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☆ Thousands Are Eligible for Tax Refunds From 2020
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Ann Carrns | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Who wouldn’t grab an income tax refund if they had one coming? About 940,000 people, it turns out — because they haven’t filed returns for the 2020 tax year, even though they may be due money back for that year. But there’s still close to a month left to file and collect the refunds. The Internal Revenue Service estimates that the typical refund for the people in this group is more than $900. “There’s money remaining on the table for hundreds of thousands of people who haven’t filed 2020 tax returns,” the I.R.S.

Persons: there’s, “, haven’t, Daniel Werfel, Werfel, Eric Smith Organizations: Internal Revenue Service Locations: Idaho, New York, Pennsylvania

The project, known as Direct File and launched by the IRS on a limited basis in 12 states this tax season, is in its pilot phase. Derek Wheeler, director of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at the University of Florida’s Law School, said his clinic has referred less than a dozen clients to the Direct File system. His legal clinic has partnered with the IRS and selectively identifies clients who may be eligible to submit their taxes through the program. One of their biggest criticisms is that free tax prep services already exist for people of all income brackets and developing the Direct File system will end up costing taxpayers billions of dollars. But after using Direct File, she said, “I feel foolish for paying all that money every year.”

Persons: Dixie Warden, ” Warden, Warden, She's, ”, Obama, Derek Wheeler, Wheeler, Grover Norquist, Joe Biden, ‘, Norquist, Daniel Werfel, Vanessa Williamson, ” Wheeler, she’ll, “ Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, Affordable, University of Florida’s Law, Associated Press, Tax, Urban, Brookings Tax Policy, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, University of Florida, House Republicans, Congress Locations: Kyle , Texas, Florida, New Hampshire , Nevada , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington , Wyoming , Arizona , Massachusetts, California, New York, United States, Germany, Japan, Britain, U.S

☆ I.R.S. to Crack Down on Corporate Jet Users Who Abuse Tax Code
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The NewsThe Internal Revenue Service said on Wednesday that it would begin cracking down on corporate jet owners that abused the tax code by claiming millions of dollars in deductions on airplanes that were sometimes being used for personal travel. The scrutiny of corporate jet use will involve new data analytics tools, which the I.R.S. has been developing with the $80 billion in funds it was granted through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, to determine when executives or other company officials might be using corporate planes for vacations and private trips. The agency plans to begin dozens of new audits that will focus on large companies, partnerships and wealthy taxpayers. “These aircraft audits will help ensure high-income groups aren’t flying under the radar with their tax responsibilities,” Daniel Werfel, the I.R.S.

Persons: ” Daniel Werfel Organizations: Internal Revenue Service

☆ IRS aims to close 'inequity gap' for unpaid taxes. How the agency targets top earners for audit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on April 19, 2023. The tax gap, or the difference between taxes owed and paid, was an estimated $688 billion for tax year 2021, the IRS reported in October. Instead, profits flow through to the business owners' tax returns. Other 'red flags' for higher earnersIn addition to complex partnerships, the IRS is watching for other "red flags" from higher earners, according to Hylton. Another area of for increased audits could be estate and gift tax returns, particularly those using "aggressive valuation discounts" for assets, Hylton said.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Chip Somodevilla, Danny Werfel, Werfel, Eric Hylton, Hylton, Colin Walsh, Baker Tilly, Baker Organizations: Senate, IRS, Alliantgroup Locations: U.S, Hylton, Puerto Rico

☆ I.R.S. Commissioner Aims to Show Progress Amid Threats of Budget Cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A year later, Mr. Werfel has overseen the clearing of a backlog of thousands of tax filings, shrinking wait times on the I.R.S. telephone lines and the creation of a system that lets qualified taxpayers submit their federal returns with no cost. But those achievements have not been enough to satisfy Republicans, who have accused Mr. Werfel of making the I.R.S. commissioners and when Mr. Werfel testifies before the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, he will receive a frosty reception as he fends off efforts to cut his agency’s budget. For Mr. Werfel, the face-off is an opportunity to explain why even skeptics would benefit from a well funded I.R.S.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Werfel Organizations: Internal Revenue Service

