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NEWSLETTERS
Where’s My Refund?
IRS seeks upgrade to dreaded online tool, but don’t hold your breath
In the midst of a particularly horrific tax season, with the beleaguered Internal Revenue Service (IRS) swamped by backlogged returns and citizens waiting anxiously for missing refunds to appear, many taxpayers seeking clarity have been referred to the dreaded online “Where’s My Refund” tracker. In other words, the place where inquiries go to die.
The “Where’s My Refund” tool, which lives on the IRS website, has been of scant help to many visitors, informing taxpayers with late refunds only that their returns are “pending.” It does not offer any estimate of when refunds can be expected, nor does it advise if additional supporting documents are needed. The lack of such basic services was flagged by the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)—the arm of the IRS that ensures fair treatment of citizen taxpayers—which recommended that the IRS supply these features as quickly as possible.
And according to a TAS report, the IRS seems to have taken the first steps. It has submitted several “Unified Work Requests” to its engineers, requesting programming upgrades to the tool that would include more specific reasons for why a refund has been delayed, or a notice if it’s still reviewing whether supporting documents are needed. It also says it’s exploring a system by which taxpayers can digitally transmit documents to the IRS, such as uploading through the IRS.gov website. That could include a permanent extension of the interim rules, allowing people to submit identity verification files over eFax during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But it’s not a done deal by any means: The IRS cautions that such programming upgrades are “subject to funding limitations and competing priorities,” meaning all this could very well amount to nothing if cash is thin or other issues are deemed more important. It’s also worth noting that another request—to supply relevant contact telephone numbers through the “Where’s My Refund” tool—has already been denied “due to funding limitations.” So if you’re still waiting for your 2020 refund, maybe don’t hold your breath.
Further along in the report, the IRS also notes it would not be able to expedite legitimate refunds by modernizing its “obsolete” systems—also “due to funding limitations”—nor would it be sharing data about how long it detains legitimate refunds that are tagged by fraud filters.
IRS Reminds Taxpayers to FIle Tax Returns (FS-2023-2) The IRS has reminded taxpayers of their tax responsibilities, including if they’re required to file a tax return. Generally, most U.S. citizens and permanent residents who work in the United St...
CT - April 18 filing deadline reminder issued The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services has issued a press release reminding taxpayers that the deadline for filing 2022 personal income tax returns is April 18, 2023. Press Release, Connecticu...
GA - Personal income tax refund announced Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced that he signed into law a bill granting a personal income tax refund, ranging from $250 for single filers to $500 for joint filers, for eligible taxpayers. The pre...
ME - Personal exemption instructions clarifiedo other jurisdictions Maine Revenue Services clarified the amount of personal exemptions certain taxpayers should take on their Maine personal income tax returns. This is after an error was discovered in the 2022 Form 1040...
MA - Interest rates unchanged for second quarter of 2023 The interest rates on the underpayment and overpayment of Massachusetts taxes are unchanged for the period April 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023.The rate for overpayments is 6%.The rate for underpaymen...
The agency's overall backlog is growing and its processing time is slowing.
While the Internal Revenue Service has made significant progress in slashing the backlog of tax returns from 2021, it is now processing the filings at a slower clip and taxpayers are facing unprecedented months of delays before receiving their refunds.
IRS boasted this week that it has made major strides to dig out from the mountain of unprocessed cases, but National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins said in a new report issued Wednesday things have not actually improved. Despite all of the agency’s efforts, the backlog has actually grown since the same period last year and IRS remains unlikely to meet its year-end goals.
“Taxpayers are still experiencing unprecedented delays in receiving their refunds,” Collins wrote. “Taxpayers continue to face unprecedented challenges in reaching the IRS by phone. And the IRS’s unprecedented delays in processing correspondence are contributing to additional refund delays and taxpayer frustrations.”
Collins noted that IRS was processing 242,000 individual paper income tax returns per week in April, but that had declined by 15% in May. The agency would have to process 500,000 forms per week to eliminate the backlog this year. She added it was “deeply concerning” that IRS ended May with a bigger backlog of paper tax returns than it had one year prior.
“The math is daunting,” Collins said. She added she was pleased IRS leadership committed to reducing the backlog to a “healthy” level by the end of the year, but said it “will be a difficult commitment to achieve.” Additionally, she stressed that IRS is now taking six months to distribute refunds to paper-filing taxpayers and implored IRS management to get that down to the normal four-to-six week period before it considers any backlog “healthy.”
