Tax Notes Talk

Damien Martin, CPA and host of the Simply Tax Podcast talks about the 2020 tax filing season. For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:IRS Refund Fraud Progress May Be Undermined by Database TheftsTIGTA Spotlights IRS 2019 Filing Season Shortcomings, SuccessesPreparers Cautiously Optimistic for Normal 2020 Filing SeasonOnce More Unto the Breach: 199A Filing Season Round 2It’s Dealer’s Choice With 163(j) for Filing SeasonFiling Season Opens January 27; IRS Releases Progress ReportAlso, check out Damien's interview with Tax Notes Talk host David Stewart now on the Simply Tax Podcast.

Jason Furman, a professor at Harvard University and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, discusses the arguments used to back a wealth tax and suggests alternatives to reduce the wealth inequality gap in the U.S. with Tax Notes contributing editor Joseph J. Thorndike.In the latest installment of Willis Weighs In, Benjamin Willis continues his vote-to-value disparity discussion by explaining how the value of vote can affect the value of other stock rights and classes of stock and the importance of appraisals .For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:U.S. Wealth Tax Would Require More IRS Resources, Study SaysResearchers Debate Need for Taxes That Wealthy Can’t AvoidMaking a Wealth Tax Work May Require ‘Rough Justice’U.S. Well Positioned for Wealth Tax, Economist SaysA Look Ahead: Democrats to Stand Behind Wealth Taxes in 2020Warren Takes on Economists Over the Effect of Tax HikesBiden and Sanders Tax Plans Found to Overstate Revenue Gains

In honor of Tax Notes Talk’s 100th episode, we went back to the roots of what Tax Notes stands for: transparency.Tax Notes senior reporter Lauren Loricchio discussed her efforts to obtain the bid Indianapolis submitted to Amazon for HQ2 and Tax Analysts legal counsel Con Hitchcock shares the ensuing legal battle.For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:Localities Dodging Open Records Laws to Avoid Disclosure of Amazon HQ2 ProposalsGary, Indiana Offered More Than $792 Million in Failed HQ2 Bid Chicago Offered More Incentives in Second HQ2 Selection RoundVirginia Governor Signs HQ2 Incentives PackageAmazon Reaffirms Commitment to Build HQ2 in VirginiaIndiana Can Shield HQ2 Bid From Disclosure Under Advisory Opinion 

Tony Nitti, a tax partner at RubinBrown LLP, discusses the final rules on Opportunity Zones and his observations of the program in action with Tax Notes senior legal reporter Stephanie Cumings. For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:Confusion Looms About Which Set of O-Zone Regs to ApplyCollateral Problems Could Arise From O-Zone Transition RuleO-Zone Regs Include Curveball on Improvements to PropertyO-Zone Investment Numbers Could Be Vast UnderestimateO-Zone Safe Harbor Provision May Need ClarificationO-Zone Rules Applicability Date Raises Dilemma for InvestorsConsolidated Group Rules Seen as Welcome Addition to O-Zone RegsFinal O-Zone Regs Include Several Taxpayer Wins

In part 2 of her interview with Tax Notes senior reporter William Hoffman, former National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson discusses her ongoing fight for taxpayer rights and the upcoming fifth International Conference on Taxpayer Rights in South Africa.For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:IRS Free Tax Return Preparation Remains Out of ReachPreparers See Benefits of Form 1040-SR, but Maybe Not for ThemPolitically Active Exempts May Have Escaped IRS PenaltiesA Look Ahead: Focus on Low-Income, ESL Taxpayers in IRS Overhaul, Advocates SayEnforcement Push Puts Taxpayer Rights at Risk, Olson Frets

Nina Olson, who retired as the National Taxpayer Advocate six months ago, talks about her new nonprofit and the need for Treasury to soon name her permanent successor. This is part 1 of her interview with Tax Notes senior reporter William Hoffman. For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:IRS Free Tax Return Preparation Remains Out of ReachTaxpayer Advocate Stresses Link Between IRS Enforcement, ServiceA Look Ahead: Focus on Low-Income, ESL Taxpayers in IRS Overhaul, Advocates SayEnforcement Push Puts Taxpayer Rights at Risk, Olson FretsRettig Names Acting National Taxpayer AdvocateOlson Bids Adieu, Leaving ‘Big Shoes to Be Filled’In Willis Weighs In, Tax Notes contributing editor Ben Willis discusses vote-to-value disparity related to his article.

Tax Notes contributing editor Robert Goulder discusses the decades-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and what these agreements mean for the future of tariffs and trade in North America.Read Goulder's viewpoint on the subject: Hello, USMCA, Haven't We Met Before?For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:USMCA Wins Overwhelming Approval in U.S. SenateU.S. Congress Looks to Roll Back Executive Tariff AuthorityMexican Senate Passes USMCA With Little OppositionTariff Threats Not a Roadblock to USMCA, Lighthizer SaysUSMCA Unlikely to Be Finalized in July, U.S. Senators Say 

Reuven Avi-Yonah, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, reviews the arguments raised in Altera v. Commissioner and predicts where the case might go with Tax Notes legal reporter Ryan Finley. For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:A Look Ahead: High-Stakes Transfer Pricing Disputes to Continue in 2020IRS Will Continue Altera Fight in Other Circuits if NeededNinth Circuit Rejects En Banc Review of AlteraNinth Circuit’s Altera Decision Didn't Cause a Circuit SplitAltera Seeks Rehearing of Cost-Sharing DisputeAltera Beefs Up Legal Team in Cost-Sharing Dispute

Tax Notes's Jeremy Scott, Stephanie Cumings, and Andrew Velarde review what happened with tax legislation and guidance in 2019 and what lies ahead in 2020.For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:Conservatives Worry TCJA Could Be Death Blow to Future Tax CutsSenate Sends $426B in Tax Cuts to Trump's DeskA Look Ahead: Democrats to Stand Behind Wealth Taxes in 2020A Look Ahead: Eyes Still on TCJA International GuidanceA Look Ahead: Parking Regs Should Address Fair Market ValueA Look Ahead: Carried Interest and Form Changes Will Be Focus for Partnerships

Tax Notes reporters recount some of the quirkiest tax stories they encountered in 2019.For additional coverage, read these articles in Tax Notes:Did World’s Oldest Woman Evade Both Death and Taxes?Horse Business Deductions Can’t Survive Dead HorseArizona Governor Pulls Tax Breaks for Nike Over Canceled Shoe LineExecutors Reap Millions in Fees on Tax Cheat Helmsley’s Estate