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IRS Limited Practice Exceptions | Tax Lawyer St Paul Minnesota

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Generally, only attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents and enrolled actuaries can act as taxpayer representatives before the IRS.  However, Circular 230 §10.7 contains several limited exceptions to this general requirement. Let’s explore these IRS limited practice exceptions.

IRS Limited Practice Exceptions: Standard of Conduct

Before we discuss the exceptions, I would like to point out that all non-practitioners who engage in limited practice before the IRS must follow the same standards of conduct as those applicable to practitioners. Circular 230 §10.7(c)(2)(iii).  Moreover, the IRS reserves the right to deny eligibility to engage in limited practice to any individual who has engaged in conduct that may be subject to a sanction under Circular 230 §10.50. See Circular 230 §10.7(c)(2)(ii).

It should be kept in mind that an individual can represent before the IRS not only a taxpayer in the United States, but also any individual or entity who is outside of the United States.

IRS Limited Practice Exceptions: Self-Representation

Obviously, every taxpayer has a basic right to represent himself before the IRS without any enrollment into IRS practice. This right can be found in Circular 230 §10.7(a). Circular 230 §10.7(e) explains that a fiduciary such as a trustee, receiver, guardian, personal representative, administrator, or executor is considered to be the taxpayer, not a representative of a taxpayer.

IRS Limited Practice Exceptions: Relationship-Based Representation

The IRS would permit an individual to represent another taxpayer before the IRS if this individual has some type of a close relationship to the taxpayer (whether the taxpayer is an individual or an entity). Circular 230 §10.7(c)(1) specifically lists the following exceptions:

(i) An individual may represent a member of his or her immediate family.

(ii) A regular full-time employee of an individual employer may represent the employer.

(iii) A general partner or a regular full-time employee of a partnership may represent the partnership.

(iv) A bona fide officer or a regular full-time employee of a corporation (including a parent, subsidiary, or other affiliated corporation), association, or organized group may represent the corporation, association, or organized group.

(v) A regular full-time employee of a trust, receivership, guardianship, or estate may represent the trust, receivership, guardianship, or estate.

(vi) An officer or a regular employee of a governmental unit, agency, or authority may represent the governmental unit, agency, or authority in the course of his or her official duties.

It is important to point out that subclause (iv) does not clash with Form 4764 (Large Case Examination Plan) which allows a corporate taxpayer to designate an employee to discuss tax matters, provide information, discuss adjustments, et cetera.  The reason for it is that the Form 4764 authorization only allows an employee to simply accept materials, deliver materials, provide general explanation. If the employee advocates, negotiates, disputes or does anything else, then he engages in taxpayer representation that requires the filing of Form 2848.

Another important note concerning subclause (iv) is that an employee of a corporation may represent a corporate subsidiary in a tax matter concerning the subsidiary if the parent corporation owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the subsidiary’s voting stock and if the employee’s services are not rendered in a manner that might misrepresent his professional status.

IRS Limited Practice Exceptions: Specific Matter Representation

Circular 230 §10.7(d) allows the IRS to authorize any individual to represent another person without enrollment for a specific matter. Circular 230 does not really describe what are the requirements for such a specific matter representation. Given past practice, however, we can deduce that Circular 230 is most likely referring to persons who are not active tax practitioners but may possess certain competency in tax matters (such an attorney without a license, a retired CPA, a law student representing his clients through a tax clinic in a law school, etc.).

Sherayzen Law Office Is Auhorized to Practice Before the IRS

Mr. Eugene Sherayzen, the owner of Sherayzen Law Office, is an attorney licensed to practice in the State of Minnesota.  Hence, he is authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS.

Contact Sherayzen Law Office for professional help with all matters concerning US international tax laws.

First Quarter 2022 IRS Interest Rates on Overpayment & Underpayment of Tax

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On November 23, 2021, the IRS announced that the First Quarter 2022 IRS interest rates on overpayment and underpayment of tax will not change from the Fourth Quarter of 2021.