Despite the ongoing problems, IRS announced it would complete the processing of individual tax returns without issues from 2021 this week. It will complete business returns filed in 2021 shortly thereafter. As of April, there were still 6 million returns outstanding. The agency has taken several steps to address the backlog, including mandating overtime for 6,000 employees and allowing for voluntary overtime for an additional 10,000 workers, deploying surge teams, bringing on contractors and going on a hiring spree aided by a hastened onboarding process authorized by Congress.
"IRS employees have been working tirelessly to process these tax returns as quickly as possible and help people who are waiting on refunds or resolution of an account issue," IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said. "Completing the individual returns filed last year with no errors is a major milestone, but there is still work to do.”
The taxpayer advocate did note that things have mostly gone smoothly for e-filers, or about 85% of taxpayers. By late May, IRS had received 145 million returns and processed refunds for 66% of them. Overall, however, the backlog has actually grown since the end of May 2021. It is now at 21.3 million, compared to 20 million last year. IRS noted much of this year’s backlog consists of original returns, which can be processed more quickly than amended returns.
Earlier this year, Rettig announced a plan to hire 10,000 new employees by the end of 2023. He told Congress in April the agency was halfway to its goal for 2022. Collins, however, noted IRS had hoped to hire around 5,500 processing employees this year and as of May was more than 3,400 workers short of that goal. It has found more success in hiring for accounts management—workers who handle taxpayer interactions, including by answering calls—hiring 99% of its goal of 5,000 employees.
Still, the agency has struggled immensely to keep pace with demand for service. The number of calls IRS received dropped by more than half this year, but it only grew its answer rate from 9% in 2021 to 10% in 2022. Individuals waited on hold for an average of 29 minutes, up from 20 minutes last year. The agency failed to improve its answer rate as it shifted employees in Accounts Management away from the phones and toward processing correspondence.
“We remain focused on doing everything possible to expedite processing of these tax returns, and we continue to add more people to this effort as our hiring efforts continue this summer," Rettig said.
Collins said IRS should have acted more quickly to reassign employees to processing functions, which would have reduced the existing backlog and allowed the agency to address this year’s returns more quickly. She also faulted IRS for dragging its feet in installing new technology to read paper returns more quickly.
The taxpayer advocate said she would push IRS management over the next year to automate paper returns processing, reduce barriers to e-filing, improve hiring and training and improve telephone service. Congress provided IRS with a funding boost of $675 million as part of the fiscal 2022 omnibus spending bill, a 6% increase and the largest bump since 2001. President Biden requested an additional 18% bump for fiscal 2023, and has sought an $80 billion surge over 10 years as part of his larger social and climate spending package.
The IRS has provided details clarifying the federal tax status involving special payments made by 21 states in 2022. Taxpayers in many states will not need to report these payments on their 2022 tax returns.
The IRS has provided details clarifying the federal tax status involving special payments made by 21 states in 2022. Taxpayers in many states will not need to report these payments on their 2022 tax returns.
General welfare and disaster relief payments
If apaymentismadefor the promotion of the general welfare or as a disaster reliefpayment, for example related to the COVID 19 pandemic, it may be excludable from income forfederaltaxpurposes under the General Welfare Doctrine or as a Qualified Disaster ReliefPayment.Paymentsfrom the followingstatesfall in this category and theIRSwill not challenge the treatment of thesepaymentsas excludable forfederalincometaxpurposes in2022:
California,
Colorado,
Connecticut,
Delaware,
Florida,
Hawaii,
Idaho,
Illinois,
Indiana,
Maine,
New Jersey,
New Mexico,
New York,
Oregon,
Pennsylvania, and
Rhode Island.
Alaska is in this group only for the supplemental Energy ReliefPaymentreceived in addition to the annual Permanent Fund Dividend. Illinois and New York issued multiplepaymentsand in each case one of thepaymentswas a refund oftaxesto which the above treatment applies, and one of thepaymentsis in the category of disaster reliefpayment. A list ofpaymentsto which the above treatment applies is available on theIRSwebsite.
Refund of statetaxespaid
If thepaymentis a refund ofstatetaxespaidand recipients either claimed the standard deduction or itemized their deductions but did not receive ataxbenefit (for example, because the $10,000taxdeduction limit applied) thepaymentis not included in income forfederaltaxpurposes.Paymentsfrom the followingstatesin2022fall in this category and will be excluded from income forfederaltaxpurposes unless the recipient received ataxbenefit in the year thetaxeswere deducted.
Georgia,
Massachusetts,
South Carolina, and
Virginia
Other Payments
Otherpaymentsthat may have beenmadebystatesare generally includable in income forfederalincometaxpurposes. This includes the annualpaymentof Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend and anypaymentsfromstatesprovided as compensation to workers.
