This article is the second in a series analyzing the proposed Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act (the “TAS Act”), bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Crapo and Wyden to improve service and administration at the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).  Our introduction to the series is here, and our discussion of Title I is here. This article... Continue Reading…More

Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act Title 1: Tax Administration and Customer Service   By Meeren Amin, Brian C. Bernhardt, Kristy Caron, Matthew D. Lee, and Jonathan M. Wasser   This article is the first in a series of articles analyzing the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act (the "TAS Act"), bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Crapo and Wyden to improve service and administration at the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Our introduction to the series can be found [HERE].   This article examines the…More

On February 26, 2026, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) introduced the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, a bipartisan legislative package proposing significant reforms to Internal Revenue Service procedures and administration.  The bill includes proposals recommended by the National Taxpayer Advocate along with other provisions designed to improve... Continue Reading…More

In the wake of a March 9 letter from three U.S. Senators expressing concerns about Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s dual role as Acting IRS Commissioner, the IRS announced today that Bessent is no longer serving as Acting IRS Commissioner.  This leaves the Commissioner’s Office – one of only two Senate-confirmed positions at the IRS –... Continue Reading…More

The Internal Revenue Service has unveiled a new web page on IRS.gov that allows taxpayers to confidentially report suspected tax fraud or evasion, scams, and other tax-related illegal activities. In a press release, IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano stated that “[i]mprovements to the IRS fraud reporting system make reporting suspected wrongdoing easier and... Continue Reading…More

Fox Rothschild attorneys Lizbeth R. Levinson and Brittney R. Powell have authored a client alert regarding the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling striking down the President’s tariffs, and in particular the question of whether businesses can obtain refunds of previously paid tariffs. Their alert addresses the questions most frequently asked by clients and... Continue Reading…More

In the midst of Congressional consideration of the administration’s FY2026 budget request for the Internal Revenue Service (which was ultimately approved on February 3, 2026), a group of U.S. Senators is raising questions about fairness in tax enforcement.  Ten Senators, nine Democrats and one Independent, are questioning whether recent workforce reductions and funding decreases are... Continue Reading…More

With a dire warning that “[t]ax shelter promoters are watching,” a group of U.S. Senators is questioning a significant decline in Internal Revenue Service investigations of abusive tax schemes as reported in IRS Criminal Investigation’s annual report.  In a January 28 letter to Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent and IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Guy Ficco,... Continue Reading…More

The four-day partial government shutdown – which did not impact the Internal Revenue Service – ended yesterday after the House passed, and the President signed, a funding package approved by the Senate just prior to the shutdown.  The funding deal includes $11.2 billion to fund the IRS for FY2026, a 9 percent cut from the... Continue Reading…More

In the midst of the tax filing season, the Internal Revenue Service remains open for business despite the partial federal government shutdown that went into effect early Saturday morning.  The IRS announced on Friday that all of its employees will be exempt from furlough for one week, through Saturday, February 7, and personnel were instructed... Continue Reading…More

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has released updated quarterly statistics showing a continuing increase in the number of depository institutions that actively bank U.S. marijuana businesses. As of March 31, 2018, a total of 411 banks and credit unions provided services to marijuana-related businesses, up from 365 one year ago. FinCEN’s data...Continue Reading……More

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post regarding the status of FinCEN’s 2014 marijuana banking guidance in light of the Attorney General’s policy reversal on marijuana enforcement at the federal level, we have received written confirmation from FinCEN that its 2014 guidance remains in place.  In response to our inquiries, FinCEN provided us with the following statement:...Continue Reading……More

Reuters is reporting today that the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) was caught off guard by Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ announcement last week that the Justice Department was reversing its policy regarding enforcement of federal marijuana laws.  A FinCEN spokesman said in a statement that his agency’s prior pronouncement regarding marijuana banking nevertheless...Continue Reading……More

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has released updated statistics showing a steady increase in the number of depository institutions that actively bank U.S. marijuana businesses. As of September 30, 2017, a total of 400 banks and credit unions provided services to marijuana-related businesses, up from 334 as of December 31, 2016. FinCEN’s...Continue Reading……More