Federal
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November 08, 2024
Nixon Peabody Helps Boston Supportive Housing Land $153M
A Boston housing development nonprofit, with guidance from Nixon Peabody LLP, obtained $153 million in financing to develop a 19-story, 126-unit supportive housing project in the city, the law firm announced.
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November 08, 2024
Ex-Spouse Entitled To $2.9M Pandemic Tax Refund, Court Told
A woman is entitled to a $2.9 million tax refund under pandemic-era relief provisions for carryback losses shared with her ex-husband, she told a Texas federal court, accusing the Internal Revenue Service of wrongly requiring both of the former couple's signatures on a consent form.
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November 08, 2024
Weekly Internal Revenue Bulletin
The Internal Revenue Service's weekly bulletin, issued Friday, included registration guidance for manufacturers of energy efficiency improvement products that qualify for a homeowner tax credit.
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November 07, 2024
Danish Gov't Can't Exclude 2012 Evidence In $2B Tax Case
A New York federal judge allowed U.S. pension plans to present a Danish firm's 2012 opinion as key evidence in an upcoming trial in the Danish government's $2 billion tax fraud case against them, but barred three other pieces of evidence.
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November 07, 2024
Trial Needed In Texas Co.'s $3.5M Dispute, Tax Court Says
There are too many factual disputes between the Internal Revenue Service and a Texas holding company regarding a determination that it owed nearly $2.9 million in deficient taxes plus $622,000 in penalties, and a trial will be needed to resolve them, the U.S. Tax Court said Thursday.
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November 07, 2024
Varian Not Relevant In Liberty Global Case, US Tells 10th Circ.
A U.S. Tax Court decision that granted medical device company Varian Medical Systems a deduction for dividends received from foreign subsidiaries does not support Liberty Global's claims to a $110 million tax refund, the federal government told the Tenth Circuit on Thursday.
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November 07, 2024
IRS Reports Collecting Over $5.1T In Revenue In FY 2024
The Internal Revenue Service collected more than $5.1 trillion in tax revenue and over $98 billion in enforcement revenue in fiscal year 2024, the agency announced Thursday.
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November 07, 2024
Ex-Cop, Brother Admit Energy Contract Kickback Scheme
A former Massachusetts police officer and his electrician brother pled guilty Wednesday to paying off employees of a utility ratepayer-funded energy savings program administrator who steered $36 million in contracts their way, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
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November 07, 2024
Transparency Act Should Exclude Housing Co-Ops, Court Told
A group of housing cooperatives asked a Michigan federal judge to grant them an exemption from the "dragnet" Corporate Transparency Act, claiming the disclosure requirements will deter members from serving on boards that govern affordable housing developments.
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November 07, 2024
Gov't Gets Default In $4.9M Son-Of-Boss Case
A federal judge entered a $4.9 million default against the estate of a Michigan man and his widow after having threatened to dismiss the case, in which the government says the couple avoided taxes by participating in a Son-of-Boss scheme.
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November 07, 2024
Judge Finds No Fraud By IRS In FOIA Fight Over $18M Case
The widow of a man whose offshore businesses were raided by the IRS, giving rise to a nearly $18 million tax judgment, didn't prove the IRS committed fraud against the court in ensuing Freedom of Information Act litigation in which the agency claimed evidence was lost, a D.C. federal court ruled.
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November 07, 2024
IRS To Hold Hearing On Dual Consolidated Loss Regs
The Internal Revenue Service plans to hold a public hearing Nov. 22 on proposed regulations that outline when foreign taxes under the Pillar Two international minimum tax agreement could trigger U.S. rules that aim to prevent companies from double-dipping the same economic loss.
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November 06, 2024
Chicago Pol Urges Narrow Reading Of False Statement Law
The U.S. Supreme Court should narrowly interpret the federal statute barring people from using false statements to influence certain financial institutions because backing the government's broad reading could expose borrowers to criminal liability that was never intended, former Chicago alderman Patrick Daley Thompson argued Wednesday.
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November 06, 2024
After Electoral Defeats, Cannabis Advocates Eye Next Steps
Cannabis industry advocates and reform activists struck a note of cautious optimism Wednesday following an expected Republican electoral sweep of the federal government, while opponents of legalization touted the defeat of multiple statewide ballot measures as proof of their position that marijuana reform efforts were losing support.
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November 06, 2024
Feds Look To Halt Vitamin Co. Payouts Amid $1.4M Tax Fight
A couple who bought a vitamin supplement company shouldn't continue to get payments from the business amid a suit claiming they're liable for a previous owner's $1.4 million tax lien, the U.S. Department of Justice told a Connecticut federal court Wednesday.