The IRS intends to change how it defines vans, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), pickup trucks and “other vehicles” for purposes of the CodeSec. 30Dnewclean vehicle credit. These changes are reflected in updated IRS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the new, previously owned and commercial clean vehicle credits.
TheIRSintends tochangehow it defines vans, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), pickup trucks and “other vehicles” for purposes of theCodeSec. 30Dnewclean vehicle credit. Thesechangesare reflected in updatedIRSFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for thenew, previously owned and commercialclean vehicle credits.
Clean Vehicle Classification Changes
For a vehicle to qualify for thenewclean vehicle credit, its manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) cannot exceed:
$80,000 for a van, SUV or pickup truck; or
$55,000 for any other vehicle.
In December, theIRSannounced that proposed regulations woulddefinethese vehicle types by reference to the generaldefinitionsprovided in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations in 40 CFR 600.002 (Notice2023-1).
However, theIRShas now determined that these vehicles should bedefinedby reference to the fuel economy labeling rules in 40 CFR 600.315-08. Thischangemeans that some vehicles that were formerly classified as “other vehicles” subject to the $55,000 price cap are now classified as SUVs subject to the $80,000 price cap.
Until theIRSreleases proposed regulations for thenewclean vehicle credit, taxpayers may rely on thedefinitionsprovided inNotice2023-1, as modified by today’s guidance. These modifieddefinitionsare reflected in theClean Vehicle Qualified Manufacturer Requirementspage on theIRSwebsite, which lists makes and models that may be eligible for theclean vehicle credits.
Expected Definitions of Vans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks and Other Vehicles
The EPA fuel economy standards establish a large category of nonpassenger vehicles called “light trucks.” Within this category, vehicles aredefinedlargely by their gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR) as follows:
Vans, including minivans
Pickup trucks, including small pickups with a GVWR below 6,000 pounds, and standard pickups with a GVWR between 6,000 and 8,500 pounds
SUVs, including small SUVs with a GVWR below 6.000 pounds, and standard SUVs with a GVWR between 6,000 and 10,000 pounds
Other vehicles (passenger automobiles) that, based on seating capacity of interior volume, are classified as two-seaters; mini-compact, subcompact, compact, midsize, or large cars; and small, midsize, or large station wagons.
However, the EPA may determine that a particular vehicle is more appropriately placed in a different category. In particular, the EPA may determine that automobiles with GVWR of up to 8,500 pounds and medium-duty passenger vehicles that possess special features are more appropriately classified as “special purpose vehicles.” These special features may include advanced technologies, such as battery electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicles equipped with hydrogen internal combustion engines.
Describe the information a seller must provide to the taxpayer and theIRS;
Clarify that the MSRP caps apply to a vehicle placed in service (delivered to the taxpayer) in 2023, even if the taxpayer purchased it in 2022; and
Explain what constitutes a lease.
Effect on Other Documents
Notice2023-1is modified. Taxpayers may rely on thedefinitionsprovided inNotice2023-1, as modified byNotice2023-16, until theIRSreleases proposed regulations for thenewclean vehicle credit.
The IRS established the program to allocate environmental justice solar and wind capacity limitation (Capacity Limitation) to qualified solar and wind facilities eligible for the Low-IncomeCommunitiesBonusCreditProgram component of the energy investment credit.
TheIRSestablished theprogramto allocate environmental justice solar and wind capacity limitation (Capacity Limitation) to qualified solar and wind facilities eligible for theLow-IncomeCommunitiesBonusCreditProgramcomponent of theenergy investment credit. TheIRSalso provided:
initial guidance regarding the overallprogramdesign ,
the application process, and
additional criteria that will be considered in making the allocations.
After the 2023 allocation process begins, the Treasury Department andIRSwill monitor and assess whether to implement any modifications to theLow-IncomeCommunitiesBonusCreditProgramfor calendar year 2024 allocations of Capacity Limitation.
Facility Categories, Capacity Limits, and Application Dates
Theprogramestablishesfour facilities categories and the capacity limitation for each:
(1)
1. Facilities located inlow-incomecommunitieswill have a capacity limitation of 700 megawatts
(2)
2. Facilities located on Indian land will have a capacity limitation of 200 megawatts
(3)
3. Facilities that are part of a qualifiedlow-incomeresidential building project have a capacity limitation of 200 megawatts
(4)
4. Facilities that are part of a qualifiedlow-incomeeconomic benefit project have a capacity limitation of 700 megawatts
TheIRSanticipates applications will be accepted for Category 3 and Category 4 facilities in the third quarter of 2023. Applications for Category 1 and Category 2 facilities will be accepted thereafter. TheIRSwill issue additional guidance regarding the application process and facility eligibility.