The report comes as access to sensitive taxpayer information has sparked calls for investigations — and calls for reform on taxes for the wealthy. Littlejohn had applied to work as a contractor to get Trump’s tax returns and carefully figured out how to search and extract tax data to avoid triggering suspicions internally, prosecutors said in court documents. Werfel said that since the agency has received funding through Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, it has been able to markedly improve the security of sensitive information, including audit trail deficiencies. “Our data security and environment is dramatically better today than it was in 2017 to 2020 when this unauthorized access occurred," Werfel said. "And it’s dramatically better today because we now have the resources to make the right investments to strengthen our data security.

Persons: Daniel Werfel —, —, ”, “, TIGTA, Charles Edward Littlejohn of, Donald Trump, Littlejohn, Jason Smith, Werfel, Lindsay Whitehurst Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, Treasury, Associated Press, Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington, Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington , D.C, New York Times, Associated Locations: Charles Edward Littlejohn of Washington ,

☆ IRS set to launch its free tax-filing pilot program for some taxpayers. Here's what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Known as Direct File, the agency's free filing software pilot will begin as an invitation-only service for a group of government workers before rolling out to certain taxpayers in 12 states by mid-March. Direct File comes after a feasibility report authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. Internal Revenue ServiceDirect File is 'starting small' with 12 statesThe IRS Direct File pilot intentionally starts with a limited group of taxpayers with relatively simple filings, according to IRS officials. While Direct File won't cover state returns, Arizona, Massachusetts and New York residents can immediately continue to state filing by importing Direct File data. While only certain taxpayers can use Direct File, the bilingual software includes built-in live chat support with IRS assistors.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Kevin Lamarque, Laurel Blatchford, Danny Werfel, Werfel Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Department, Treasury Department, IRS, CNBC, Internal Revenue, Social Locations: Arizona , California, Florida , Massachusetts, Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming, Arizona , Massachusetts, New York, California

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS wants to rewrite its complicated letters to taxpayers and speak to people in plain English. The federal tax collector is rewriting and sending out commonly received notices ahead of the 2024 tax filing season as part of its new “Simple Notice Initiative." The 2024 tax season begins on January 29. More than 170 million notices are sent out annually by the IRS to taxpayers regarding credits, deductions and taxes owed. The notices are often needlessly long and filled with legal jargon — forcing many confused taxpayers to call the agency and jam up the phone lines.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Daniel Werfel, Werfel, ” Werfel Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, “

☆ The American Dream is 'rapidly diminishing,' Walgreens boss says in plea to raise taxes for the wealthy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Walgreens Boots Alliance's executive vice president, John Driscoll, penned a letter asking lawmakers in the US and abroad to tax the wealthy. Driscoll echoed the pleas of entrepreneurs, an heiress, and activists in his demand to save the "rapidly diminishing American Dream." Advertisement"In this spirit, I call on national and international lawmakers to do whatever it takes to tax wealthy people like me," Driscoll wrote. "I agree that we should make elaborate tax-avoidance schemes illegal, but acting upon that would upset a lot of donors, so we will see words, but no action," Musk wrote in June. In his tax letter, Driscoll cited a report from the Economic Policy Institute that CEOs made 399 times as much as a typical employee in 2021.

Persons: —, John Driscoll, Driscoll, Switzerland that's, Daniel Werfel, Elon Musk —, Joe Biden, Musk Organizations: Service, Walgreens Boots, Business, IRS, Analysts, EU Tax Observatory, Economic Policy Institute Locations: Davos, Switzerland

☆ Republicans' plan to fund Israel by cutting IRS spending would cost taxpayers billions and add to the national deficit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Republicans proposed giving Israel $14 billion, attached to $14 billion in IRS funding cuts. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementRepublicans want to give Israel $14.3 billion — but only if they can cut the same amount from the IRS. It's insulting that the hard right is openly trying to exploit the crisis in Israel to try and reward the ultra-rich." "Bifurcating Israel security assistance from the other priorities in the national security supplemental will have global consequences."

