Tax Topics

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 […]

Tax audits are not uncommon. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) conducted one million audits in 2017 alone. The agency generally conducts these tax audits either through mailings or with an agent showing up at your home or place of business. The agency conducted the vast majority of the one million audits from 2017, approximately 75%, […]

An IRS news release, issued January 22, 2020, warned taxpayers not to fall victim to “ghost” tax return preparers this tax filing season.[1] The IRS reminded taxpayers that a paid tax return preparer is required by law to have a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The IRS clarified that a paid preparer must include […]

On January 16, 2020, the Maryland Governor’s Office issued a news release reporting that Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced the proposed Retirement Tax Reduction Act of 2020 (Act).[1]The Act would provide significant tax relief for Maryland retirees in order to make it more affordable for them to remain in Maryland. The news release quotes Governor […]

When a taxpayer fails to file a tax return, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the authority under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §6020 to prepare a “substitute for return” (SFR) on the taxpayer’s behalf. Generally, SFRs are detrimental to the taxpayer’s overall tax situation. SFRs do not start the clock running for the three-year period […]

On January 3, 2020 the Tax Court issued an order refusing to remove an Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §6330(e)(1) suspension of levy, finding that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) failed to establish good cause for such removal.[1]In this case, the taxpayer, as an attorney admitted to practice in Tax Court, was able to competently deflect […]

On January 9, 2020, honoring National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Maryland Governor Hogan announced that he is introducing legislation to provide tax relief for police, firefighters, and first responders. He also urged lawmakers to pass his crime plan consisting of a series of initiatives and expanded legislation to address violent crime.[1] Specifically, Governor Hogan’s announcement […]

Filing season in Virginia will begin January 21, 2020, and taxpayers should note a significant change regarding the Virginia standard deduction before they file their 2019 returns. On December 18, 2019, the Virginia Department of Taxation announced that “due to changes in federal tax laws,” the Virginia standard deduction is increased to $4,500 for taxpayers […]

A taxpayer is generally not required to recognize a gain or loss as a result of a like-kind exchange under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §1031. Significantly, IRC §1031 was amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, such that nonrecognition of gain or loss is only applicable to real property exchanges completed after […]