Federal

  • May 20, 2025

    IRS Complied With Supervisor Signoff Rules, Tax Court Says

    The IRS complied with requirements that a supervisor sign off on tax penalties for a partnership the agency says is not entitled to a $180 million deduction for a conservation easement donation, the U.S. Tax Court said Tuesday.

  • May 20, 2025

    IRS Urged To Scrap Biden-Era Economic Substance Ruling

    The National Association of Manufacturers asked the IRS to withdraw a revenue ruling that invokes the economic substance doctrine to disregard certain intercompany transactions, arguing in a letter published Tuesday that it exceeds the agency's authority.

  • May 20, 2025

    Mailed Deficiency Notices Valid, Tax Court Rules In Dismissal

    The Internal Revenue Service properly mailed a pair of tax deficiency notices to a California man, the U.S. Tax Court found Tuesday, rejecting his argument that they were invalid and agreeing with the agency that his challenges, which were over 1,000 days late, were time-barred.

  • May 20, 2025

    Don't Toss US-China Tax Treaty, Industry Group Tells Treasury

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury should reject the White House's plans to scrutinize the U.S.-China tax treaty, the American Chemistry Council said, telling the department that the industry group's members will face double taxation without the accord.

  • May 20, 2025

    Tax Court Orders 2nd Look At Man's Compromise Offer

    The Internal Revenue Service needs to revisit a California man's offer-in-compromise, the U.S. Tax Court ruled Tuesday, saying that the case needs further development and that the agency needs to consider the man's economic hardship claim.

  • May 20, 2025

    Tax Petition Deadline Is Flexible, Advocates Tell 8th Circ.

    A couple who missed the 90-day deadline for challenging their tax bill in the U.S. Tax Court should be allowed to bring their case anyway, a taxpayer advocacy group told the Eighth Circuit, urging it to follow the Third Circuit and find that the deadline is flexible.

  • May 20, 2025

    Renewable Energy Tax Pro Rejoins Baker McKenzie In Miami

    A former Baker McKenzie attorney rejoined the firm as a partner in Miami to help grow its North America tax practice after most recently working at Dickinson Wright PLLC.

  • May 20, 2025

    IRS Nabs Partial Win In $1.5M Tax Suit Against Former US Atty

    A Nevada federal judge partly granted the U.S. government's bid for summary judgment in its suit to recover nearly $1.5 million in unpaid taxes and criminal restitution from a former Nevada U.S. attorney, according to a court order.

  • May 20, 2025

    Gas Co. Seeks IRS Clarity On Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit

    A company that markets low-carbon gasses asked the Internal Revenue Service to clarify how natural gas alternatives can be delivered to hydrogen producers in compliance with the final regulations for the clean hydrogen tax credit program, called Section 45V, according to a letter released Tuesday.

  • May 20, 2025

    Exxon Asks For 5 More Additions To Taxable Substances List

    The Internal Revenue Service asked for comments Tuesday on proposals by Exxon Mobil to add five more chemicals to the agency's list of taxable substances, bringing the company's total requests this month to 21 chemicals.

  • May 19, 2025

    Goldstein Assails 'Radical' DOJ Case, Probe Of 'Sexual Habits'

    In his most forceful attack on tax evasion charges that have roiled the U.S. Supreme Court bar, indicted appellate icon Thomas C. Goldstein is accusing the U.S. Department of Justice of embracing "breathtaking" legal theories and revealing prurient information about him "to bias the grand jury."

  • May 19, 2025

    Vanguard $40M Deal Rejected In Investors' Tax Fight

    A Pennsylvania federal judge on Monday rejected a $40 million proposed settlement between Vanguard and investors, blocking the investors' attorneys from netting $13 million in fees and embracing the objections of one investor who called out the deal — meant to compensate for surprise tax bills — as worthless. 

  • May 19, 2025

    Feds Say Unions' Downsizing Suit Should Be Tossed

    The Trump administration urged a federal judge in D.C. to toss a lawsuit challenging three federal downsizing initiatives, arguing that the claims brought by labor unions representing federal employees belong before the agency charged with adjudicating such disputes.

  • May 19, 2025

    Full Tax Court Sends 'Seriously Delinquent' Debt Case To Trial

    The U.S. Tax Court decided Monday for the first time that its review of a challenge to an IRS certification of tax debt as "seriously delinquent" is not limited to the agency's administrative record, saying a trial is needed in a man's case to determine the facts.

  • May 19, 2025

    $2M Trust Inheritance Is Includable In Estate, Tax Court Says

    A $2 million distribution from a Kentucky man's estate to his widow is includable in his estate as a terminable interest, but a $300,000 distribution qualifies for a marital deduction and is not considered a terminable interest, the U.S. Tax Court said Monday.

  • May 19, 2025

    Tax Court Axes Deductions For Pakistani Gas Station Losses

    An Ohio couple couldn't provide any compelling evidence that they should be allowed to take over $127,000 in business deductions they said were tied to a gas refilling station they opened in Pakistan, the U.S. Tax Court ruled Monday.