Persons: —, Mike Johnson's, Joe Biden, Johnson, Ashley Schapitl, Daniel Werfel, Kevin McCarthy, Schapitl, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Israel, Office, Senate Democrats, White, Service, IRS, Palestinian, Hamas, Democrats, Internal Revenue, Republicans, Washington Post, GOP, Senate, White House, Management, OMB Locations: Israel

☆ Deductions for megamansions and Ferraris: The IRS details tax dodges by the ultra-wealthy and says it recently squeezed 100 millionaires for $122 million in missing taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

There's more enforcement to come, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act infused billions of dollars into the previously perpetually underfunded and paper-laden IRS. "Inflation Reduction Act funding gives us the ability to take swift and aggressive action to improve compliance and close the tax gap." Since the passage of the IRA, the IRS has closed several cases of high-earning taxpayers getting creative with their business expenses and deductions. The IRS is specifically taking aim at Americans who earn over $1 million, and have over $250,000 in tax debt.

Persons: it's, —, Daniel Werfel, That's, Werfel Organizations: IRS, Service, dodgers, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini Locations: COVID

☆ IRS unveils 'special withdrawal process' for small businesses that claimed pandemic-era tax credit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The IRS on Thursday announced a "special withdrawal process" for small businesses that may have wrongly claimed the so-called employee retention tax credit, or ERC. Enacted to support small businesses during the pandemic, the ERC, worth thousands per eligible employee, has been a magnet for fraudulent or "questionable claims," according to the IRS. Many small businesses were misled by ERC promoters, prompting the agency to temporarily stop processing for new claims in September. Small businesses can use the ERC claim withdrawal process if they meet the following criteria:They claimed the ERC on an adjusted employment return (Forms 941-X, 943-X, 944-X, CT-1X). Small businesses can learn more about the ERC withdrawal process by visiting IRS.gov/withdrawmyERC.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Danny Werfel, Here's, Werfel, haven't, IRS.gov Organizations: Revenue, Senate, IRS, ERC, Finance

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS plans to invite select taxpayers across 13 states to try out the agency's pilot electronic free file tax return system beginning in January. The agency estimates that hundreds of thousands of taxpayers will participate in the limited rollout of the program for the 2024 filing season. The IRS faces intense blowback from private tax preparation companies that have made billions from charging people to use their software. The introduction of a government-run option could upend the industry and fundamentally change the way taxpayers interact with IRS. The states are “really blazing the trail for this exciting project and finding a way for state filing to work within the context of this, ” Zucker said.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, ” Werfel, Werfel, ” Derrick Plummer, Joe Biden, Gabriel Zucker, ” Zucker, that’s, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, Intuit, America, Arizona’s Department of Revenue, New York’s Department of Taxation, Finance, Taxpayers, “ Locations: Arizona , California , Massachusetts, New York, Alaska, Florida , New Hampshire , Nevada , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington, Wyoming

☆ IRS to target 'unscrupulous' tax preparers amid crackdown of small business tax credit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Chip Somodevilla | Getty ImagesIRS scrutiny of the employee retention creditThe plan is part of the agency's elevated focus on employee retention credit claims, according to April Walker, lead manager for tax practice and ethics with the American Institute of CPAs. A pandemic-era tax break, the employee retention credit, or ERC, was designed to support small businesses that kept employees on payroll during shutdowns or revenue declines in 2020 and 2021. He included the earned income tax credit, a tax break claimed by low- to moderate-income filers, which has been prone to mistakes due to complex eligibility requirements. While IRS audit rates have dropped overall, the rates have declined more slowly for filers claiming the earned income tax credit than higher earners. "The IRS audits a higher percentage of taxpayers with the earned income tax credit than any other taxpayers, except those with at least $5 million of total positive income," National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins wrote in her 2022 report.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Chip Somodevilla, April Walker, Werfel, Chuck Marr, Erin Collins Organizations: Senate, Getty, American Institute of CPAs, ERC, IRS, Budget, National Taxpayer, filers Locations: Worth