This means that, the First Quarter 2022 IRS interest rates will be as follows:

three (3) percent for overpayments (two (2) percent in the case of a corporation);
three (3) percent for underpayments;
five (5) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
one-half (0.5) of a percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) §6621 establishes the IRS interest rates on overpayments and underpayments of tax. Under §6621(a)(1), the overpayment rate is the sum of the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points for individuals and 2 percentage points in cases of a corporation. There is an exception to this rule: with respect to a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period of time, the rate is the sum of the federal short-term rate plus one-half of a percentage point.

Under §6621(a)(2), the underpayment rate is the sum of the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. Again, there is an exception for a large corporate underpayment: in such cases, §6621(c) requires the underpayment rate to be the sum of the relevant federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The readers should see §6621(c) and §301.6621-3 of the Regulations on Procedure and Administration for the definition of a large corporate underpayment and for the rules for determining the applicable date.

Pursuant to the IRC §6621(b)(1), the First Quarter 2022 IRS interest rates were computed based on federal short-term rates for October 2021 to take effect on November 1, 2021, based on daily compounding. The IRS determined that the federal short-term rate for October of 2021, rounded to the nearest full percent, was zero.

It is important to note that the First Quarter 2022 IRS interest rates are relevant for a great variety of purposes. Let’s highlight three of its most important uses. First, these rates will determine the interest a taxpayer will get on any IRS refunds.

Second ,the rates will also be used to establish the interest to be added to any additional US tax liability on amended or audited tax returns. This also applies to the tax returns that were amended under the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures and Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures.

Finally, the First Quarter 2022 IRS interest rates will be used to calculate PFIC interest on any relevant §1291 PFIC tax. This PFIC interest will be reported on the relevant Form 8621 and ultimately Form 1040.

We at Sherayzen Law Office constantly deal with the IRS interest rates on overpayments and underpayments of tax. This is why we closely follow any changes in these IRS interest rates, including the First Quarter 2022 IRS interest rates.

New July 15 Deadline for 2019 Tax Compliance | International Tax News

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On March 21, 2020, the IRS moved the federal income tax filing and tax payment due date from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Let’s discuss the new July 15 deadline in more detail.

July 15 Deadline: Why the IRS Moved the Tax Deadline to July 15, 2020?

The IRS moved the deadline because of the huge logistical problems that have arisen as a result of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. The coronavirus panic as well as the imposition of what can be described as curfew and other restrictive safety measures in many states have dramatically reduced the ability of tax professionals to effectively and timely help their clients.

It would have been unfair and unreasonable to require taxpayers to file their tax returns by April 15 during this unprecedented national crisis. Hence, President Trump and the IRS decided to prevent this injustice and moved the tax filing and tax payment deadlines to July 15, 2020. This was the right move to make and it is applauded by tax professionals around the country.

The legal authority for the deferral of the April 15 deadline came from President Trump’s emergency declaration last week pursuant to the Stafford Act. The Stafford Act (enacted in 1988) is a federal law designed to bring an orderly and systematic means of federal natural disaster and emergency assistance for state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to aid citizens.

July 15 Deadline: What Returns Are Affected?

The deferment of the April 15 deadline applies to all taxpayers – individuals, corporations, trusts, estates and other non-corporate filers, including those who pay self-employment tax. In other words, all Forms 1040, 1041, 1120, et cetera are now due on July 15.

All international information returns which are filed separately or together with the income tax returns are also now due on July 15, 2020. This includes FBAR, Forms 8938, 3520, 5471, 5472, 8865 and other US international information returns.

July 15 Deadline: When are the Tax Payments Due?

All tax payments which are generally due on April 15 are now due on July 15, 2020.

July 15 Deadline: Do I Need to Do Anything Else to Obtain Tax Return Deferral?

Taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify for this federal tax filing and payment relief. This deferral to July 15, 2020, automatically applies to all of the aforementioned taxpayers.

July 15 Deadline: Is Extension to October Still Possible?

This automatic deferral does not affect the ability of taxpayers to request extension of the July 15 deadline to October 15. Individuals will need to file a Form 4868 in order to request such an extension. Businesses will need to file a Form 7004 to request this extension.