  • May 19, 2025

    Taxpayer Data Increasingly At Risk From DOGE, Court Told

    A group of unions and advocacy organizations trying to block the White House's Department of Government Efficiency from accessing confidential taxpayer data told a D.C. federal court they fear the data is already being shared with federal agencies beyond the IRS.

  • May 19, 2025

    Cheesesteak Shop Owner's Sentence For Tax Scheme Vacated

    A Philadelphia cheesesteak shop owner sentenced to almost two years in prison for a conspiracy to pay employees under the table could get a lighter sentence after the Third Circuit ruled he was wrongly given extra time for swaying workers who were actually in on the tax scheme.

  • May 19, 2025

    US Budget Would Hike Taxes On Foreign Firms, Individuals

    Foreign firms and individuals from countries with "unfair" fiscal policies such as digital services taxes, diverted profits taxes and the global minimum tax's backstop would pay higher U.S. taxes under the spending bill approved by the House Budget Committee.

  • May 19, 2025

    11th Circ. Affirms Estate Can't Deduct $3M Paid To Stepkids

    The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of tax deductions that a corporate attorney's estate claimed for distributing $3 million to his stepchildren, saying the payments were not financial obligations the attorney had owed at the time of his death.

  • May 19, 2025

    GAO Calls For Greater Oversight Of Energy Tax Expenditures

    The Internal Revenue Service needs to have greater scrutiny over the implementation of 21 Inflation Reduction Act energy tax provisions aimed at supporting greenhouse gas emissions and other climate goals, including evaluation and fraud prevention, the Government Accountability Office said Monday.

  • May 19, 2025

    Avenatti Rips 'Draconian' Bid To Add 13 Years To Sentence

    Former high-profile attorney Michael Avenatti asked a California federal judge to reject the government's request to tack on more than 13 years to his prison term, saying such a "draconian" result would conflict with a Ninth Circuit ruling wiping out a previous sentence in the fraud case.

  • May 19, 2025

    7 Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Meetings Set For June

    Seven Taxpayer Advocacy Panel committees will meet in June to discuss possible customer service improvements, the Internal Revenue Service said in notices Monday.

  • May 16, 2025

    Trump Calls On Justices To Stay Block Of Gov't Restructuring

    President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to pause a California federal judge's order temporarily halting agencies from implementing an executive order to plan reorganizations and reductions in force, claiming the lower court's decision has caused confusion and wasted taxpayer dollars.

  • May 16, 2025

    Korean-Language News Co. Cuts $4.3M Deal In Tax Case

    A Korean-language news publication reached a settlement with the U.S. government that will let it pay $4.3 million to resolve an agreed-upon tax judgment of $9.1 million plus interest, according to a stipulated order entered in California federal court.

Expert Analysis

  • What Higher Education Can Expect From A 2nd Trump Admin

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    The election of Donald Trump for a second presidential term has far-reaching ramifications for colleges and universities — come January, institutions can expect a crackdown on DEI, increased scrutiny of campus protests, a rollback of the Biden administration's Title IX rules and more, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • Expect Surging Oil And Gas Industry Under New Trump Admin

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    Throughout his recent campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised increased oil and natural gas production and reduced reliance on renewables — and his administration will likely bring more oil and gas dealmaking, faster federal permitting and attempts to roll back incentives for green energy, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule

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    Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.

  • Cos. Should Inventory Issues To Prep For New Congress

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    As the legislative and oversight agendas of the 119th Congress come into sharper focus, corporate counsel should assess and plan for areas of potential oversight risk — from tax policy changes to supply chain integrity — even as much uncertainty remains, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Conservation Easement Cases Weave Web Of Uncertainty

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    Much of the IRS and Justice Department’s recent success in prosecuting syndicated conservation easement cases can be attributed to the government’s focus on the so-called PropCo ratio, which could indicate treacherous waters ahead for participants and their advisers, even under the incoming Trump administration, say attorneys at Polsinelli.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • Legislation Most Likely To Pass In Lame Duck Session

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    As Congress begins its five-week post-election lame duck session, attorneys at Greenberg Traurig break down the legislative priorities and which proposals can be expected to pass.

  • What Trump's 2nd Presidency Could Mean For Crypto Sector

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    Trump's second term will bring a fundamental shift from the Biden administration's approach to crypto-asset regulation and banking supervision, with the most significant changes likely taking effect in the first two quarters of 2025 and broader policy shifts emerging over the next year, say attorneys at Cahill.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being

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    As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.

  • Takeaways From The IRS' Crypto Doc Summons Win

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    A recent First Circuit decision holding that taxpayers do not have a Fourth Amendment reasonable expectation of privacy in cryptocurrency transaction records should prompt both taxpayers and exchanges to take stock of past transactions and future plans, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

  • How Judiciary Can Minimize AI Risks In Secondary Sources

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    Because courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence and other safeguards do not address the risk of hallucinations in secondary source materials, the judiciary should consider enlisting legal publishers and database hosts to protect against AI-generated inaccuracies, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

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