December 7, 2020 – ROCHESTER, NY – Flaherty Salmin CPAs , a tax and accounting firm headquartered in Rochester, New York, has again joined the ranks of the top recommended tax and accounting firms across the country. For the second year, Forbes partnered with market research company, Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, to create a – […]
Managing Partner Tim Flaherty was interviewed by WBEE’s Steve Hausmann on income taxes, tax season and how Flaherty Salmin CPAs de-Stresses during its busy tax season. The interview aired on Entercom’s 5 Rochester radio stations 3/17/19. https://wbee.radio.com/
The IRS and the Treasury intend to provide regulations that will address issues affecting foreign corporations with previously taxed earnings and profits (PTEP). The regulations are in response to changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97), and are intended to include rules for:
the maintenance of PTEP in annual accounts and […]
The House has approved two tax bills that are part of Republicans’ three-pronged “Tax Reform 2.0” package. The two measures, approved by the House on September 27, focus on retirement savings and business innovation.
The most controversial bill of the package, which would make permanent tax reform’s individual and small business tax cuts enacted last December, was approved by the House on September […]
The House has approved a tax bill that would make permanent tax reform’s individual and small business tax cuts enacted last December. The controversial bill is part of Republican’s three-bill “Tax Reform 2.0” package, two of which cleared the House on September 27 (see the previous story in this Issue).
Individual, Small Business Tax Cuts
The House approved the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax […]
Stakeholders are urging the IRS to clarify its guidance on tax reform’s new passthrough deduction. The IRS held an October 16 public hearing on proposed rules for the new Code Sec. 199Apassthrough deduction at its headquarters in Washington D.C. The IRS released the proposed regulations, REG-107892-18, on August 8.
Over 20 stakeholders and practitioners spoke at the hearing. Additionally, over 300 comments on […]
Top Senate tax writers have introduced a bipartisan bill to prevent duplicative taxation on digital goods and services. The bill aims to establish a framework across multiple jurisdictions for taxation of digital goods and services, including electronic music, literature, and mobile apps, among other things.
The Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act (Sen. 3581) was reintroduced on October 11 by […]
The IRS has released Draft Instructions for the 2018 Form 1040. Additionally, the IRS has cautioned taxpayers that the draft instructions are subject to change. The IRS released a draft of the 2018 Form 1040 and six accompanying schedules last June.
Generally, the IRS does not release draft forms but has done so in this case as a “courtesy,” the instructions state. “Do not […]
The IRS’s new Commissioner was officially sworn in on October 1 by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. IRS Commissioner Charles “Chuck” P. Rettig will lead the implementation of tax reform enacted last December under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97).
New IRS Commissioner
“I am honored, privileged and most humbled by the opportunity to serve with you as Commissioner,” Rettig said in an […]
The Senate Small Business Committee held an October 3 hearing on expanding opportunities for small businesses through the tax code. Senate lawmakers examined tax reform’s effect on small businesses and discussed witnesses’ proposals to address ambiguity in the new tax code.
Various provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97) were discussed among lawmakers and witnesses. Specifically, Opportunity […]
House Republican tax writers have advanced a “Tax Reform 2.0” legislative package. The measure is expected to reach the House floor for a full chamber vote by the end of September.
The House Ways and Means Committee debated the GOP Tax Reform 2.0 three-bill package in a September 13 markup that ran almost seven hours. The package focuses on making permanent […]
Charles P. “Chuck” Rettig was confirmed as the new IRS Commissioner on September 12. The Senate confirmed the nomination by a 64-to-33 vote. Rettig received both Democratic and Republican support.
Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Chairman Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, praised Rettig, saying that he is both “qualified and ready” to lead the IRS. Although SFC ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., previously […]
New IRS guidance aiming to curb certain state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap “workarounds” is the latest “hot topic” tax debate on Capitol Hill. The IRS released proposed amendments to regulations, REG-112176-18, on August 23. The proposed rules would prevent taxpayers, effective August 27, 2018, from using certain charitable contributions to work around the new cap on SALT deductions.
SALT […]
The IRS has proposed to remove the Code Sec. 385 documentation regulations provided in Reg. §1.385-2. Although the proposed removal of the documentation rules will apply as of the date the proposed regulations are published as final in the Federal Register, taxpayers can rely on the proposed regulations until the final regulations are published.
The documentation regulations provide minimum documentation requirements […]
Last year’s Tax Reform created a new 20-percent deduction of qualified business income for passthrough entities, subject to certain limitations. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97) created the new Code Sec. 199A passthrough deduction for noncorporate taxpayers, effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. However, the provision was enacted only temporarily through 2025. The […]
Wolters Kluwer has projected annual inflation-adjusted amounts for tax year 2019. The projected amounts include 2019 tax brackets, the standard deduction, and alternative minimum tax amounts, among others. The projected amounts are based on Consumer Price Index figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor on September 12, 2018.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97) […]
The IRS has released long-awaited guidance on new Code Sec. 199A, commonly known as the “pass-through deduction” or the “qualified business income deduction.” Taxpayers can rely on the proposed regulations and a proposed revenue procedure until they are issued as final.
Code Sec. 199A allows business owners to deduct up to 20 percent of their qualified business income (QBI) from sole proprietorships, partnerships, trusts, and S corporations. […]
The IRS’s proposed pass-through deduction regulations are generating mixed reactions on Capitol Hill. The 184-page proposed regulations, REG-107892-18, aim to clarify certain complexities of the new, yet temporary, Code Sec. 199A deduction of up to 20 percent of income for pass-through entities. The new deduction was enacted through 2025 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), ( P.L. 115-97). The pass-through deduction has […]
The House’s top tax writer has unveiled Republicans’ “Tax Reform 2.0” framework. The framework outlines three key focus areas:
making permanent the individual and small business tax cuts enacted under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) ( P.L. 115-97);
promoting family savings by streamlining retirement savings accounts and creating a new Universal Savings Account; and
spurring business innovation by allowing new businesses […]
The IRS faces numerous challenges, most of which are attributable to funding cuts, the National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson told a Senate panel on July 26. “The IRS needs adequate funding to do its job effectively,” Olson told lawmakers.
IRS Funding
Olson, while testifying at a Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Taxation and IRS Oversight Subcommittee hearing, placed blame on both congressional appropriations and IRS […]
Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Republicans are clarifying congressional intent of certain tax reform provisions. In an August 16 letter, GOP Senate tax writers called on Treasury and the IRS to issue tax reform guidance consistent with the clarifications.
The letter, addressed to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter, identifies three sections of the Tax Cuts and Jobs […]
Taxpayers and practitioners need clarity on certain S corporation issues by next tax filing season, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has said. In an August 13 letter sent to Treasury and the IRS, the AICPA requested immediate guidance on certain S corporation provisions under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) (P.L. 115-97).
S Corporations
S corporations elect to pass corporate […]
The Senate Finance Committee (SFC) advanced President Donald Trump’s nomination of Charles Rettig for IRS Commissioner. The SFC approved the nomination on July 19 by a 14-to-13 party line vote.
Qualified Nominee
Several SFC Democrats and Republicans praised Rettig’s qualifications to serve as the next IRS Commissioner. SFC ranking member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said that he is a “qualified nominee.”
However, Democrats voted against […]
