1. IRS provides help for Hurricane Harvey victims

The IRS is providing a variety of tax relief for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Check our webpage for the latest updates.

2. Beware of Hurricane Harvey fake charity scams

The IRS issued a warning about possible fake charity scams emerging due to Hurricane Harvey and encouraged taxpayers to seek out recognized charitable groups for their donations.

3. More IRS disaster relief information available

Publication 3833, Disaster Relief, Providing Assistance Through Charitable Organizations

Two-part mini-course on disaster relief.

Additional information about IRS help for Hurricane Harvey victims is available on IRS social media sites, including the Twitter handle @IRSnews, following the hashtag #Harvey.

The IRS is seeking applicants for vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT). The committee provides advice and public input on the various areas of tax administration served by the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division (TE/GE). Applications will be accepted through September 18, 2017.

We are very excited to announce that Bryan Cave was recognized in Legal 500 as one of the top law firms in the Nonprofit / Tax Exempt Organizations category.  This is an honor and we are delighted that our Firm has been recognized along with the other top law firms in the United States that specialize in advising nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations.

The purpose of The Legal 500 is to help corporate counsel find the right advisors through its law firm rankings and editorial, which are free of charge to access. Rankings are based on feedback from 250,000 in-house peers and access to law firms deals and confidential matters, which are independently assessed by researchers.

We’ve recently updated the list of 403(b) pre-approved retirement plans that have received an IRS favorable opinion or advisory letter. A favorable opinion or advisory letter for a 403(b) pre-approved plan means that the IRS has determined that the plan satisfies the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 403(b) (these requirements are specifically outlined in the opinion or advisory letter).

Employers eligible to sponsor 403(b) retirement plans for their employees may want to consider adopting a pre-approved plan that has received a favorable letter instead of a having an individually designed plan.

Related resources:

• 403(b) Pre-Approved Plans for Eligible Employers – explains why eligible employers may want to opt for a pre-approved plan instead of an individually designed plan.
• List of 403(b) Pre-Approved Plans – contains information about the terms used in the pre-approved plan list and the remedial amendment period to correct certain errors
  

A dangerous email scam currently is circulating nationwide and targeting employers, including tax exempt entities, universities and schools, government and private-sector businesses. The scammer poses as an internal executive requesting employee Forms W-2 and Social Security Number information from company payroll or human resources departments. They may even send an initial “Hi, are you in today” message before the request.

The IRS has established a process that will allow employers and payroll service providers to quickly report any data losses related to the W-2 scam. See details at Form W-2/SSN Data Theft: Information for Businesses and Payroll Service Providers. If notified in time, the IRS can take steps to prevent employees from being victimized by identity thieves filing fraudulent returns in their names. There also is information about how to report receiving the scam email even if you did not fall victim.

As a reminder, tax professionals who experience

Every year, the IRS issues its “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams list, a compilation of tactics and devices used by scam artists against taxpayers.  While the threat exists year-round, the IRS promulgates the list ahead of filing season. As susceptible taxpayers prepare their returns, they face a higher risk of being targeted.

Included in the 2017 “Dirty Dozen” list are fake charities; however, this is hardly a new occurrence. Fraudulent charities and organizations have a long-standing history of soliciting donations from unsuspecting individuals. In its 2017 report, the IRS notes three steps taxpayers should take in making charitable contributions.

One: Keep your information private. Individuals are advised against sharing their personal information, such as a Social Security Number or passwords, as this is commonly used in identity theft. The IRS reminds individuals that a legitimate charity will never ask for such information in soliciting or

Two new Issue Podcasts available for viewing Go to the Stay Exempt Issue Podcast page on irs.gov to see Issue Podcasts on:

• When are Commercial-Type Activities a Substantial Nonexempt Purpose for an IRC 501(c)(3) Organization? Learn about determining when commercial-type activities further a substantial nonexempt purpose for an IRC 501(c)(3) organization
• IRC 501(c)(3) Proposing Denial Learn about the five-step roadmap the IRS uses to determine whether proposing denial is appropriate for an organization requesting recognition of tax exemption under IRC 501(c)(3)

What is an Issue Podcast?

An Issue Podcast is a resource the IRS uses for sharing technical knowledge.

An Issue Podcast is a short (approximately 15 minute), on-demand audio and visual presentation that includes:

• A brief summary and analysis of an issue
• References to key resource materials

IRS makes approved Form 1023-EZ data available online

The IRS announced today that publicly available information from approved applications for tax-exemption using Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption, is now available electronically for the first time.

Read news release.

Resources for 403(b) retirement plans

Review the following information.

• Remedial amendment period for 403(b) plans ends March 31, 2020  (Rev. Proc. 2017-18)
• Universal availability: Issue Snapshot explains and gives cites, resources and audit tips
• Watch these webinars:
• Understanding the Universal Availability Rules in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Clarifying the Universal Availability and Other 403(b) Retirement Plan Requirements

IRS summarizes “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for 2017

The IRS recently announced the conclusion of its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams. The annual list highlights various schemes that taxpayers may encounter throughout the year, many of which peak during tax-filing season.

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry issued an urgent alert today to all employers that the Form W-2 email phishing scam has evolved beyond the corporate world and is spreading to other sectors, including school districts, tribal organizations and nonprofits.

In a related development, the W-2 scammers are coupling their efforts to steal employee W-2 information with an older scheme on wire transfers that is victimizing some organizations twice. “This is one of the most dangerous email phishing scams we’ve seen in a long time. It can result in the large-scale theft of sensitive data that criminals can use to commit various crimes, including filing fraudulent tax returns. We need everyone’s help to turn the tide against this scheme,’’ said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen.

When employers report W-2 thefts immediately to the IRS, the agency can take steps to help protect employees from

Bryan Cave’s Private Client Services Group welcomes a new partner in our London office:

David Adler has joined us in the London office, and will be a member of the Private Client Group. David is a U.S. tax lawyer who advises international entities, individuals and intermediaries on planning that has a U.S. component. Along with core U.S. federal income, estate and gift tax advice, he provides a U.S. perspective on issues of wealth preservation and transfer, as well as on corporate governance and family succession for privately held businesses. He is also a highly experienced adviser on issues arising under the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the OECD Common Reporting Standard. David is joining us from the London office of another large firm.