Current Federal Tax Developments

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.

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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

An audio version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed for downloaded below:

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

  • Articles

  • Slides

March 22, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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

An audio version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded via the link below.

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

  • Current Federal Tax Developments March 16, 2026

  • Slides - March 16, 2026

March 15, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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)

You can stream or download this week’s broadcast below:

This week’s update articles and slides can be downloaded below:

  • CFTD Articles - Week of March 9, 2026

  • CFTD Slides - Week of March 9, 2026

March 08, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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

An audio only version of this week’s podcast can be streamed or downloaded below:

You can download PDFs of the articles and the slides for this week via the link below:

  • 2026-03-02 Current Federal Tax Developments

  • Slides

March 01, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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

An audio only version of this week’s broadcast can be downloaded or streamed below:

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

  • Current Federal Tax Developments 2026-02-23

  • Slides Current Federal Tax Developments 2026-02-03

February 22, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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

An audio only version of this week’s update can be streamed or downloaded below:

The slides and articles for this week’s updates can be downloaded as PDFs below:

  • Current Federal Tax Developments 2026-02-15

  • Slides for 2026-02-15

February 15, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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

An audio only version of this week's broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below:

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

  • 2026-02-09 Current Federal Tax Developments Articles

  • 2026-02-09 Slides

February 08, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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

An audio version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below:

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

  • 2026-02-02 Current Federal Tax Developments

  • 2026-02-02 Slides for Current Federal Tax Developments

January 31, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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)

An audio version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below:

The PDFs for this week’s updates and slides are available via the links below:

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

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

January 25, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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

An audio only version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below:

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

2026-01-19 Current Federal Tax Developments

January 18, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

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

An audio version of this week’s updates can be streamed or downloaded below:

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

2026-01-10 Current Federal Tax Developments

January 10, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2026-01-05 Proposed Regulations on New Car Loan Interest Deduction

January 03, 2026 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

  • Standard Mileage Rates & Notice 2026-10

  • 2026 Procedural Updates - Annual Revenue Procedures

  • Qualified Passenger Vehicle Loan Interest (QPVLI) Proposed Regulations

  • Estate of Spenlinhauer v. Commissioner Late Filing and More

  • Bargain Sale of For-Profit colleges to a Non-Profit (501(c)(3))

An audio only version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below:

Articles on this week’s updates can be downloaded in the PDF below:

2026-01-05 Current Federal Tax Developments

January 03, 2026 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2025-12-29 Marijuana Rescheduling Restarts After Long Pause

December 28, 2025 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

  • Executive Action on Marijuana Scheduling and IRC § 280E

  • State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Programs

  • Estimated Tax Relief for Qualified Farmland Sales

  • IRC § 163(j) Interest Limitation Updates

  • Premium Tax Credit (PTC) Revisions

An audio version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below.

Articles on this week’s developments can be downloaded below:

2025-12-29 Current Federal Tax Developments

December 28, 2025 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2025-12-22 Initial Scholarship Granting Organization Guidance Issued

December 19, 2025 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

  • Section 25F Advance Elections

  • Unreported Income & The "Missing Witness"

  • Constitutionality of Penalties Post-Jarkesy

  • Section 280E & Offers-in-Compromise

  • Substantiating Bad Debt & NOLs

An audio only version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below:

Articles for this week’s update can be streamed or downloaded below:

2025-12-22 Current Federal Tax Developments

December 19, 2025 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2025-12-15 Postmark Date Risk Due to USPS Change

December 13, 2025 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at

  • USPS Changes to Postmark Date System

  • H.R. 1491: Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act

  • Capitalization Priorities: Temnorod v. Commissioner

  • Notice 2026-5: HSA Expansion Under OBBBA

  • Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and "Doing Business"

  • Substantiation Failures: Mirch v. Commissioner

An audio only update can be downloaded or streamed below:

Articles on this week’s updates can be downloaded as a PDF below.

2025-12-15 Current Federal Tax Developments

December 13, 2025 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2025-12-08 Initial Details Released on Trump Accounts

December 07, 2025 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

  • Notice 2025-68 – Implementation of Trump Accounts

  • Draft Form 4547 – Elections and Filing Mechanics

  • Notice 2025-70 – The OBBBA Scholarship Tax Credit

  • Alioto v. Commissioner – Corporate Distinctness

An audio of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below.

Articles for this week’s broadcast can be downloaded as a PDF below.

2025-12-08 Current Federal Tax Developments

December 07, 2025 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2025-12-01 IRS Gives First Discussion of Upcoming Credit for Donation to Tuition Organizations

November 29, 2025 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

  • Whistleblower Awards and Substantial Contribution

  • Corporate Stock Repurchase Excise Tax

  • Judicial Review of Willful FBAR Penalties

  • Revisiting the Profit Motive Standard

  • Judicial Precedent on Erroneous Refund Recovery

  • OBBBA Guidance on SFCs and Section 987 Elections

  • The OBBBA Scholarship Tax Credit

  • Conservation Easements and Gross Valuation Misstatements

An audio only version of this week’s broadcast can be streamed or downloaded below

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

2025-12-01 Current Federal Tax Developments

November 29, 2025 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2025-11-24 Tips and Overtime Form 1040 Reporting Reiief

November 23, 2025 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

  • Innocent Spouse Relief Determination Standards

  • Adjustments to Medicare Parts A, B, and D

  • Equitable Distribution vs. Alimony (Pre-TCJA)

  • Implementation of the Section 139L Interest Exclusion

  • OBBBA Deductions for Tips and Overtime Compensation for 2025 returns

An audio only version of this week’s broadcast can be downloaded or streamed below:

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

2025-11-24 Current Federal Tax Developments

November 23, 2025 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2025-11-17 Retirement Plan and IRA Inflation Numbers

November 15, 2025 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

  • Annual Adjustments to Retirement Plan Limitations

  • Ensuring Investment Trust Status for Digital Asset Staking Entities

  • Examining Penalties in Microcaptive Transactions

  • Ownership Requirements for Non-Business Theft Losses

  • Defining the Scope of I.R.C. § 172(b)(3) Carryback Waivers

You can stream or download this week’s audio version of the broadcast below.

A PDF with this week’s updates can be downloaded via the link below.

2025-11-17 Current Federal Tax Developments

November 15, 2025 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment

2025-11-10 Employer Guidance for 2025 Qualified Tips and Overtime

November 09, 2025 by Ed Zollars, CPA

This week we look at:

  • Conservation Easement Valuation and Highest and Best Use

  • Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP) Application

  • California Residency and Taxpayer Burden of Proof

  • OBBBA Information Reporting Transition Relief

  • SCOTUS Oral Argument on IEEPA Tariffs

  • Conservation Easement Timing and Penalties

  • Digital Asset Broker Reporting FAQ Guidance

An audio only version of this week’s broadcast can be downloaded or streamed below:

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

2025-11-10 Current Federal Tax Developments

November 09, 2025 /Ed Zollars, CPA
Comment
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