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Features News Articles and Reports − keeping you up-to-date with local and international tax-related matters.
Internal Revenue Service reopened
The Internal Revenue Service reopened on Monday, January 28, 2019, after a 35-day shutdown.
read moreIRS Status – Lengthy Call Centre Wait Times
The IRS reopened on Monday 28 January. Call centre wait times, including the international calling number, are typically around 2 to 3 hours....
read moreReactivation of IRS functions to begin
Reactivation of IRS functions should, in the absence of any information to the contrary, begin to occur next week. This advice came amid Friday’s news that the US government shutdown was over, at least for three weeks. In order for this to occur, according to the Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan (Tax Year 2018 Filing Season), funds will need to be appropriated for the IRS to continue its mission.
read moreLapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan – IRS status update
The 2018 filing season Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan (‘plan’) was released by the IRS a few days ago. The plan covers five business days following a lapse in appropriations should it occur during the Tax Year 2018 filing season (January 1 – April 30, 2019). Under the latest plan, more than 50% of the IRS workforce is required to return to work to perform activities classed in the plan as essential.
read moreIRS filing season to commence January 28, 2019
After more than two weeks of hiatus, we have news that the IRS will commence processing 2018 tax returns on January 28, 2019. The IRS, the revenue agency of the US government, currently has 90% of its workforce on leave without pay. Tax Refunds In a departure from the...
read moreContingency Plan for IRS partial shutdown
The IRS has a contingency plan in place, the Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan, in preparation for the US government shutdown. The 120-page document details what areas of the IRS will shut down, and what activities will be affected.. Gina Gatchell summarizes the key points.
read moreFirst prosecution under FATCA – Landmark Case
Eight years after the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) was enacted as part of the 2010 Hire Act, the Eastern District of New York has prosecuted an executive of Loyal Bank for wilfully circumventing the reporting requirements of FATCA.
read moreForeign Trusts Reporting – IRS To Target
United States citizens and other residents of the United States with foreign trusts requiring the annual filing of such forms as Form 3520 and Form 3520-a have been selected by the IRS Large Business and International division (LB&I) for six compliance campaigns.
read moreIRS Ends Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the end of the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP). The deadline for full and final submissions has been announced as 28 September 2018.
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