Keeping CPAs Up to Date on Tax Matters

A site devoted to articles on current developments in federal taxes geared toward CPAs in tax practice.

2026-05-04 Treasury Previews Upcoming 280E Medical Marijuana Guidance

May 03, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

Reasonable Cause Relief Under the Small-Corporation Provision for Form 5472 Penalties
Extending the Statute of Limitations for Disallowed ERC Claims
Legislative Update: House Passes Comprehensive Tax Administration and Relief Bills
Anticipated IRS Guidance Following the Rescheduling of Medical Marijuana
Analysis of the New Dyed Fuel Excise Tax Refund Regulations Under Section 6435
Executive Order on Retirement Savings and Its Interaction with IRC Section 6433

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2026-04-27 No More 280E for State-Legal Medical Cannabis Businesses

April 25, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

Tax Implications of the Rescheduling of State-Licensed Medical Marijuana
Disallowance of COVID-19 Leave Credits: A Review of Substantiation and Trade or Business Requirements
Substantiation, Entity Indebtedness, and Business Expense Deductibility: An Analysis of the Simmons Case
The Tenth Circuit Codifies the Reach of the Economic Substance Doctrine Over Mechanical Statutory Compliance
Treatment of Loyalty Rewards Program Funds and the Claim of Right Doctrine
Valuation and Penalty Controversies in Estate Tax Examinations

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The text of the articles for this week’s update and the slides (with infographics) can be downloaded below:

2026-04-20 Final Regulations Issued on Qualified Tip Income

April 19, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

A Technical Analysis of the Final Section 224 Regulations on the Qualified Tip Deduction
Analysis of Proposed Regulations on Information Reporting Thresholds and Wagering Losses (REG-113229-25)
U.S. District Court Splits Its Ruling on Micro-Captive Disclosure Mandates
IRS Reduces Enrolled Agent Special Enrollment Examination User Fees: An Analysis of the Interim Final and Proposed Regulations
Taxation of Terminated Life Insurance Policies: An Analysis of Constructive Receipt and Investment Interest

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You can download materials related to this week’s updates below:

2026-04-20 Text of Update Articles
Slide Presentation

2026-03-23 Claim of Right and the Correct Tax Year

March 22, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

Corporate Capacity and State Law Revivor
Digital Asset Identification Relief
Interest and Bonus Depreciation Relief
ERC Disallowances and Legal Standing
Substantiation Rules for Emergency Vehicles
Partnership Audits and Due Process
Social Security Repayments

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PDFs with the articles for this week’s update and the slides can be downloaded below:

2026-03-16 Trump Account Proposed Regulations

March 15, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

Proposed Regulations for IRC Section 530A "Trump Accounts"
IRC Section 6434 Trump Account Pilot Program
Micro-Captive Scrutiny Formalized
BBA Audits: Notice Defects and the Statute of Limitations

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Articles for this week’s update and a copy of the slides for this week can be downloaded below as PDFs:

2026-03-09 Sir You Are About to Lose Your Passport

March 08, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

Fiduciary and Beneficiary Liability for Unpaid Estate Taxes
Retroactive Entity Classification and Partnership Basis
2026 Passenger Auto Depreciation Limits
Passport Certification & Victimization Defenses
Passport Revocation in Collection Suits
Waiver of Foreign Earned Income Exclusion Time Rules
New Digital Asset Reporting Landscape (Form 1099-DA)

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2026-03-02 Another Circuit Find IRS Has Assessment Authority for Section 6038(b) Penalties

March 01, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

Required Minimum Distribution Regulations Delay
CDP Proceedings and Underlying Liabilities
Section 743(b) Adjustments and Economic Substance
Assessability of Section 6038(b) Penalties

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2026-02-23 Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs

February 22, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

Supreme Court Invalidates Executive Tariffs Under IEEPA
Special Depreciation Allowance Under the OBBBA
CAMT Adjustments and Relief
Circuit Split on Third-Party Fraud
Valuation and Penalties in Syndicated Conservation Easements

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PDFs with the articles for this week’s update and copies of the slides can be dowloaded below:

2026-02-16 Hallucinations Enter the Tax Court

February 15, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

TEFRA Jurisdiction and the "Limited Partner" Exception
Artificial Intelligence and Substantiation
Section 183 Profit Motive
Rebate vs. Nonrebate Refunds
Substantiation and Civil Fraud
Consolidated Return Jurisdiction

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2026-02-09 Another Former Spouse Ends Up With a Jackpot When Her Ex-Spouse Dies Due to ERISA

February 08, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

The "Charitable LLC" Tax Shelter
Section 280E Bars ERC for Cannabis Businesses
TEFRA Intervention by Majority Partners
R&D Credit Substantiation
Supervisory Approval of Penalties
ERISA Beneficiary Designations

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2026-02-02 Paper Refund Checks-Notices and Patience Now

January 31, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

Challenging the Presumption of Delivery (CDP Cases)
Bank Deposits & Conduit Theory
Mandates Under Executive Order 14247 (Notice CP53E)
IRS Implementation of Executive Order 14247 - (FS 2026-02)
Federal Priority Statute Liability
FASIT Structure & Substantial Compliance

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A copy of the articles and slides can be downloaded as PDFs below:

2026-01-26 Court Allows ERC Claim to Go Forward-But Throws Out APA Challenge

January 25, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

ERC Refund Suits and Challenges to IRS Notice 2021-20
Section 6015(f) Equitable Relief and Attribution of Income
Financial Disability Tolling under § 6511(h)
Distinguishing "Tax Loss" for Sentencing vs. Restitution
Implementation of Qualified Overtime Deductions (OBBBA)

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Text - 2026-01-26 Current Federal Tax Developments
Slides - 2026-01-26 Current Federal Tax Developments Slides

2026-01-19 Fifth Circuit Reverses Tax Court on SE Income for State Law Limited Partners

January 18, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

SE Tax Liability for Limited Partners (Sirius Solutions)
Whistleblower Awards and "Collected Proceeds"
Statutory Construction of Section 168(k) Amendments
Updated Safe Harbor Explanations for Section 402(f)
Modernized Group Tax Exemption Framework
Tax-Exempt Status of Supplemental Military Housing Allowances

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Articles on this week’s update can be downloaded as a PDF via the link below:

2026-01-19 Current Federal Tax Developments

2026-01-12 IRS Announces Opening of E-Filing Season for Individuals

January 10, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

IRS Announces Filing Season Overview & Timeline
A Charity Loses Its §501(c)(3) Status After Forgetting to Perform Virtually Any Exempt Activities
Taxpayer Loses a Large Charitable Contribution Deduction Based on Lack of Substantiation
Second Circuit Concurs With Other Circuits on Willfulness for FBAR Penalties
Tax Court Found Summary Assessment Invalid in Premium Tax Credit Case

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Articles for this week’s update can be downloaded as a PDF below:

2026-01-10 Current Federal Tax Developments