As CPAs and Enrolled Agents (EAs), understanding the standards for awarding administrative and litigation costs under 26 U.S.C. § 7430 is crucial, especially concerning the intricacies of the Qualified Offer Rule. The recent case of Crystal N. Greenwald v. United States of America, Civil Action 2:23-cv-4100 (S.D. Ohio, Oct. 23, 2025), provides a detailed examination of whether a government concession following a qualified offer constitutes a "settlement" that bars the recovery of attorney’s fees.

This article draws on the latest revisions to the Internal Revenue Service’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions, as detailed in Fact Sheet FS-2025-08, published in October 2025. These updated FAQs supersede the prior guidance posted in FS-2024-03. For tax professionals, understanding the finalized reporting thresholds, compliance obligations, and the nuanced guidance on reporting erroneous forms and personal item sales is critical.

It is important to note that these FAQs provide general information and have not been published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin; therefore, they will not be relied upon by the IRS to resolve a case. However, a taxpayer who reasonably and in good faith relies on this guidance will not be subject to penalties, such as a negligence penalty or other accuracy-related penalties, which impose a reasonable cause standard for relief, to the extent that such reliance results in an underpayment of tax. These FAQs were announced in IR-2025-107.

This advisory draws upon the guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) released as FS-2025-07 on October 22, 2025, announced via IR-2025-106. These FAQs specifically address the stringent compliance and limitation provisions affecting the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) as enacted by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). While this guidance is intended to provide general information to tax professionals as expeditiously as possible, it is important to remember that these FAQs have not been published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin and will not be relied upon by the IRS to resolve a specific case; the underlying tax law controls the taxpayer’s liability. Nonetheless, a taxpayer who reasonably and in good faith relies on these FAQs may be shielded from penalties, such as negligence or other accuracy-related penalties, to the extent such reliance results in an underpayment of tax, provided the reasonable cause standard for relief is met.

Due to a lapse in appropriations, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) operations are currently limited. Despite these limitations, the underlying tax law remains fully in effect, requiring all taxpayers—individuals, corporations, partnerships, and employers—to meet their tax obligations as normal. The IRS has published an update on the impact of the government shutdown on taxpayers and IRS services.

In Andrew Mitchell Berry and Sara Berry v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2025-109, the United States Tax Court addressed a determined deficiency of $88,695 and an accuracy-related penalty of $17,739 under section 6662(a) for the petitioners’ 2016 tax year.

The United States Tax Court, in North Wall Holdings, LLC, Schuler Investments, LLC, a Partner Other Than the Tax Matters Partner v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 165 T.C. No. 9 (2025), addressed a foundational issue regarding the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) unified audit and litigation procedures: whether the statutory deadlines for filing a petition for readjustment of partnership items are jurisdictional limitations or merely claims processing rules subject to equitable tolling. The Court ultimately held that the deadlines prescribed in I.R.C. § 6226(a) and (b) are jurisdictional and that equitable tolling is inapplicable.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2025-57, providing transitional guidance regarding the implementation of new information reporting requirements concerning interest received on specified passenger vehicle loans. This guidance is directed at those entities receiving such interest, referred to as “recipients,” and applies specifically to reporting obligations for the 2025 calendar year.

As tax professionals (CPAs and EAs), we rely on timely and accurate guidance from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to determine proper inflation adjustments and interpret legislative changes. Rev. Proc. 2025-32 sets forth critical inflation-adjusted items for various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) for the 2026 taxable year, reflecting amendments made by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Public Law 119-21, 139 Stat. 72 (July 4, 2025).  On October 17, 2025 the IRS announced changes to be made to the Revenue Procedure’s numbers, a new section was added and an updated version was posted on the IRS website.

The issuance of a revised version of Rev. Proc. 2025-32 on October 17, modifying the original October 9 version, signals necessary corrections and additions impacting several key inflation-adjusted amounts and the procedural description of OBBBA changes. This article details the specific modifications incorporated into the revised document, focusing on the affected Code sections and the magnitude of the changes.

The Treasury Department has released Proposed Regulations under IRC Section 897 to withdraw the domestic corporation look-through rule that was adopted in final regulations issued in 2024 (Proposed Reg. Section 1.871-1, REG-109742-25, published in the Federal Register October 21, 2025).