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November 06, 2024
Atty Failed To Prove Theft Loss, Tax Court Says
An attorney is not entitled to deduct a theft loss for his legal expenses after a company he managed was sued for fraud, the U.S. Tax Court ruled Wednesday, sustaining the Internal Revenue Service's determination that he owed taxes and penalties.
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November 06, 2024
Transport Co. Owner Failed To Report Income, Tax Court Says
The owner of a medical transportation company didn't report $125,000 of income on his individual tax return as required of disregarded entities with sole shareholders, the U.S. Tax Court said Wednesday in a ruling that sustained a determination by the Internal Revenue Service.
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November 06, 2024
Gov't Urges 11th Circ. To Rethink FBAR Excessive Fine Ruling
The Eleventh Circuit should reconsider its decision that some of the $12.6 million in penalties the Internal Revenue Service imposed on a man for willfully failing to report his foreign bank accounts violated the Eighth Amendment's bar on excessive fines, the U.S. government said.
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November 06, 2024
NJ Employer Admits To Evading $3.5M In Payroll Taxes
A New Jersey owner of a shipping and logistics company pled guilty to having a role in a $3.5 million payroll tax evasion scheme, New Jersey federal prosecutors said.
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November 06, 2024
Tax Court To Rethink $1.9M Deduction Denial Post-Chevron
The U.S. Tax Court agreed to reconsider its denial of a $1.9 million tax break for farming sought by a Texas couple, saying it will examine whether a subsequent U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning long-standing deference to federal agencies invalidates regulations at issue in the case.
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November 06, 2024
9th Circ. Won't Revisit IRS' Rejection Of Compromise
The Ninth Circuit said it won't reconsider its August decision that a man who owed $50 million in taxes and offered to settle part of his debt was correctly denied a compromise by the Internal Revenue Service.
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November 05, 2024
Trump Has Official Immunity. What About His Aides?
Whether the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity extends to subordinates who follow a president's orders has become a more pressing question in the wake of Donald Trump's projected election win, according to legal experts.
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November 05, 2024
How Trump Can Quash His Criminal Cases
Donald Trump's projected victory at the polls also translates to a win in the courts, as the second-term president will have the power to end both of his federal criminal cases. And the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity would shield him from any consequences for ordering his charges to be dismissed, experts say.
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November 05, 2024
An Early Look At Trump's Supreme Court Shortlist
With former President Donald Trump projected to win the 2024 presidential election and the Republicans' success in securing the U.S. Senate majority, Trump may now get the chance to appoint two more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, cementing the court's conservative tilt for decades to come.
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November 05, 2024
GOP's Senate Win Hands Future Of The Judiciary To Trump
Republicans were projected to take back the White House and Senate and possibly the House early Wednesday, putting the GOP in position to back Donald Trump's agenda and his slate of young, conservative judicial nominees.
Vanguard Investors Ink $40M Settlement In Tax Liability Suit
Vanguard investors have asked a Pennsylvania federal judge to give the first green light to a $40 million settlement reached with the firm over it allegedly breaching its fiduciary duty when it triggered a sell-off of assets that left investors with massive tax bills.
Finance Committee Helm Awaits Crapo After GOP Wins Senate
Idaho Republican Mike Crapo is expected to lead the Senate Finance Committee when Congress convenes next year, following President-elect Donald Trump's win Tuesday in the election that also handed Republicans control of the U.S. Senate for the first time since 2021.
Trump Victory Boosts GOP Push To Extend 2017 Tax Law
Former President Donald Trump's projected reelection early Wednesday gave GOP lawmakers a strong boost in their efforts to renew major parts of the 2017 tax law that will expire next year, further dimming Democrats' hopes of promoting tax fairness by increasing rates on wealthy corporations and individuals.
Vanguard Investors Ink $40M Settlement In Tax Liability Suit
Vanguard investors have asked a Pennsylvania federal judge to give the first green light to a $40 million settlement reached with the firm over it allegedly breaching its fiduciary duty when it triggered a sell-off of assets that left investors with massive tax bills.
Finance Committee Helm Awaits Crapo After GOP Wins Senate
Idaho Republican Mike Crapo is expected to lead the Senate Finance Committee when Congress convenes next year, following President-elect Donald Trump's win Tuesday in the election that also handed Republicans control of the U.S. Senate for the first time since 2021.
