General Tax Controversy News & Updates

The California FTB recently released a settlement initiative for taxpayers involved in microcaptive or syndicated conservation easement transactions. Taxpayers who enter into the settlement program will not be able to

Continue Reading California FTB Unveils Microcaptive and Conservation Easement Settlement Initiative

In a monumental opinion, the Tax Court recently held that the IRS lacks authority to assess penalties imposed by IRC § 6038(b)(1) or (2). In Fahry v. Commissioner, the

Continue Reading Tax Court Rules IRS Cannot Assess Certain International Reporting Penalties

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS will receive a nearly $80 billion funding increase, including more than $45 billion for enforcement, over the next decade. Audit staff

Continue Reading Increase in IRS Funding Leading to More Audits of Public Charities

By Adam R. Young and Brian Bernhardt

On January 13, 2023, the IRS issued Chief Counsel Memorandum 202302012 (the “CCM”) establishing new rules for donations of cryptocurrency.  In the CCM

Continue Reading IRS Cracks Down on Charitable Contributions of Cryptocurrency

A former trial attorney for the IRS, Fox Rothschild Counsel Brian Bernhardt has a unique perspective to offer clients facing tax controversies and litigation. In a chat with Kristopher Flammang

Continue Reading Brian Bernhardt Featured on The Confident Retirement Podcast, Speaking about his Tax Controversy and Tax Litigation Practice

The Tax Court’s recent decision in Walquist v. Commissioner, 152 T.C. No. 3, further clarified the application of the supervisor approval requirement under section 6751(b)(1), which has been a
Continue Reading Tax Court Holds that Supervisor Approval Requirement Does Not Apply to Penalties Determined by Computer Program

I have written before about the battles being fought by cannabis businesses facing IRS examinations.  IRS audits raise many issues for state legal cannabis businesses operating in violation of the
Continue Reading Tenth Circuit: No Fifth Amendment Defense to the Application of Section 280E

The IRS has been cracking down on conservation easement transactions for over ten years. Nevertheless, taxpayers have continued to claim charitable contribution deductions attributable to the donation of conservation easements
Continue Reading Conservation Easements: A Year End Review