IRS launches Instagram account to help taxpayers: Agency adds social media platform to reach more taxpayers, share timely information on filing season, tax law changes, tax scams IR-2018-237, November 30, 2018 — As part of a larger mission of helping all taxpayers understand and meet their tax responsibilities, the IRS announced today its debut on Instagram, adding this platform to its social media portfolio. Proposed hardship withdrawal regulations include relief for disaster victims: Retirement plans can now make loans, hardship distributions to victims of Hurricanes Michael and Florence IR-2018-236, November 29, 2018 — The IRS recently announced that 401(k) plans and similar employer-sponsored retirement plans can make loans and hardship distributions to victims of Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Florence and to members of their families. IRS issues proposed regulations on foreign tax credits IR-2018-235, November 28, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations today on foreign tax credits for businesses and individuals. Get Ready for Taxes: Many options available for preparing a 2018 tax return IR-2018-234, November 28, 2018 — The IRS is advising taxpayers that now is a good time to decide how to prepare and file their 2018 tax return. IRS issues proposed regulations on new business interest expense deduction limit IR-2018-233, November 26, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations today for a provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which limits the business interest expense deduction for certain taxpayers. Get Ready for Taxes: Safekeeping tax records helps for future filing, amended returns, audits IR-2018-232, November 26, 2018 — With the tax filing season quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service wants taxpayers to understand how long to keep tax returns and other documents. IRS reminds employers, business owners of Jan. 31 filing deadline for wage statements, independent contractor forms IR-2018-231, November 21, 2018 — The IRS today reminded employers and other businesses that Jan. 31 remains the filing deadline for wage statements and independent contractor forms. Get Ready for Taxes: Tax reform changes likely to reduce number of taxpayers who itemize IR-2018-230, November 21, 2018 — The IRS today advised taxpayers that the doubling of the standard deduction due to tax law changes is likely to reduce the number of taxpayers who normally itemize. Treasury, IRS: Making large gifts now won’t harm estates after 2025 IR-2018-229, November 20, 2018 — Today the IRS announced that individuals taking advantage of the increased gift and estate tax exclusion amounts in effect from 2018 to 2025 will not be adversely impacted after 2025 when the exclusion amount is scheduled to drop to pre-2018 levels. Security Summit plans National Tax Security Awareness Week, Dec. 3-7; New Twitter handle launched, ‘Dark Web’ webinar planned IR-2018-228, November 20, 2018 – With the approach of the holidays and the upcoming tax season, the Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry will sponsor a nationwide campaign in December urging people to better protect their sensitive tax and financial data. Like-kind exchanges now limited to real property IR-2018-227, November 19, 2018 - Get information on tax law changes to the like-kind exchange tax treatment. Learn what qualifies as real property. IRS warns of “Tax Transcript” email scam; dangers to business networks IR-2018-226, November 19, 2018 — The IRS and Security Summit partners today warned the public of a surge of fraudulent emails impersonating the IRS and using tax transcripts as bait to entice users to open documents containing malware. Get Ready for Taxes: Get 2018 tax documents ready for upcoming filing season IR-2018-225, November 19, 2018 — The IRS reminds taxpayers to keep a copy of their past tax returns and supporting documents for at least three years. IRS: Plan now to use Health Flexible Spending Arrangements in 2019 IR-2018-224, November 16, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded eligible employees that now is the time to begin planning to take full advantage of their employer’s health flexible spending arrangement (FSA) during 2019. New tax law allows small businesses to expense more, expands bonus depreciation IR-2018-223, November 15, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded small business taxpayers that changes to the tax law mean they can immediately expense more of the cost of certain business property. IRS provides tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2019 IR-2018-222, November 15, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the tax year 2019 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. IRS Advisory Council releases its 2018 annual report IR-2018-221, November 15, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) today issued its annual report for 2018, including recommendations to the IRS on new and continuing issues in tax administration. Get Ready for Taxes: For many, time is running out to avoid a tax-time surprise; Check withholding, make estimated payments now IR-2018-220, November 14, 2018 — Many taxpayers, at risk for having too little tax withheld from their pay, can avoid a surprise year-end tax bill by quickly updating the withholding form they give to their employer, according to the IRS. IRS Criminal Investigation releases Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report IR-2018-219, November 14, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service today released the Criminal Investigation Division’s (CI) annual report, reflecting significant accomplishments and criminal enforcement actions taken in fiscal year 2018. For Tax Year 2017, e-file closes on Nov. 17; After that, disaster victims, others need to file on paper IR-2018-218, November 9, 2018 —The IRS today reminded people, including those in disaster areas, who want to file a 2017 tax return electronically to do so by Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Get Ready for Taxes: Here’s how the new tax law revised family tax credits IR-2018-217, November 7, 2018 ― More families will be able to get more money under the newly-revised Child Tax Credit, according to the IRS. IRS issues final regulations, expanding paid preparer due diligence requirement to head of household filers IR-2018-216, November 7, 2018 — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today issued final regulations expanding the long-standing paid preparer due diligence requirement to include individual income tax returns claiming the head of household filing status. IRS announces 2019 Tax Counseling for the Elderly and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program grants IR-2018-215, November 6, 2018 — The IRS recently awarded over $24 million in Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grants to organizations that provide free federal tax return preparation. Get Ready for Taxes: Renew expiring ITINs now to file a return next year IR-2018-214, November 5, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers with expiring Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to submit their renewal applications as soon as possible. IRS, Free File Alliance announce changes to improve program; Improved taxpayer options available for 2019 Free File program IR-2018-213, November 2, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service announced today an agreement with the Free File Alliance that will strengthen and expand taxpayer options for people choosing to use the free online software program during the 2019 filing season. IRSAC expands to cover more areas of the IRS; IRPAC and ACT to join centralized advisory committee in 2019 IR-2018-212, Nov. 1, 2018 — The IRS announced today that the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Committee’s role will expand in 2019 to have a wider portfolio and incorporate two other advisory groups. 401(k) contribution limit increases to $19,000 for 2019; IRA limit increases to $6,000 IR-2018-211, November 1, 2018 — The Internal Revenue Service today announced cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2019. News release and fact sheet archive Find previous year news releases and fact sheets from 1997 through last month.
