In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the tax controversy group has put together a chart detailing tax controversy-related developments as they arise. Please refer to the following list of recent tax and tax controversy-related alerts and original articles for additional insight and guidance. For a comprehensive list of related thought leadership, please refer to the
Litigation & enforcement partner Dan Ward, benefits partner Josh Lichtenstein, and benefits consulting principal David Kirchner co-hosted a webinar on May 25 focused on the recent wave of retirement plan litigation focused on not-for-profits and how to mitigate risk for employers and plan sponsors. Plaintiffs’ firms are aggressively targeting 403(b)/401(k) retirement plan sponsors in a
The U.S. Department of Treasury’s recent tax compliance proposals include measures that would ramp up reporting for large cryptocurrency transactions, likely streamlining tax enforcement around digital assets. Tax partner Kat Gregor discusses the proposals in a recent Law360 article. Please click here to read the full article.
Tax partner Kat Saunders Gregor has been elected to the prestigious American College of Tax Counsel as a fellow. The College recognizes leading members of the Bar who have made significant contributions to the understanding and improvement of the U.S. tax system. Membership in the College is by nomination from a current fellow and an
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the tax controversy group has put together a chart detailing tax controversy-related developments as they arise. Federal section current as of May 13, 2021 and States section current as of April 23, 2021.
Tax authorities around the globe have focused on combatting tax evasion and other financial crimes associated with cryptocurrency in recent years. More recently, investigative efforts have broadened to include the FinTech industry. In late March 2021, the Joint Chiefs of Tax Enforcement—or the J5—held a coordinated international tax investigation into the FinTech industry and cryptocurrency.
In this fourth episode of Ropes & Gray’s podcast series addressing emerging issues for fiduciaries of 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans to consider as part of their litigation risk management strategy, ERISA & benefits partner Josh Lichtenstein speaks with Ed McNicholas, co-chair of the data, privacy & cybersecurity practice, and David Kirchner, a principal in
In this episode of Ropes & Gray’s podcast series Disputing Tax, Isabelle Farrar, an associate in the tax controversy group, is joined by Kat Gregor, a tax partner and tax controversy group co-founder, and Elizabeth Smith, counsel in the tax controversy group, to examine some potential areas of focus for IRS enforcement efforts in
**These legal developments are still in progress. We will update this Alert as the Plan makes its way through the legislative process.***
On Wednesday April 28, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden announced the American Families Plan, designed to expand access to education, child care, and health care, among other initiatives. The White House released a fact sheet outlining the plan, and Biden detailed the plan in an address to Congress.1 The American Families Plan would be funded by increasing tax enforcement on corporations and high-income taxpayers, enforcement of which would be supported by newly enhanced information reporting from financial institutions. The initiatives would also be funded by raising taxes on high-income taxpayers, including (i) increasing the top income tax rate to 39.6% from 37%, (ii) increasing the capital gains rate to 39.6% from 20% for those earning $1 million or more, (iii) eliminating a step-up in basis for gains in excess of $1 million, (iv) eliminating the carried interest loophole, (v) eliminating the special real estate tax break on gains greater than $500,000, (vi) extending the limitation that restricts excess business losses, (vii) and ensuring those making over $400,000 pay the same consistent 3.8% Medicare tax. These proposals are summarized in this Alert.
President Biden has also recently proposed investing $80 billion in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for enforcement funding and giving IRS the authority to regulate paid tax preparers.2 The plan did not address expansion of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which is currently capped at $10,000. The American Families Plan follows the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan and Made in America Tax Plan released at the end of March and is the second part of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. (See Ropes & Gray April 6, 2021 Alert.)
Continue Reading American Family Plan—Summary of Certain Key Tax Components