July 15 Deadline: Can I file Before July 15, 2020?

Taxpayers can still file their tax returns prior to July 15, 2020. The IRS promises to issue most refunds within 21 days if returns are e-filed.

New IRS Updates Possible

The IRS will continue to monitor issues related to the COVID-19 virus. New updates will be posted on a special coronavirus page on IRS.gov.

Contact Sherayzen Law Office for Professional Help With Your US International Tax Compliance

The extended July 15 deadline is especially welcome for US taxpayers with foreign assets. The delays caused by coronavirus now become irrelevant and there is plenty of time to finalize both, 2019 US international tax compliance forms and offshore voluntary disclosures.

If you have undisclosed foreign assets and foreign income, contact Sherayzen Law Office for professional assistance. We have successfully helped hundreds of US taxpayers around the world to bring their US tax affairs into full compliance with US tax laws, and we can help you!

Contact Us Today to Schedule Your Confidential Consultation!

4th Quarter 2018 Underpayment and Overpayment Interest Rates

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On September 7, 2018, the IRS announced that the 4th Quarter 2018 underpayment and overpayment interest rates will not change from the 3rd Quarter of 2018.

This means that, the 4th quarter 2018 IRS underpayment and overpayment interest rates will be as follows:

  • five (5) percent for overpayments (four (4) percent in the case of a corporation)
  • five (5) percent for underpayments
  • seven (7) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
  • two and one-half (2.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the interest rates are determined on a quarterly basis. This means that the next change in the IRS underpayment and overpayment interest rates may occur only for the 1st Quarter of 2019. In fact, if the analysts are correct, it may very well happen in early 2019.

The 4th Quarter 2018 underpayment and overpayment interest rates are important for many reasons. Not only are these rates used to determine what the IRS will charge in case of an amended tax return (including an amended return made as part of an offshore voluntary disclosure), but they will also determine the interest rate for any adjustments made by the IRS during an audit.

Moreover, the IRS underpayment rates are used to calculate the interest charged on the PFIC (default IRC Section 1291) tax due on an excess distribution. It should be remembered that PFIC calculations de facto remain outside of the Statute of Limitations and PFIC interest can be charged on any PFIC gains made in 2018 but allocated to any prior year (all the way to 1988).

It is important to prevent some US tax accountants from falling into a common trap concerning distributions of accumulated income from a foreign trust. There is a myth that the interest rates on UNI tax is calculated based on the IRS underpayment and overpayment interest rates. This is incorrect – the Throwback Rule follows a separate method for calculating the interest on the UNI tax.

Sherayzen Law Office continues to track any changes IRS makes to its overpayment and underpayment interest rates.

IRS Increases Interest Rates for the Second Quarter of 2018

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On March 7, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service announced that the IRS underpayment and overpayment interest rates have increased for the second quarter of 2018. The second quarter of 2018 begins on April 1, 2018 and ends on June 30, 2018.

The second quarter of 2018 IRS interest rates will increase by one percent and will be as follows:
five percent for overpayments (four percent in the case of a corporation);
two and one-half percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000;
five percent percent for underpayments; and
seven percent for large corporate underpayments.

The IRS increased its underpayment and overpayment interest rates for the last time in the second quarter of 2016.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest for the second quarter of 2018 is determined on a quarterly basis. The second quarter of 2018 overpayment and underpayment interest rates are computed based on the federal short-term rate determined during January 2018 to take effect February 1, 2018, including daily compounding.

Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

This increase in the IRS underpayment and overpayment interest rates for the second quarter of 2018 is highly important and will have an impact on many US taxpayers. In particular, I would like to point out two principal areas impacted by this increase in the second quarter of 2018 IRS interest rates.

First, this increase means that the taxpayers will have to pay a higher interest on any underpayment of tax as calculated on the amended tax returns. This includes the payments that US taxpayers must make pursuant to the IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program and the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures.

Second, the increase in the interest rates for the second quarter of 2018 directly affects the calculation of PFIC interest due on any “excess distributions”. It is important to remember that PFIC interest cannot be offset by foreign tax credit.