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Corporate officer can have
personal employment tax liability - for ever.
Person liable under IRC 6672 is subject to same
assessment period as the employer. Same rule for
unlimited periods under IRC 6501(c) for failure to file
Form 941s.
January 2007 Report
---> click here to view
---> 
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Trust
fund recovery penalty not
erased in bankruptcy. Bankruptcy court held
debtor is IRC 6672 responsible person who willfully
failed to pay over trust fund employment tax. Trust fund
penalty assessment against individual is
not dischargeable in
his bankruptcy.
January 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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IRS
chief counsel comments on section 530 safe harbor
application. Reply to U.S. Senator who wrote letter for
constituent needing guidance.
Treatment of workers as Form W-2 employees
will end any Section 530 safe
harbor as to that class.
February 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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IRS to
do more S corporation audits.
S corporations play a big role in
tax gap. Service needs
to do more taxpayer education and examinations.
February 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Non-wage payments to
firm owner were dividends, not loan repayment. IRS
determined that payment of personal expenses of the
president were constructive dividends. President failed
to prove the payments were to payoff a loan or that the
expenses were for the company.
March 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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IRS
says payments individual claimed were not taxable are
indeed taxable. Tax Court agreed and held that
nonemployee compensation
must be included in taxable income. Accuracy-related
penalty for underpayment of taxes based on negligence
also upheld.
March 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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District court says company founder may not be liable
for unpaid federal employment taxes. Internet start-up
founder may not be liable under section 6672. Court
denied IRS motion for summary judgment in this refund
suit..
April 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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IRS
publishes new household employer tax guide. Publication
926 is for wages paid in 2007. The social security and
Medicare wage threshold remains at $1,500.
Caregivers and housekeepers
paid by the day or week are
likely employees and not independent contractors.
April 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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IRS operations chief warns his own to respect right to
Notice of Determination of
Worker Classification. In the alternative,
the Service can obtain a waiver. IRC section 7436
mandates Notice when worker
classification case involves an actual
controversy.
May 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Tax court held truck drivers
were employees. Trucks were neither owned nor leased by
the drivers. Section 530 safe
harbor held not applicable.
May 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Firm still
liable though payroll
agent stole over $800,000 in
payroll taxes. Payroll agent was prosecuted
by government and was sent to jail. Government then
moved against the firm for the unpaid employment tax.
June 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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LLC failed to pay
$1 million in employment taxes. LLC also
failed to elect corporation status under check the box
regulations. As a disregarded entity, the
owner / member was liable
for back employment taxes.
June 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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IRS Publication 3953 answers
questions about tax court proceedings for determination
of employment status
under IRC 7436. Pay attention to the deadline for filing
a Tax Court petition. The IRS makes three determinations
before issuing Notice of
Determination.
July 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Firm failed to timely file
Form 1099s yet
claimed the section 530
safe-harbor. IRS and Court agreed that timely
filing was required. Interpreting a late filing as
satisfying the filing requirement would negate the
requirement.
July 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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U.S. Government
Accountability Office testifies on
misclassification. Employee
Misclassification impacts workers in many ways. Federal
and state benefits may be lost.
August 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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IRS audited
seamstress treated
as independent contractor. IRS and Court agreed on
deficiency against her for payments she received while
classified as an independent
contractor. Additions upheld for failure to
file an income tax return and failure to timely pay her
taxes.
August 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Computer
hardware salesperson is not statutory
employee. Tax Court held he was common law employee.
Deductions denied for vehicle mileage, loan interest,
and accounting and legal fees.
September 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Form
1099-MISC rules not sufficiently followed by
governments. Government report shares results of review
looking at information return reporting and backup
withholding compliance. FSLG office to determine if more
compliance activities are warranted.
September 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Nursing home
owner convicted of criminal failure to pay
payroll taxes. Judge ruled owner was properly convicted
of 107 counts. Jury instruction held proper.
October 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Drivers
for courier company
are employees and not independent contractors. Both the
California Employment Development Department and an
administrative law judge after trial found employee
status. On appeal, the California Unemployment Insurance
Appeals Board, in lengthy precedent tax decision,
affirmed employee status.
October 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Package
couriers and messengers are employees and not
independent contractors. Courier firm paid California
EDD tax assessment for more than $600,000 and sued for
refund. After non-jury trial, judge found employee
status for employment tax
purposes and court of appeal agreed.
November 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Firm paying
domestic workers may
not need workers’ compensation
insurance. Firm was “referral agency” for
domestic workers for elderly and infirm. Appeals Court
held qualified referral agencies are deemed not
employers for purposes of workers' compensation.
November 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Water proofers are employees, not independent
contractors. Waterproofing firm treated workers (all
relatives) as non-employees. IRS, Tax Court agree on
employee status, that firm failed to file Forms 940, 941
and to make employment tax deposits.
December 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 
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Marble and tile installer is independent
contractor. Worker supplied tools, materials like grout,
cork, cork glue, and sound proofing material. IRS, Tax
Court agreed that installer owed Form 1040 / Schedule SE
self employment tax.
December 2007 Report ---> click here to view ---> 