I dunno about you but it *almost* feels like the IRS is catching on to this whole techno-trend. First, e-filing. Then YouTube and Twitter. Now, apps. Yep, the IRS has announced the availability of its first smartphone app, IRS2Go. Of course, you knew I’d have to try the app out (I’m the girl with the…
Follows are the prepared remarks of IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman before the 23rd Annual Institute on Current Issues in International Taxation, Washington, DC. I rarely use the “read more” feature on the blog but I did in this case because, well, the remarks are quite long. Worth the read, however. Shulman even tries his hand…
As a parent, I spend a lot of time waiting. I have watched my son eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for an hour. Just this morning, my six year old took over ten minutes to change a pair of shoes (slip ons). And my eight year old, book in front of her face,…
Some folks think that football is just a game. In many parts of the country, those folks would be wrong. In the South (and indeed in other places around the country like State College, PA), football has assumed a level of importance right next to God; in fact, we often joke in the South that…
Today, the IRS published the “Prepared Remarks of Commissioner Douglas Shulman before the 22nd Annual George Washington University International Tax Conference.” You can read the whole speech here. But for those of you who don’t have the time to read the 2703 word speech, here’s a summary: Shulman started out with an update on three…
It was a question posed to US taxpayers by the IRS in the wake of the UBS scandal: do you feel lucky? The US offered US taxpayers the opportunity to voluntarily disclose offshore bank accounts as part of an amnesty program earlier this year. The choice? Come forward now and escape criminal prosecution or take…
IRS Commish Doug Shulman has not been shy about talking about targeted enforcement. Targeted enforcement – the idea of cherry picking certain target groups to investigate or examine – is nothing new: it’s happened for years. In fact, as a young lawyer, I remember FLPs (Family Limited Partnerships) being called out under the Clinton Administration….
So, who among us didn’t see this coming? IRS Commish Doug Shulman has announced the establishment of a new enforcement unit targeting the very wealthy. The group, called the Global High Wealth Industry, will specifically investigate partnerships, offshore trusts and other techniques used by the wealthy to hide income. How wealthy is wealthy? Unlike a…
In an effort to recover income from funds that might have been hidden offshore, the US introduced a Voluntary Compliance Program that offers reduced civil penalties and no criminal penalties. At the time, IRS Commission Doug Shulman described the program as stating: The goal is to have a predictable set of outcomes to encourage people…
It seems that the IRS’ on again off again love affair with the idea of certifying tax preparers is on again. Earlier this month, IRS Commish Doug Shulman announced a proposal that would require tax preparers to be licensed and certified. The immediate feedback on the proposal has been mixed. My colleagues at the ABA…