Trump Victory Boosts GOP Push To Extend 2017 Tax Law
Former President Donald Trump's projected reelection early Wednesday gave GOP lawmakers a strong boost in their efforts to renew major parts of the 2017 tax law that will expire next year, further dimming Democrats' hopes of promoting tax fairness by increasing rates on wealthy corporations and individuals.
Featured Stories
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After Electoral Defeats, Cannabis Advocates Eye Next Steps
Cannabis industry advocates and reform activists struck a note of cautious optimism Wednesday following an expected Republican electoral sweep of the federal government, while opponents of legalization touted the defeat of multiple statewide ballot measures as proof of their position that marijuana reform efforts were losing support.
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Trump Victory Boosts GOP Push To Extend 2017 Tax Law
Former President Donald Trump's projected reelection early Wednesday gave GOP lawmakers a strong boost in their efforts to renew major parts of the 2017 tax law that will expire next year, further dimming Democrats' hopes of promoting tax fairness by increasing rates on wealthy corporations and individuals.
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Trump Has Official Immunity. What About His Aides?
Whether the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity extends to subordinates who follow a president's orders has become a more pressing question in the wake of Donald Trump's projected election win, according to legal experts.
Expert Analysis
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What Trump's 2nd Presidency Could Mean For Crypto Sector
Trump's second term will bring a fundamental shift from the Biden administration's approach to crypto-asset regulation and banking supervision, with the most significant changes likely taking effect in the first two quarters of 2025 and broader policy shifts emerging over the next year, say attorneys at Cahill.
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Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.
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Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being
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As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.
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Takeaways From The IRS' Crypto Doc Summons Win
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A recent First Circuit decision holding that taxpayers do not have a Fourth Amendment reasonable expectation of privacy in cryptocurrency transaction records should prompt both taxpayers and exchanges to take stock of past transactions and future plans, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.
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How Judiciary Can Minimize AI Risks In Secondary Sources
Because courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence and other safeguards do not address the risk of hallucinations in secondary source materials, the judiciary should consider enlisting legal publishers and database hosts to protect against AI-generated inaccuracies, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.
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How Attorneys Can Break Free From Career Enmeshment
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Ambitious attorneys can sometimes experience career enmeshment — when your sense of self-worth becomes unhealthily tangled up in your legal vocation — but taking the time to discover and realign with your core personal values can help you recover your identity, says Janna Koretz at Azimuth Psychological.
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Ex-Chicago Politician's Case May Further Curb Fraud Theories
The U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to hear Thompson v. U.S. to determine whether a statement that is misleading but not false still violates federal law, potentially heralding the court’s largest check yet on prosecutors’ expansive fraud theories, with significant implications for sentencing, say attorneys at the Law Offices of Alan Ellis.
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Lawyers With Disabilities Are Seeking Equity, Not Pity
Attorneys living with disabilities face extra challenges — including the need for special accommodations, the fear of stigmatization and the risk of being tokenized — but if given equitable opportunities, they can still rise to the top of their field, says Kate Reder Sheikh, a former attorney and legal recruiter at Major Lindsey & Africa.
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Judicial Committee Best Venue For Litigation Funding Rules
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The Advisory Committee on Civil Rules' recent decision to consider developing a rule for litigation funding disclosure is a welcome development, ensuring that the result will be the product of a thorough, inclusive and deliberative process that appropriately balances all interests, says Stewart Ackerly at Statera Capital.
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The Strategic Advantages Of Appointing A Law Firm CEO
The impact on law firms of the recent CrowdStrike outage underscores that the business of law is no longer merely about providing supplemental support for legal practice — and helps explain why some law firms are appointing dedicated, full-time CEOs to navigate the challenges of the modern legal landscape, says Jennifer Johnson at Calibrate Strategies.
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Tariffs' Economic Downsides Outweigh Potential Revenue
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Import tariffs proposed by the campaign of former president Donald Trump would generate revenue like other taxes, but policymakers must consider the net-negative impact of associated consumer and downstream-industry costs, harm to exporters, potential foreign retaliation and reduction in economic output, says Erica York at the Tax Foundation.
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Navigating The Last Leg Of The Worker Retention Tax Credit
Whether a business has applied for the pandemic-era employee retention tax credit, received a denial letter or is still considering making a claim before the April 15 deadline, it should examine recent developments significantly affecting the program before planning next steps, say attorneys at Nixon Peabody.
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How Cos. Can Build A Strong In-House Pro Bono Program
During this year’s pro bono celebration week, companies should consider some key pointers to grow and maintain a vibrant in-house program for attorneys to provide free legal services for the public good, says Mary Benton at Alston & Bird.