Taxation & Estate Planning

Treasury Suggests Congress Cut Us a Break

By Fox Rothschild

On February 4, 2008 as part of President Bush's proposed fiscal 2009 budget, Treasury suggested that Congress give tax return preparers a break.  Realizing the potential conflict between the client taxpayer and the preparer the Treasury made the following proposal: “The standard applicable to preparers when taking a position not disclosed on a return would be the substantial authority standard. Because the determination as to whether a transaction has a significant purpose of tax avoidance or evasion is inherently subjective to the taxpayer, the preparer standard applicable to tax shelters would also be substantial authority. However, a preparer would be required to have a reasonable belief that the position would more likely than not be sustained on the merits when taking a position with respect to a transaction determined to have a potential for tax avoidance or evasion to which section 6662A applies. The standard applicable to preparers for disclosed positions would remain at reasonable basis. No penalty would be asserted against a preparer if the preparer has reasonable cause and good faith. The proposal would be effective for returns prepared after January 1, 2008.”

Full post as published by Tax Litigation Blog on February 05, 2008 (boomark / email).