Tax research

CCH said it would improve its ProSystem fx Scan software for capturing documents in accounting firms by using EMC's Captiva software as the scanning engine.

The Internal Revenue Service introduced a Voluntary Closing Agreement Program that will help financial firms avoid harsh penalties for violating federal tax laws on arbitrage investment restrictions for municipal bonds.

The Internal Revenue Service appointed four people to high-ranking positions at the agency.

Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., said he plans to issue a proposal when Congress returns from recess that would impose stiff new taxes on gasoline and end the mortgage interest tax deduction on "McMansions," or homes greater than 3,000 square feet, as a way to discourage over-consumption of fuel.

CCH's Small Firm Services unit introduced software that lets tax professionals scan W-2, 1099 and other information forms directly into clients' tax returns.

The Internal Revenue Service has problems with its tax return preparation assistance, but still offers helpful advice with tax laws, said a report issued by a Treasury Department watchdog group.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has written letters to the Big Four accounting firms asking what they are doing to let their financial institution clients know about waivers on mortgage accounting standards that could let borrowers refinance their loans.

Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani announced his tax proposals, saying he would make the Bush administration tax cuts permanent, eliminate inheritance taxes and reduce marginal tax rates.

The Justice Department has filed suit against a Maine tax preparer to keep her from preparing tax returns for others, even though she is currently in prison.

CCH introduced a CPE Podcast Center with downloadable audio files that accountants can listen to on their iPods to earn continuing professional education credits.

Tax Compliance Inc. has released an upgrade of its Property Management Tax System with improved asset-mapping tools.

Steve Bennett, Intuit’s CEO and president, plans to step down at the end of the year, the tax and accounting software developer said.

Thomson Tax & Accounting said that it is partnering with Orbitax on a product called International Tax Expert that will leverage Thomson’s Checkpoint and InSource products.

The Internal Revenue Service is encouraging more midsized companies to file their corporate returns electronically as the Sept. 17 deadline approaches for calendar-year filers who asked for extensions.

More than 8 million people file tax returns each year who don’t need to do so, imposing heavy costs on the Internal Revenue Service, according to a new report from a Treasury Department watchdog.

British firm Bentley Jennison has joined the RSM International network of audit, tax and consulting firms, expanding RSM’s reach abroad.

The Justice Department sued the founder of an “asset protection” business that allegedly helped clients evade income taxes and hired actor Robert Wagner to plug its services.

Tax information publisher BNA introduced the BNA Tax and Accounting Center, an online service that unites all of the company’s tax and accounting information in one place.

The Houston Business & Tax Law Journal plans to hold a symposium in October on the patenting of tax strategies, an idea that has already generated some controversy among patent defenders and critics.

The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel has issued a report calling on the Internal Revenue Service to improve its services and customer satisfaction as well as reduce the burden on taxpayers.