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Chapter 2

Tax Compliance, the IRS, and Tax Authorities

2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

Learning Objectives
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Identify the filing requirements for income tax returns and the statute of limitations for assessment Outline the IRS audit process, how returns are selected, the different types of audits, and what happens after the audit Evaluate the relative weights of the various tax law sources Describe the legislative process as it pertains to taxation
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Learning Objectives (Cont.)


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Perform the basic steps in tax research and evaluate various tax law sources when faced with ambiguous statutes Describe tax professional responsibilities in providing tax advice Identify taxpayer and tax professional penalties

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Taxpayer Filing Requirements

Corporations: all must file regardless of taxable income Estates and Trusts: required to file if gross income exceeds $600 Individuals: filing is determined by taxpayers filing status, age, and gross income

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Tax Return Due Date

Individuals: 15th day of 4th month following end of tax year. Corporations: 15th day of the 3rd month following end of tax year. Due dates on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday are extended to next business day Individuals and corporations are allowed to apply for an automatic 6 month extensions
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Statute of Limitations

The time in which the taxpayer can file an amended return or the IRS can assess a tax deficiency.

Generally ends 3 years from the later of (1) the date the tax return was actually filed, or (2) the tax returns original due date.

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IRS Audit Selection

In general a taxpayers return is selected for audit because the IRS believes the tax return has a high probability of being incorrect.

IRS uses computer programs to identify tax returns which might have an understated liability.

Discriminant Function (DIF) system Document perfection Information matching programs

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Types of Audits

Correspondence examinations Office examinations Field examinations

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Trial Level Courts

Tax Court U.S. District Court U.S. Court of Federal Claims

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Tax Law Sources

Primary Authorities: Official sources of tax law


Statutory sources Judicial sources Administrative sources

Secondary Authorities: Unofficial tax authorities


Tax services Tax articles


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Statutory Authorities

U.S. Constitution Tax Treaties Internal Revenue Code

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Judicial Sources: The Courts


Supreme Court Court of Appeals Trial Level Courts

US District Court US Court of Federal Claims US Tax Court

stare decisis & Golsen rule

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Administrative Sources: The US Treasury

Regulations 3 different forms & 3 different purposes Revenue Rulings Revenue Procedures

Letter Rulings

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Tax Research

5 Steps Types of tax services Questions of fact vs. questions of law Conflicting authority Checking status of authority Tax memo format

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Tax Professional Responsibilities

Tax professionals are subject to various statutes, rules and codes of conduct:

AICPA Code of Professional Conduct AICPA Statement on Standards for Tax Services IRS Circular 230 State Board of Accountancy Statutes

Failure to comply with statutes can result in being admonished, suspended, or barred from practicing

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Taxpayer and Tax Practitioner Penalties

Civil Penalties Criminal Penalties Substantial Authority vs. Reasonable Basis

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