WHAT’S THE BUZZ, TELL ME WHAT’S A HAPPENNIN’?

 

* Good news!  I got this email from a former client on Tuesday (highlight is mine) –
 
“I mailed my income tax return on March 6th.  IRS received it on March 28th.  It was approved on March 30th.  Our refund was in our bank account and available on April 1st.  Big improvement from last few years.  And also, quicker because we did direct deposit this year.”
 
So, it appears the IRS is “back to normal” and 2022 returns are being processed and refunds issued on the pre-closure schedule.
 
* From Russ Fox at TAXABLE TALK – “No Foolin’: New York State Not Conforming to IRS Extension for Blizzard Disaster Zones” -  
 
“The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance decided not to extend taxpayers impacted by the December blizzards to May 15th; impacted taxpayers still must either file their tax returns by April 18th or file a valid extension.”
 
Having prepared NYS returns for 50 years I can agree with Russ’s observation that “New York is not a taxpayer-friendly state”.
 
* And Russ has begun his annual countdown of “Bozo Tax Tips” –
 
#10: EmailYour Social Security Number or EIN
 
#9: Nevada Corporations or LLCs
 
#8: Use a Foreign Trust to Avoid Taxes!
 
#7:Withhold, but Don’t Remit, Your Employment Taxes!
 
* More disaster relief.  Jeff Stimpson reports “Arkansas storm victims get tax relief” at ACCOUNTING TODAY.
 
* And also from ACCOUNTING TODAY Daniel Hood gives us the word that “The IRS reveals how it will spend its $80B”.
 
* The IRS has finally released the complete list of the 2023 “Dirty Dozen” – “a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter anytime but many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their returns or hire someone to help with their taxes.”
 
* Are you free tomorrow?  Kay Bell tells us “50 IRS TACs open Saturday,April 8, for walk-in tax help” at DON’T MESS WITH TAXES –
 
“But this weekend, for the third Saturday this year, taxpayers can simply walk into the designated centers between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time for in-person help.
 
TTFN