Washington D.C. Tax Law Blog

The use of offshore accounts is a point of contention in the media these days. The release of the Paradise Papers and Panama Papers arguably aimed to bring down the reputation of those who used these accounts, but the information may have led to an unforeseen result. Instead of just leading to negative press, the […]

Recent legislation significantly impacts retirement savings. One notable change involves required minimum distributions (RMDs). This post discusses the change, how it impacts retirement savings, and how taxpayers can minimize potential penalties. What are RMDs? Retirement funds may not be kept in an account indefinitely. The RMD is the minimum amount a taxpayer is required to […]

Two raids in one day. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) decided to raid both a business owners’ place of business as well as his private residence on the same day. These were not tax agents clad in black suits carrying briefcases. These were federal agents in full body armor carrying assault rifles gathering boxes of […]

In response to the financial crisis caused by COVID-19, the newly enacted CARES Act has created a new payroll-related form of relief for employers. Coined The Employee Retention Credit, this relief measure allows eligible employers to obtain a refundable credit against the employer-only portion of social security taxes (or Railroad Retirement Tax Act taxes). Question […]

Almost every year April 15 is known as the date when federal and state income tax filings are due. This rule is generally true, except for during 2020. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that it is extending the deadline to both file and pay federal income taxes to July 15, 2020. The move […]

President Donald Trump recently declared a national emergency as a result of the new coronavirus. State officials throughout the country have declared states of emergency and local counties and cities are doing the same. These actions have triggered an array of federal, state and local assistance programs, but have they impacted taxes? The impact of […]

On March 17, 2020, as part of a relief effort in response to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the government’s unprecedented move to delay the April 15thtax-payment deadline for certain individuals and businesses-penalty and interest free. Although full details of the maneuver have not been released yet, it […]

On March 11, 2020, in an effort to assist businesses affected by COVID-19’s economic impact, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot announced the June 1stextension of business-related tax filing deadlines. Specifically, the announcement provided that: [t]he June 1stextension applies to certain business returns with due dates during the months of March, April and May 2020 for businesses […]

Tax season is upon us. The tax filing deadline is just over four weeks away and many taxpayers are gathering their tax forms and starting to fill out their returns. Whether looking at a big refund or a tax bill, taxpayers can help to better ensure a smooth process by avoiding these common errors: Mistakes […]

Every year during tax season, many tax professionals and taxpayers eagerly await the release of IRS Wage and Income Transcripts in order to assist in return preparation. Wage and Income Transcripts provide valuable data, which the IRS compiles from information returns it receives, such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 and Form 5498, IRA Contribution Information. […]