This report presents the results of our review to determine whether allegations were founded that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS): 1) targeted specific groups applying for tax-exempt status, 2)delayed processing of targeted groups' applications for tax-exempt status, and 3) requested unnecessary information from targeted groups. This audit was initiated based on concerns expressed by members of Congress and reported in the media regarding the IRS's treatment of organizations applying for tax-exempt status. This review is included in our Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Audit Plan and addresses the major management challenge of Tax Compliance Initiatives. We would like to clarify a few issues based on the IRS response to our report. The response states that our report views approvals as evidence that the Exempt Organizations function should not have looked closely at those applications. We disagree with this statement. Our objection was to the criteria used to identify these applications for review. We believe all applications should be reviewed prior to approval to determine whether tax-exempt status should be granted. The IRS's response also states that issues discussed in the report have been resolved. We disagree with this statement as well. Nine recommendations were made to correct concerns we raised in the report, and corrective actions have not been fully implemented. Further, as our report notes, a substantial number of applications have been under review, some for more than three years and through two election cycles, and remain open. Until these cases are closed by the IRS and our recommendations are fully implemented, we do not consider the concerns in this report to be resolved. Management's complete response to the draft report is included as Appendix VIII.

This book, marking the 2014 centenary of income tax in South Africa, presents historical research covering a range of topics. The authors begin with the international origins of income tax law and the transformation of old Dutch taxes into colonial income tax, and the role of General Smuts in the introduction of income tax in 1914. The struggle to find an appropriate means of taxing corporate profits of shareholders is shown to have continued for decades, and mining and farming as main industry players in the South African economy receive special attention. The demise of cooperatives, the history of international tax treaties and the colonial influence also form part of the historical journey of this publication. An examination of the special qualities of leading judges of the time and their jurisprudence provides much food for thought. Policy debates such as whether South Africa should follow the source or the residence system of taxation, or introduce a land tax, rage today as they did in 1914. The impact of transformation since 1994, the need to entrench taxpayers' rights and to remove gender inequality, and the remarkable modernisation of SARS, all played an important part in the development of the South African tax system. A book about one hundred years of income tax would not be complete without some biographical notes on key personalities such as CJ Ingram KC, Aubrey Silke and David Meyerowitz SC. In recognising the conference held at the University of Cape Town to mark one hundred years of income tax in South Africa, the rise of the teaching of tax at UCT is presented in the form of an extract from the memoirs of Prof Leon Kritzinger.

Published annually, Volume 1 of this invaluable publication incorporates all promulgated and proposed amendments as envisaged by the 2015 Act and Bills as at 1 March 2016, aided by Juta's prelex and pendlex. Convenient quickfinder tables allow readers to easily find content within the Acts. A useful digest of cases from 2007 to 2015 has also been included in Volume 1. Related supplementary material such as interpretation notes, practice notes, advanced tax rulings and regulations have been included in Volume 2 on the accompanying CD-ROM. Volume 2 will soon also be freely available as an eBook at www.jutalaw.co.za.

This Tax Guide is an easy to use and understandable reference for anyone, including tax professionals, who prepare 2013 income tax returns. The Guide follows the flow of a tax return, from filing status and requirements through tax credits. It is primarily for use in preparing individual and small business tax returns, with chapters that include detailed discussions on employee travel and entertainment expenses, depreciation, and carrying on a trade or business as a sole proprietor, partnership, farmer, and S-Corporation. It also includes informative language and examples on classifying workers as employees vs. independent contractors, and reasonable salaries for S-Corporation shareholders. A unique feature of this Guide compared to others on the market is a chapter devoted to dealing with the IRS, which alone is worth getting this Guide as a reference. It includes detailed information on applicable penalties for underpayment of taxes, failure to file, failure to pay, and how to avoid paying penalties and interest. It discusses how taxpayers can meet the eligibility requirements for the IRS "Fresh Start" program which is designed to help financially distressed taxpayers resolve tax problems more quickly and relieve them of certain penalties. Also, First-Time Penalty Abatement and the "Fast Track Settlement Program" are addressed, which are IRS initiatives designed to help taxpayers. The chapter on dealing with the IRS includes a section on IRS audits that talks about IRS notices and the Agency's latest concentration on its audit-by-mail program. It discusses how to survive an IRS audit, how to handle a dispute over a tax liability, how to prepare a request for appeals, closing agreements, offers in compromise, and what happens in Tax Court. Perhaps the most important chapter in this Guide is the one about the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," also known as Obamacare. This chapter discusses in detail all of the compliance and tax provisions of the law, including the additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on high-income earners, the 3.8% surtax on "net investment Income" of high-income earners, and the 2.3% excise tax on medical devices. The individual and employer mandates are discussed in detail, including penalties, exemptions, the IRS role in implementing the mandates, and the latest implementation timelines. While some IRS regulations and court cases are referred to in this Guide, the aim was to keep such references to a minimum. The goal was to discuss, in plain English, what is required and not required by tax laws and regulations without the legal jargon as much as possible, and to give understandable examples where needed. We believe our goal has been achieved by publishing this tax book.