This article addresses the memorandum opinion in Avalon Home Health, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2025-107, a Collection Due Process (CDP) case that provides essential insights into the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Independent Office of Appeals’ (Appeals) requirement to properly verify statutory requirements and consider collection alternatives under section 6330(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This case resulted in a partial denial of the Commissioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment and a remand to Appeals due to significant deficiencies in the administrative process.

The United States Tax Court, in Potts v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2025-108, addressed a deficiency of $431,691 and an accuracy-related penalty of $86,338 under Section 6662(a) determined by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (Respondent) against petitioners Craig K. and Kristen H. Potts for the 2014 taxable year. The predominant issue concerned the disallowance of a $2 million theft loss deduction claimed by the petitioners pursuant to Section 165.

This article addresses the recent Memorandum & Order issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Zirin Tax Company, Inc. v. United States of America, 24-cv-01511 (NCM) (MMH), dated October 15, 2025. This case involved a tax preparer challenging the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) decision to suspend the preparer’s Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFINs) and subsequent expulsion from the e-file program.

This article reviews the findings of the United States Tax Court in Coaches 101 a NJ Nonprofit, v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2025-106 (Oct. 15, 2025), a case focused on the denial of tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) Section 501(c)(3). The Court, in granting the Commissioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment, underscored that organizations must satisfy both the organizational and operational tests, emphasizing that a single substantial nonexempt purpose or evidence of private inurement is fatal to qualification.

As tax professionals, we frequently advise clients regarding the taxability and reporting requirements associated with litigation settlements. The recent Report and Recommendation in Barbara Rumain v. Gregoris Motors, Inc., No. 17-CV-7251 (DG) (TAM) from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York provides a relevant illustration of the contractual enforceability of settlement agreements, particularly when a dispute arises post-agreement concerning mandatory IRS reporting via Form 1099.

This article examines the decision of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York in Stephen S. Gray v. The Williamsburg Hotel BK, LLC, Toby Moskovits, and Michael Lichtenstein, Adversary Proceeding No. 22-07049, which addressed whether Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) refunds claimed and received by a non-debtor manager constitute property of the Debtor’s estate and must be turned over to the Liquidation Trustee.

This analysis examines the United States District Court for the District of Utah’s Memorandum Decision and Order in Greenway Equipment Sales, Inc. v. ERC Specialists, LLC, et al. (Case No. 2:24-CV-773-DAK-DBP), focusing on the court’s assessment of Article III standing in a lawsuit stemming from the utilization of Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) consulting services. This case provides insight for tax professionals regarding the pleading requirements for damages claims against third-party promoters, particularly when the underlying tax credit results in a net positive financial outcome for the taxpayer.

The case Armond Garibyan, et al. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, T.C. Memo. 2025-105, addresses significant disputes concerning reconstructed income, disallowed business deductions, and accuracy-related penalties for the 2015 and 2016 tax years.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Revenue Procedure 2025-32, which modifies prior guidance (Rev. Proc. 2024-40) to incorporate statutory changes made by Public Law 119-21, 139 Stat. 72 (July 4, 2025), commonly known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This Revenue Procedure sets forth the inflation-adjusted items pertinent to the 2026 taxable year for various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code), adjustments which are generally determined by reference to Code Section 1(f).

This document details the key adjustments applicable for the 2026 taxable year, citing the specific Code sections and corresponding Revenue Procedure sections where the adjusted amounts are located. Tax professionals should note that unless otherwise specified, all references to "section" or "§" refer to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

This overview is designed for tax professionals, including CPAs and Enrolled Agents (EAs), providing a technical summary of the Internal Revenue Service’s Fiscal Year 2026 Lapse in Appropriations Contingency Plan. The plan outlines which essential activities will continue during a lapse, starting October 8, 2025, through April 30, 2026, encompassing the critical Tax Year 2026 filing season period.

When advising clients on complex debt relief transactions, it is crucial to understand not only the substantive law governing the timing of income recognition but also the procedural prerequisites for challenging IRS determinations. The recent Summary Order issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Romeo Salta, Jr., Phyllis Polega v. United States of America, 24-2700-cv (Oct. 6, 2025), affirmed the District Court’s finding regarding the proper tax year for cancellation-of-indebtedness (COI) income and provided a stark reminder of the binding nature of the doctrine of variance.