Theprogramwill also incorporate additional criteria in determining how to allocate the Capacity Limitation reserved for each facility category among eligible applicants. These may include a focus on facilities that are owned or developed bycommunity-based organizations and mission-driven entities, have an impact on encouraging new market participants, provide substantial benefits tolow-incomecommunitiesand individuals marginalized from economic opportunities, and have a higher degree of commercial readiness.
Finally, only the owner of a facility may apply for an allocation of Capacity Limitation. Facilities placed in service prior to being awarded an allocation of Capacity Limitation are not eligible to receive an allocation. The Department of Energy (DOE) will provide administration services for theLow-IncomeCommunitiesBonusCreditProgram. An allocation of an amount of capacity limitation is not a determination that the facility will qualify for theenergy investment creditor the increase in thecreditunder theLow-IncomeCommunitiesBonusCreditProgram.
The IRS announced a program to allocate $10 billion of credits for qualified investments in eligible qualifying advanced energy projects (the Code Sec. 48C(e) program). At least $4 billion of these credits may be allocated only to projects located in certain energy communities.
The IRS announced aprogramto allocate $10 billion of credits for qualified investments in eligible qualifyingadvanced energy projects(the Code Sec. 48C(e)program). At least $4 billion of these credits may be allocated only to projects located in certain energy communities.
The guidance announcing theprogramalso:
defines key terms, including qualifyingadvanced energy project, specified advanced energy property, eligible property, the placed in service date, industrial facility, manufacturing facilities, and recycling facility;
describes the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, along with remediation options; and
sets forth theprogramtimeline and the steps the taxpayer must follow.
Application and Certification Process
For Round 1 of the Section 48C(e)program, the application period begins on May 31, 2023. The IRS expects to allocate $4 billion in credit in this round, including $1.6 billion to projects in energy communities.
The taxpayer must submit a concept paper detailing the project by July 31, 2023. The taxpayer must also certify under penalties of perjury that it did not claim a credit under several other Code Sections for the same investment.
Within two years after the IRS accepts an allocation application, the taxpayer must submit evidence to the DOE to establish that it has met all requirements necessary to commence construction of the project. DOE then notifies the IRS, and the IRS certifies the project.
Taxpayers generally submit their papers through the Department of Energy (DOE) eXHANGE portal athttps://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/. The DOE must recommend and rank the project to the IRS, and have a reasonable expectation of its commercial viability.
Energy Communities and Progress Expenditures
The guidance also provides additional procedures for energy communities and the credit for progress expenditures.
For purposes of the minimum $4 billion allocation for projects in energy communities, the DOE will determine which projects are in energy community census tracts. Additional guidance is expected to provide a mapping tool that applicants for allocations may use to determine if their projects are in energy communities.
Finally, the guidance explains how taxpayers may elect to claim the credit for progress expenditures paid or incurred during the tax year for construction of a qualifyingadvanced energy project. The taxpayer cannot make the election before receiving its certification letter.
The IRS has released newrules and conditions for implementing the real estatedeveloperalternativecost method. This is an optional safe harbor method of accounting for real estatedevelopers to determine when common improvement costs may be included in the basis of individual units of real property in a real property development project held for sale to determine the gain or loss from sales of those units.
The IRS has releasednewrulesandconditionsfor implementing thereal estatedeveloperalternativecost method. This is an optional safe harbor method of accounting forreal estatedevelopersto determine when common improvement costs may be included in the basis of individual units ofreal propertyin areal propertydevelopment project held for sale to determine the gain or loss from sales of those units.
Background
UnderCode Sec. 461,developerscannot add common improvement costs to the basis of benefitted units until the costs are incurred under theCode Sec. 461(h)economic performance requirements. Thus, common improvement costs that have not been incurred underCode Sec. 461(h)when the units are sold cannot be included in the units' basis in determining the gain or loss resulting from the sales.Rev. Proc. 92-29, provided procedures under which the IRS would consent todevelopersincluding the estimated cost of common improvements in the basis of units sold without meeting the economic performance requirements ofCode Sec. 461(h). In order to use thealternativecost method, the taxpayer had to meet certainconditions, provide an estimated completion date, and file an annual statement.
Rev. Proc. 2023-9 Alterative Cost Method
In releasingRev. Proc.2023-9, the IRS and Treasury stated that they recognized certain aspects ofRev. Proc. 92-29are outdated, place additional administrative burdens ondevelopersand the IRS, and that application of the method to contracts accounted for under the long-term contract method ofCode Sec. 460may be unclear.
