Reg Master Flashcards
To be a TRP requires? (3)
A TRP, generally speaking, is 1) a person who prepares for compensation, or who employs one or more persons to prepare for compensation, 2) a substantial portion of any return of tax 3) claims for refund of tax” under the IRC.
National Ethics issues are handled by
AICPA
What % is Substantial authority & what % is Reasonable…
Substantial authority = 40% & A reasonable basis is 20%.
Which courts is not a court of original jurisdiction?
United States Court of Appeals
Types of Audit reports from the IRS (3)
1)No change: an audit in which you have substantiated all of the items being reviewed and results in no changes.2)Agreed: an audit where the IRS proposed changes and you understand and agree with the changes.3)Disagreed: an audit where the IRS has proposed changes and you understand but disagree with the changes.
Tax preparers who disclose or convert confidential tax information face: (2)
Both civil and criminal penalties under the I.R.C.
Contingent Fees may be charged for (3)
1)For services rendered in connection with an IRS examination.2)Where a claim for refund is filed solely in connection with determination of statutory interest or penalties3) When the accountant is representing the client in judicial proceedings
Conflicts of interest and client representation,
A practitioner may not represent a client in-front of the IRS if doing so will result in a conflict of interest to the client or another client or result in an adverse material impact to another client. Except where permitted.
Conflicts of interest and client representation, when is it allowed, (3)
1) Required by Law2) Client gives consent in writing (hold evidence for 3 years)3) Reasonable belief that it can be done in a competent and diligent manner.
Disciplinary Actions that can be taken under Cirr 230
The government may censure, fine, suspend, or disbar tax advisors from practice before the IRS if they violate Circular 230’s standards of conduct.
Best Practices by a tax practitioner (5)
1) Communicating terms of the engagement, purpose, use, scope, and form of the advice2) Establishing the facts,are relevant, evaluating the reasonableness of assumptions or representations, relating the applicable law to the relevant facts, and arriving at a conclusion3)Advising the client regarding the import of the conclusions whether taxpayers may avoid accuracy-related penalties if they rely on the advice;4)Acting fairly and with integrity5)Exercising any firm supervisory powers to ensure that firm employees act in accordance with best practices
Representing a client in-front of the IRS is generally limited to (3)
CPAs, attorneys, and enrolled agents.
Representing a client in-front of the IRS includes
Preparing and filing documents, communicating with the IRS, Representing a client at an IRS office for during an examination
Endorsing and cashing a clients check
Not allowed under IRS may face a fine or penalty
Your are not a TRP if (3)
1) employer ask you to file taxes2) do mechanical task associated with filing taxes3) Prepare as part of a VITA or LITA program
Charitable Contributions Benchmarks
greater than $250 must have receipt. Greater than $5k must be independently appraised.
Penalties for Late filingFraudPaying Late
Late Filing 5% per month up to 25%Fraud 15% per month up to 75%Late payment of Taxes 0.5% per month up to 25%
Personal substantial Understatement ranges & fees
a “substantial understatement” is one that exceeds the greater of: 10% of the tax owed, or $5k. Fee is understatement amount and 20% fee in addition of amounts owed
Corp substantial Understatement ranges & fees
a “substantial understatement” is one that exceeds the lesser of: 10% of the tax (or, if greater, $10,000), or $10 million. Fee is understatement amount and 20% fee in addition of amounts owed
Sources of Primary authority (3)
1) Legislative, Congress2) Administrative, IRS, President, Secretary of treasury3) Judicial, Courts
Legislative Authority (3-4)
1)The Constitution2)Internal Revenue Code Statutes (cited as IRC §351)3)Committee Reports of the House Ways and Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee, and the Joint Conference Committee4)Treaties
Administrative sources for tax info (5)
1)Treasury regulations2) Revenue Rulings3) Private Letter rulings4)Revenue Procedures5)Technical Advice
Proposed regulation
Do not hold any weight in legal terms, but indicates the IRS view on the situation
IRS publications Hierarchy with authoritative
IRS publications is on the secondary level
Discriminate Function System (DIF)
Is used to help IRS determine which returns to evaluate
Agent reports and appeals process
If a taxpayer is arguing in the appeals court the IRS cannot raise any other issue than those that are present on the original report
30 & 90 letter responses
Taxpayer does not have to respond to a 30 day letter, they however have to respond to a withing 90 days if they wish to appeal a ruling.
Who can represent a taxpayer in-front of the IRS
Lawyer, CPA, enrolled agent
Requirements for enrolled agent? (..)
1) Pass test issued by the IRS,
Individual Tax payment Dates
April Jun Sep Jan 15
How can an individual avoid late payment fees
90% of current year or 100% of prior year if income exceeds 150k then 110 of prior year can be used
How can a company avoid late payment fee
100% of prior or current period payment due
Tax preparerer level of confidence (4)
1) not Frivalous2) reasonable basis ; at least 1 primary source3) Sustaibble autority4) More likely than not; better than 50% of being sustained
Preparerer monitory penalties (2 levels)
1)$1k of 50% of income from return filed greater of either 2) if positon was not reasonable, $5k or 75% of fees earned greater of eiher
Liability to client common law theories (3)
1) Breach of contract2) Negligence3) Fraud
Breach of contract elements
1) Statue of limitations 4 0r 62) Contract Existed3) Plaintiff complied with their requirements4) Damages were caused by the breach5) Defendant did not uphold their end of the agreement(breach does not have to be intentional, burden of proof is greater than 50%)
Negligence Elements
1) Defendant did not act with due care2) D breached standard care,3) Plaintiff suffers damages4) Proximate effects, it was reasonable foreseen the effect were possible
Fraud Elements
1) Defendant false made representations2)Misrepresentation or omission was material3)D knew they were acting recklessly4)D intended client to use misrepresented or omitted information
Burden of Proof; Breach of contract; Negligence; Fraud
1)2)3) For fraud the burden of proof is heavily weighted, (clear and convincing evidence is needed)
Third Party Right To Sue Contract Breach; Negligence; Fraud
Breach: Allowed to donor or CreditorNegligence; allowed for party who can be deemed to be a likely user of the informationFraud:
Who can take action for Confidentiality breach and hoq (3 on )
1) DOJ; Bring criminal charges2) IRS; Can sue in civil court3) CPA Lic; Maybe taken away from accountant
What is Scienter:
involves whether or not a person or company has a “guilty mind.” or the intent to deceive
What is Privity:
Has to be proven in order for a third party to sue a CPA, meaning the CPA had knowledge that the information would be used by the party.
The “Ultramares” rule and negligence
The Ultramares rule requires privity in order for a third party to sue
Cirr 230 speaks about…?
TRP It provides regulations regarding practice before the Internal Revenue Service.
TRP should not sign a return that lacks….
A reasonable basis
Which Senate committee considers new tax legislation
Senate Finance Committee
constructive fraud requires (4)
constructive fraud requires: (1) misrepresentation of a material fact, (2) reckless disregard for the truth, (3) reasonable reliance by the injured party(4) injury. Therefore, if reckless disregard is present, it would support a finding of constructive fraud on the part of a CPA.
In order for a client to prove negligencey
The elements needed by a plaintiff to prove negligence against a defendant (including a CPA) are proof of the standard of due care, breach of that standard of due care, injury, and cause including both cause-in-fact and proximate cause.
Reason to follow AICPA rules even tho they cannot revoke Lic
Most state rules mirror AICPA rules
Breach of contract and negligence link
Most contract carry an under tone for breach of contract due to negligence… If negligence is present, it can be implied that the full duties or due care of the contract was not carried out.
Legally separated and filing status
Cannot file joint return