Advanced Questions on SA Tax is the second of two publications designed together to provide comprehensive tutorial coverage to taxation students over a two-year basis.

This book covers advanced topics and integrated questions. Its complementary publication, Questions on SA Tax, covers foundational topics and those typically dealt with in the first year of tax study. This tutorial book includes questions and selected solutions on South African income tax, estate duty and value-added tax. Up-to-date questions are graded, allowing students to develop their abilities from an introductory to an advanced level.

A selection of tutorial solutions is included in the book, and solutions to all questions are provided to lecturers at prescribing institutions. Mark plans are allocated to solutions.

The book explains the legal framework of philanthropy in the U.S., with particular emphasis on the rules for giving to domestic versus foreign entities. Chapter One gives a brief overview of the philanthropic sector in the United States. Chapter Two provides a detailed analysis of the legal framework that affects philanthropy in the U.S., in particular the requirements under US Code Sec. 501(c)(3), as well as other relevant laws, including those on private foundations. A subchapter explains the deductibility of charitable gifts by individuals and corporations. Chapter Three elaborates on the issues related to international philanthropic giving by U.S. taxpayers. Chapter Four discusses policy matters connected to the regulation of U.S. international philanthropy. Chapter Five argues for the promotion of a "learning driven" international engagement of American philanthropists. Last but not least, Chapter Six provides proposals for legal reform in the U.S. to encourage learning-driven international philanthropy. In addition to these main parts, the book contains a table of contents, conclusions, an extensive bibliography, as well as an index.

This book examines recent developments and high-profile debates that have arisen in the field of international tax law and European tax law. Topics such as international tax avoidance, corporate social responsibility, good governance in tax matters, harmful tax competition, state aid, tax treaty abuse and the Financial Transaction Tax are considered. The OECD/G20 project on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) features prominently in the book. The interaction with the European Union's Action Plan to strengthen the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion is also considered. Particular attention is paid to specific BEPS deliverables, exploring them through the prism of European Union law. Can the two approaches be aligned or are there inherent conflicts between them? The book also explores whether, when it comes to aggressive tax planning, there are internal conflicts between the established case law of the Court of Justice and the emerging policy of the European institutions. By so doing it offers a review of issues which are of constitutional importance to the European Union. Finally, the book reflects on the future of international and European tax law in the post-BEPS world.

Karin Nickenig befasst sich in diesem essential in aller Kurze mit den aktuell bestehenden Regelungen zur Kassenbuchfuhrung und den geplanten AEnderungen ab dem Jahr 2017 durch das Gesetz zum Schutz vor Manipulationen an digitalen Grundaufzeichnungen ("Kassengesetz"). Mit Hilfe dieses essentials erhalt der Praktiker einen UEberblick uber die stets fortschreitende Komplexitat der Regelungen zur Kassenbuchfuhrung.

Audit activities help ensure taxpayers pay the right amount of tax and help address the net $385 billion tax gapthe difference between the amount of taxes paid voluntarily and on time, and the amount owed. Audit programs in Internal Revenue Services (IRS) Wage and Investment division (W&I) mainly cover refundable credits reported on the Form 1040, Individual Income Tax Return. The hundreds of thousands of taxpayers whom W&I interacts with annually during audits make it critical to apply the tax law fairly. Unfair selection would increase burden on taxpayers and reduce public confidence in IRS. This book reviews and describes the W&I process for selecting tax returns for audit, and determines how well W&I's audit selection procedures support its mission and goal to apply the tax law with integrity and fairness to all. This book also describes IRSs processes and controls for selecting Small Business/Self-Employed (SB/SE) taxpayers for audit; and determines how well SB/SEs selection processes and controls support its mission to apply the tax law with integrity and fairness to all.