☆ Here's what tax pros recommend after the IRS halts processing for small business tax credit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin Lamarque | ReutersAs the IRS pauses on processing new claims for a pandemic-era small business tax break, some filers are in limbo as the agency works on further guidance. The IRS on Thursday temporarily halted processing for amended payroll tax returns claiming the so-called employee retention tax credit, or ERC, which was enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic. More from Personal Finance:IRS halts processing of a small business tax breakDoes your business qualify for the employee retention credit? If you claimed the credit and are worried about eligibility, it's an excellent time to review your filing with a qualified tax professional, she said. My blanket advice is always to talk to a qualified tax professional who has filed [ERC claims] before.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Kevin Lamarque, Danny Werfel, Jennifer Rohen, Craig Hausz, Hausz, There's Organizations: Reuters, IRS, ERC, Finance, CMH, CMH Advisors Locations: Worth, Dallas

☆ I.R.S. Freezes Pandemic-Era Tax Credit Amid Fraud Fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“We are deeply concerned that this program is not operating in the way it was intended,” Daniel Werfel, the I.R.S. “We believe you should see only a trickle of employee retention claims coming in. Among them was the Employee Retention Credit, a tax benefit that was created as part of the initial $2 trillion pandemic relief legislation. said on Thursday that it had already paid out about $230 billion in refunds associated with the tax credit and that it had a backlog of 600,000 claims. Mr. Werfel said that 15 percent of the 3.6 million claims for the credit that the I.R.S.

Persons: ” Daniel Werfel, “, Werfel Organizations: Congressional, Office Locations: Washington

☆ I.R.S. Deploys Artificial Intelligence to Target Rich Partnerships
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

has simply not had enough resources or staffing to address partnerships; in a real sense, we’ve been overwhelmed in this area for years.”Mr. Werfel explained that artificial intelligence is helping the I.R.S. identify patterns and trends, giving the agency greater confidence that it can find where larger partnerships are shielding income. The agency said it would open examinations of 75 of the nation’s largest partnerships, which were identified with the help of artificial intelligence, by the end of the month. The focus on partnerships is part of a broader push by the I.R.S. Mr. Werfel said that the agency is dedicating dozens of revenue officers to pursue 1,600 millionaires who the I.R.S.

Persons: ” Daniel Werfel, we’ve, ” Mr, Werfel

☆ The IRS is going after 1,600 millionaires who owe hundreds of millions in overdue taxes, and it's using AI to catch them
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Fatima Hussein | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The IRS said it's going after 1,600 millionaires who owe hundreds of millions in overdue taxes. The agency said it will also be targeting 75 large business partnerships in the same situation. He said 1,600 millionaires who owe at least $250,000 each in back taxes and 75 large business partnerships that have assets of roughly $10 billion on average are targeted for the new "compliance efforts." AdvertisementAdvertisementIRS commissioner: 'We have more hiring to do'The newly announced tax collection effort will begin as soon as October. House Republicans built a $1.4 billion reduction to the IRS into the debt ceiling and budget cuts package passed by Congress this summer.

Persons: it's, Daniel Werfel, Werfel, Joe Biden's, Biden Organizations: IRS, Service, Wall, dodgers, Joe Biden's Democratic, Congress, House Republicans Locations: Wall, Silicon

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS announced on Friday it is launching an effort to aggressively pursue 1,600 millionaires and 75 large business partnerships that owe hundreds of millions of dollars in past due taxes. “If you pay your taxes on time it should be particularly frustrating when you see that wealthy filers are not,” Werfel told reporters in a call previewing the announcement. He said 1,600 millionaires who owe at least $250,000 each in back taxes and 75 large business partnerships that have assets of roughly $10 billion on average are targeted for the new “compliance efforts." Werfel said a massive hiring effort and AI research tools developed by IRS employees and contractors are playing a big role in identifying wealthy tax dodgers. House Republicans built a $1.4 billion reduction to the IRS into the debt ceiling and budget cuts package passed by Congress this summer.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, ” Werfel, Werfel, Joe Biden's, “, “ It’s, Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, IRS, dodgers, Joe Biden's Democratic, Congress, House Republicans

☆ Meet the New IRS, Same as the Old IRS
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( J.D. Vance | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel speaks at an event in McLean, Va., Aug. 2. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesThe Internal Revenue Service recently tried to reinvent itself. Earlier this year, outfitted with an additional $80 billion and 87,000 new agents, the agency unveiled a new set of priorities for the next eight years. Its Strategic Operating Plan promises to “deliver transformational change for taxpayers” while improving services and quickly resolving enforcement issues. That may sound too good to be true—because it is.

