Tax research

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., unveiled a $21 billion package of energy tax legislation that Congress will consider this year, although opposition is expected from the White House as the bill would raise taxes on major oil and gas producers.

Tax prep firm Gilman Ciocia has acquired Madison CPA, a Fort Lauderdale accounting firm.

The National Association of Enrolled Agents is calling on the Internal Revenue Service to look into problems with the timing of its correspondence audits of taxpayers.

A 63-year-old homemaker has won a lawsuit against Kmart for improperly charging her tax on the toilet paper she bought.

Electronic tax prep provider Orrtax Software Solutions has released its 2007 IntelliTax Program and Setup package for professional tax preparers.

As Washington struggles to fix the alternative minimum tax to prevent it from spreading to an estimated 23 million taxpayers, consumer tax prep software vendor 2nd Story Software is offering a peek at how the AMT would affect tax returns prepared under either scenario with its TaxAct software.

The Tax Council Policy Institute plans to host a webcast on the business tax implications of the Tax Reduction and Reform Act, a bill introduced by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

Tax pros have their own rituals for getting ready for tax season, including checking supplies, test-driving software, training staff, sending out organizers, and wrapping up year-end planning tips for their clients.

The Treasury Department issued a report to Congress on three international tax issues: U.S. earnings-stripping rules, transfer-pricing rules and the misuse of tax treaties.

KPMG International saw combined revenues from its member firms rise 17.4 percent to $19.8 billion in fiscal year 2007.

The Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board has sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee saying it is "gravely concerned about the serious risks to the 2008 filing season" if legislation to change the alternative minimum tax is delayed much longer.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued the optional standard mileage rates for calculating the deductible costs next year of operating an automobile for various purposes.

Presidential candidate Fred Thompson issued a tax plan that would give taxpayers the option of choosing a simplified flat tax.

CPA firm Habif, Arogeti & Wynne has acquired another Atlanta-based accounting firm, Miller Ray Houser & Stewart, in a multimillion-dollar deal.

WebCPA presents a free online session discussing various facets of philanthropy and its potential benefits for accountants.

It began in college, continued in law school, and still exists today, my fascination with court and disciplinary opinions that provide an inside view of something the involved parties would rather had never come to light. The most recent one is a PCAOB disciplinary order involving an accountant who worked for KPMG.

Tax planning is one of the few forward-thinking services that accountants can offer their clients. Given the fact that the accountant has most of the data and is the clients’ most trusted advisor, it makes sense for them to show clients how to save money on taxes in the year ahead.“They generally see the direct benefit of tax planning, and they don’t mind getting a bill for planning services,” said Rob Carmines, a partner at Newport News, Va.-based Carmines, Robbins & Co. PLC.

Avalara aims to make the process of calculating sales tax less taxing and more relaxing.The company is so serious about their message that they’ve adopted an island theme for their exhibition booth at technology trade shows, complete with tiki-hut-like decorations and margaritas.

While the word is that defined-benefit plans are no longer in favor, they can still provide a tax savings for the right client.“A lot of the press would lead you to believe that defined-benefit plans are on the way out,” said Karen Shapiro, chief executive of Dedicated DB, a San Mateo, Calif.-based provider of such plans. “But for some small-business owners, it’s a terrific tax strategy.”

In a special area on its Web site (in a Q&A on home foreclosure and debt cancellation), the Internal Revenue Service advised, “Insolvency can be fairly complex to determine and the assistance of a tax professional is recommended.”Also, in recognition of the important role that the “insolvency exception” plays in excluding a beleaguered homeowner’s forgiveness-of-indebtedness income, the site further advised, “Consider the tax consequences before foreclosure.” This article explores what planning can be done to maximize the use of the insolvency exception to reduce or eliminate forgiveness-of-indebtedness income for the individual caught in the current mortgage financing or similar credit squeeze.