Roger Russell

IRS NOTICE ADDRESSES IMPROPER DEDUCTIONS FOR CONSERVATION DONATIONS: The Internal Revenue Service advised taxpayers that it will disallow improper charitable contribution deductions for transfers of easements on real property to charitable organizations and for transfers of easements in connection with purchases of real property from charitable organizations.

New York — Former Cendant subsidiary Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. made its Big Board debut in late June in an initial public offering priced at $17 per share.

By George G. Jones and Mark A. Luscombe

By Roger Russell

COURT BARS NADN FROM SELLING TAX SCAMS, GIVES DOJ ACCESS TO CLIENT LIST: The Justice Department scored another victory in its war on tax scams when a federal bankruptcy court barred a Las Vegas-based telemarketing firm from selling abusive tax schemes and preparing federal tax returns, and granted the Justice Department access to the company’s records, including its customer information.

Washington — Costs incurred by a timber grower for post-establishment fertilization of an established timber stand are deductible expenses, according to new guidance announced by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service.

With the recent focus in the media on abuse of the tax laws and the continuing Internal Revenue Service crackdown on tax shelters, pressure is building in Congress to provide the IRS with some additional tools to address abusive tax shelters, post-Enron corporate governance, and expatriation issues. The Senate included a fairly significant package of provisions covering each of these areas in the international tax reform legislation that it passed on May 11, 2004.

by Roger Russell

HOUSE, SENATE PASS TAX-RELATED MEASURES: Late last month, congressional lawmakers passed separate measures to make permanent the child tax credit and to require the annual registration of federal income tax return preparers with the Internal Revenue Service.

The family limited partnership has had its proponents and opponents over the past several years. A new taxpayer victory out of the Fifth Circuit will only fuel the debate over whether one camp or the other is right.