Thealternativecost methodmust be applied to all projects in a trade or business that meet the definition of a qualifying project. However, thealternativecost limitation of thisrevenue procedureis calculated on a project-by-project basis. Thus, common improvement costs incurred for one qualifying project may not be included in thealternativecost methodcalculations of a separate qualifying project.
Therevenue procedureprovides definitions including definitions of"qualifying project,""reasonable method,"and"CCM contract"(related to the completed contract method). It providesrulesfor application of thealternativecost methodfordevelopersusing the accrual method of accounting and the completed contract method of accounting,rulesfor allocating estimated common improvement costs, and a method for determining thealternativecosts limitation. Therevenue procedurealso provides examples of how itsrulesare applied.
Accounting Method Change Required
UnderRev. Proc.2023-9, thealternativecost methodis a method of accounting. A change to thisalternativecost methodis a change in method of accounting to whichCode Secs. 446(e)and481apply. An eligible taxpayer that wants to change to theRev. Proc.2023-9alternativecost methodor that wants to change from theRev. Proc. 92-29alternativecost method, must use the automatic change procedures inRev. Proc. 2015-13or its successor. In certain cases, taxpayers may use short Form 3115 in lieu of the standard Form 3115 to make the change.
Effective Date
Thisrevenue procedureis effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022.
The IRS announced thattaxpayerselectronicallyfilingtheirForm 1040-X, Amended U.S Individual Income Tax Return, will for the first time be able to selectdirectdepositfor any resulting refund. Previously,taxpayershad to wait for a paper check for any refund, a step that added time onto theamended returnprocess. Following IRS system updates,taxpayersfilingamended returnscan now enjoy the same speed and security ofdirectdepositas thosefilingan original Form 1040 tax return.Taxpayersfilingan original tax return using tax preparation software can file an electronicForm 1040-Xif the software manufacturer offers that service. This is the latest step the IRS is taking to improve service this taxfilingseason.
Further, as part of funding for the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS has hired over 5,000 new telephone assistors and is adding staff to IRSTaxpayerAssistance Centers (TACs). The IRS also plans special service hours at dozens of TACs across the country on four Saturdays between February and May. No matter how ataxpayerfiles theamended return, they can still use the"Where's MyAmended Return?"online tool to check the status.Taxpayersstill have the option to submit a paper version ofForm 1040-Xand receive a paper check.Directdepositis not available onamended returnssubmitted on paper. Current processing time is more than 20 weeks for both paper andelectronicallyfiledamended returns.
"This is a big win fortaxpayersand another achievement as we transform the IRS to improvetaxpayerexperiences,"said IRS Acting Commissioner Doug O’Donnell."This important update will cut refund time and reduce inconvenience for people who fileamended returns. We always encouragedirectdepositwhenever possible. Getting tax refunds intotaxpayers’ hands quickly without worry of a lost or stolen paper check just makes sense."
The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework released a package of technical and administrative guidance that achieves clarity on the globalminimum tax on multinational corporations known as PillarTwo. Further, it provides critical protections for important tax incentives, including green tax credit incentives established in the Inflation Reduction Act.
The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework released a package of technical and administrativeguidancethat achieves clarity on theglobalminimum taxon multinational corporations known asPillarTwo. Further, it provides critical protections for important tax incentives, including green tax credit incentives established in the Inflation Reduction Act.PillarTwoprovides for aglobalminimum taxon the earnings of large multinational businesses, leveling the playing field for U.S. businesses and ending the race to the bottom in corporate income tax rates. This package follows the release of the Model Rules in December 2021, Commentary in March 2022 and rules for a transitional safe harbor in December 2022. Theguidancewill be incorporated into a revised version of the Commentary that will replace the prior version.
Additionally, the package includesguidanceon overtwodozen topics, addressing those issues that Inclusive Framework members identified are most pressing. This includes topics relating to the scope of companies that will be subject to theGlobalAnti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules and transition rules that will apply in the initial years that theglobalminimum taxapplies. Additionally, it includesguidanceon Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Taxes (QDMTTs) that countries may choose to adopt.
"The continued progress in implementing theglobalminimum taxrepresents another step in leveling the playing field for U.S. businesses, while also protecting U.S. workers and middle-class families by ending the race to the bottom in corporate tax rates,"said Assistant Secretary of theTreasuryfor Tax Policy Lily Batchelder."Wewelcomethis agreedguidanceon key technical questions, which will deliver certainty for green energy tax incentives, support coordinated outcomes and provide additional clarity that stakeholders have asked for."