Internal Revenue Service April 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document contains proposed regulations relating to the disclosure of return information under section 6103(l)(21) of the Internal Revenue Code, as enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The regulations define certain terms and prescribe certain items of return information in addition to those items prescribed by statute that will be disclosed, upon written request, under section 6103(l)(21) of the Internal Revenue Code.

This document contains corrections to a publication of inflation adjustment factors and reference prices for calendar year 2012 as required by section 45(e)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 45(e)(2)(A)), section 45(e)(8)(C)), and section 45(e)(10)(C) (26 U.S.C. 45(e)(10)(C)), that was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 (77 FR 21835). The 2012 inflation adjustment factors and reference prices are used in determining the availability of the credit for renewable electricity production.

This document provides a Treasury decision that removes the final regulations contained in TD 9524 relating to withholding by government entities on payments to persons providing property or services, and makes conforming amendments to regulations to reflect the removal of these regulations. The final regulations are removed because the 3% Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act repealed the provision of the Internal Revenue Code underlying the final regulations before the provision became effective. The guidance affects government entities that would have been required to withhold and report tax from payments to persons providing property or services and also affects the persons receiving payments for property or services from these government entities.

This document contains proposed regulations relating to the deductibility of expenses for lodging when not traveling away from home (local lodging). The regulations affect taxpayers who pay or incur expenses for local lodging.

This document contains final regulations relating to the characterization of gain recognized with respect to stock in certain foreign corporations upon distributions. The regulations finalize proposed regulations and remove temporary regulations that characterize gain recognized with respect to stock in foreign corporations upon distributions as a deemed dividend in certain situations. The regulations affect certain persons that recognize gain with respect to stock in connection with the receipt of a distribution of property from a foreign corporation.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requests applications of individuals to be considered for selection as members of the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC). Nominations should describe and document the proposed member's qualification for IRSAC membership, including the applicant's knowledge of Circular 230 regulations and the applicant's past or current affiliations and dealings with the particular tax segment or segments of the community that the applicant wishes to represent on the council. Applications will be accepted for current vacancies from qualified individuals and from professional and public interest groups that wish to have representatives on the IRSAC. The IRSAC is comprised of no more than thirty-five (35) appointed members; approximately seven of these appointments will expire in December 2012. It is important that the IRSAC continue to represent a diverse taxpayer and stakeholder base. Accordingly, to maintain membership diversity, selection is based on the applicant's qualifications as well as areas of expertise, geographic diversity, major stakeholder representation and customer segments. The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) provides an organized public forum for IRS officials and representatives of the public to discuss relevant tax administration issues. The council advises the IRS on issues that have a substantive effect on federal tax administration. As an advisory body designed to focus on broad policy matters, the IRSAC reviews existing tax policy and/or recommends policies with respect to emerging tax administration issues. The IRSAC suggests operational improvements, offers constructive observations regarding current or proposed IRS policies, programs, and procedures, and advises the IRS with respect to issues having substantive effect on federal tax administration.

This document contains final regulations regarding the reporting requirements for interest that relates to deposits maintained at U.S. offices of certain financial institutions and is paid to certain nonresident alien individuals. These regulations will affect commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, securities brokerages, and insurance companies that pay interest on deposits.

This document contains proposed regulations that implement and provide guidance on the fees imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on issuers of certain health insurance policies and plan sponsors of certain self-insured health plans to fund the Patient- Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund. These proposed regulations affect the issuers and plan sponsors that are directed to pay those fees. This document also contains a request for comments and provides notice of public hearing on these proposed regulations.

This document contains proposed regulations under section 312 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). The proposed regulations clarify the regulations under section 312 regarding the allocation of earnings and profits in tax-free transfers from one corporation to another. The proposed regulations affect corporations involved in these transfers and their shareholders.

This document contains proposed amendments to regulations under section 337(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. The proposed regulations provide guidance concerning certain transfers of property from a C corporation to a Regulated Investment Company (RIC) or a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and will affect the parties to such transactions. This document also invites comments from the public regarding these proposed regulations.

Publication of the inflation adjustment factor, nonconventional source fuel credit, and reference price for calendar year 2011 as required by section 45K of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. section 45K). The inflation adjustment factor is used to determine the credit allowable under section 45K for coke or coke gas (other than from petroleum based products) for calendar year 2011.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Toll-Free Project Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Joint Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Return Processing Delays Project Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Return Processing Delays Project Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Refund Processing Communications Project Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The IRS is soliciting comments concerning collection requirements related to application of section 338 to insurance companies.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The IRS is soliciting comments concerning information collection requirements related to guidance for qualification as an acceptance agent, and execution of an agreement between an acceptance agent and the Internal Revenue Service relating to the issuance of certain taxpayer identifying numbers.

This document provides notice of the availability of the application package for the 2013 Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Matching Grant Program.

This document provides notice of the availability of Application Packages for the 2013 Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program.

The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) was established to provide continued input into the development and implementation of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) strategy for electronic tax administration. The ETAAC provides an organized public forum for discussion of electronic tax administration issues in support of the overriding goal that paperless filing should be the preferred and most convenient method of filing tax and information returns. ETAAC members convey the public's perception of IRS electronic tax administration activities, offer constructive observations about current or proposed policies, programs, and procedures, and suggest improvements. Members of the ETAAC may not be federally registered lobbyists. This document seeks applicants for selection as committee members. The Director, Return Preparer Office (RPO) will assure that the size and organizational representation of the ETAAC obtains balanced membership and includes representatives from various groups including: (1) Tax practitioners and preparers, (2) transmitters of electronic returns, (3) tax software developers, (4) large and small business, (5) employers and payroll service providers, (6) individual taxpayers, (7) financial industry (payers, payment options and best practices), (8) system integrators (technology providers), (9) academic (marketing, sales or technical perspectives), (10) trusts and estates, (11) tax exempt organizations, and (12) state and local governments. We are soliciting applicants from professional and public interest groups. Members will serve a three-year term on the ETAAC to allow for a rotation in membership which ensures that different perspectives are represented. All travel expenses within government guidelines will be reimbursed. Potential candidates must pass an IRS tax compliance check and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background investigation.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Small Business/ Self-Employed Decreasing Non-Filers Project Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.