Persons: Daniel Werfel, Alex Wong Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, ” Locations: McLean , Va

☆ IRS says it will deliver faster refunds to millions of taxpayers in coming years. Here’s how.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The two-pronged effort, dubbed the “Paperless Processing Initiative,” aims to cut down on the millions of paper documents the IRS receives annually. Although the vast majority of taxpayers file their returns electronically, millions still send in paper returns. By next year’s filing season, taxpayers will be able to digitally file all correspondence, non-tax forms and responses to notices. This will enable up to 125 million paper documents to be sent in online every year, the agency said. Those who prefer to mail in paper returns and correspondence will continue to be able to do so.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Daniel Werfel, ” Werfel Organizations: New, New York CNN, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, Service, House Republicans Locations: New York

☆ I.R.S. Halts Surprise Visits to Homes and Businesses
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The change comes as the I.R.S. embarks on a multibillion-dollar modernization project that aims to upgrade technology, ramp up enforcement of the tax code and improve customer service. “We are taking a fresh look at how the I.R.S. operates to better serve taxpayers and the nation, and making this change is a common-sense step,” Daniel Werfel, the I.R.S. “Changing this longstanding procedure will increase confidence in our tax administration work and improve overall safety for taxpayers and I.R.S.

Persons: ” Daniel Werfel Organizations: Internal Revenue Service

☆ Google and Meta got customer data from tax prep firms, and lawmakers want a probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A group of lawmakers led by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren are calling on the Biden administration to investigate how tax prep software companies may have illegally shared customer data with tech platforms Google and Meta . Some statements the tax prep companies provided to the publications at the time seemed to indicate the data sharing was done accidentally. Our system is designed to filter out potentially sensitive data it is able to detect." Among their findings released Wednesday, the lawmakers said that millions of taxpayers' information had been shared with Big Tech firms through the tax prep software and that both the tax prep companies and tech firms were "reckless" in how they handled sensitive information. Although Meta and Google both said they have filters to catch sensitive data that's inadvertently collected, they seemed to be "ineffective," the lawmakers wrote.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democratic Sen, Biden, General Merrick Garland, Lina Khan, Daniel Werfel, J, Russell George, TaxAct, Block, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, Tammy Duckworth, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, Katie Porter, Warren, Meta Organizations: Capitol, Massachusetts Democratic, Google, Federal Trade, Tax, Facebook, Meta, CNBC, Big Tech, YouTube, Apple Locations: Washington ,, Sens, D

☆ The free online tax-filing system IRS is testing doesn't include automated returns — but pre-populated ones may be possible, research shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The IRS is preparing to test a free online direct filing system for some taxpayers — and while pre-populated returns with certain details already filled in aren't part of the initial plan, research shows it may be possible for certain filers. As directed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the pilot program will launch during the 2024 filing season for some taxpayers to assess the platform's broader viability. "We do not expect pre-population or pre-determining tax obligations to be part of it," IRS commissioner Daniel Werfel told reporters on a press call Tuesday, noting the project's limited scope. The paper was based on a random sample of roughly 350,000 individual tax returns from 2019, and accuracy was highest among low- to moderate-income filers. Errors were more likely to occur as itemized deductions increased.

☆ Black taxpayers more likely to face audits, IRS confirms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The IRS on Monday said that Black taxpayers are significantly more likely to face an IRS audit, confirming recent findings. IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel said the agency is weighing changes to address the disparity. A study released in January by economists at Stanford University, the University of Michigan, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the University of Chicago found the IRS audits Black taxpayers about three to five times more than other Americans. Specifically, he vowed to examine algorithms for audits of filers claiming the earned income tax credit, or EITC, a tax break to low- to moderate-income workers. Werfel added: "I will stay laser-focused on this to ensure that we identify and implement changes prior to next tax filing season."

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