Looking Ahead To The 2022 Filing Season And What To Expect

Beverly Winstead of the Regulation Workplace of Beverly Winstead LLC and Paul Miller of Miller & Co. LLP talk about the 2022 submitting season’s challenges and issues within the third 12 months of the pandemic.

This transcript has been edited for size and readability.

David D. Stewart: Welcome to the podcast. I am David Stewart, editor in chief of Tax Notes Right now Worldwide. This week: tax season 2022.

This 12 months the U.S. particular person revenue tax submitting season begins January 24, placing issues again on a standard schedule after a delayed begin in 2021. However that is about the one regular factor this 12 months.

That is the third submitting season for the reason that begin of the coronavirus pandemic, which has already brought on vital delays and backups on the IRS. Add within the new provisions from the American Rescue Plan Act, just like the superior youngster tax credit score and unemployment advantages, and there is a lot that practitioners and taxpayers should consider this 12 months.

Right here to speak extra about that is Tax Notes contributing editor Marie Sapirie. Marie, welcome again to the podcast.

Marie Sapirie: Thanks for having me.

David D. Stewart: Now, I perceive you talked with two practitioners in regards to the 2022 submitting season. Are you able to inform us about them?

Marie Sapirie: I spoke with two practitioners with intensive expertise in return preparation, each of whom based their very own corporations.

Beverly Winstead is a tax lawyer in Maryland who supplies authorized counsel to particular person taxpayers, companies, and nonprofits, in addition to return preparation providers by means of her agency the Regulation Workplace of Beverly Winstead. She can also be an adjunct professor at her alma mater, the College of Maryland Faculty of Regulation, the place she was the director of the Low-Revenue Taxpayer Clinic.

Paul Miller is a CPA in New York, the place he runs Miller & Firm LLP, an accounting agency with a number of workplaces in New York Metropolis and across the nation, and over 25 staff. His agency presents tax accounting and consulting providers for roughly 3,000 people and enterprise purchasers.

David D. Stewart: What kind of points did you discuss?

Marie Sapirie: We spoke in regards to the specific challenges that taxpayers and practitioners are more likely to expertise within the upcoming submitting season, from the processing delays on the IRS to the implementation of laws handed final 12 months.

David D. Stewart: All proper, let’s go to that interview.

Marie Sapirie: Thanks, Beverly and Paul, for becoming a member of me at present to debate this 12 months’s tax submitting season.

Paul Miller: You are welcome. Respect you having us on.

Beverly Winstead: Thanks.

Marie Sapirie: First, let’s discuss in regards to the impression of the IRS’s backlog. The IRS has already sounded the alarm that this 12 months’s submitting season could also be extra turbulent than in years previous. That announcement got here proper because the taxpayer advocate wrote in her report back to Congress that final 12 months was probably the most difficult 12 months that taxpayers and professionals have ever skilled. A big a part of the rationale for the possible challenges is that the IRS is beginning the brand new submitting season with a backlog of unprocessed returns from final 12 months.

What has been the impression of that backlog thus far on taxpayers? How do you suggest the taxpayers put together for this submitting season?

Beverly Winstead: The impression that I am seeing is that it is actually been plenty of frustration amongst the practitioners, those that observe like myself, as a result of we all know we will not actually assist facilitate IRS processing the returns. There’s additionally frustration from the taxpayers as a result of they want their cash. They want their refunds.

Additionally, as you’ll be able to see, frustration from Taxpayer Advocate Service, as a result of there’s nothing that they will do additionally. They’ve little or no potential to assist facilitate the IRS with truly transferring these tax returns alongside. I am certain frustration from the IRS additionally, as a result of they wish to transfer quicker, however they only actually haven’t got the assets to essentially do all the pieces that they have been tasked to do.

Paul Miller: Final 12 months was very troublesome for the fixed delays and as much as the final minute, the federal government ready for the delay, as in simply the case with Hurricane Ida. They waited till the final minute, which places folks beneath plenty of stress and offers folks the chance to delay.

For instance, there’s an extension proper now of the 2020 tax submitting for folks affected by Hurricane Ida up till February 15. You might be already within the graduation of 2021’s tax submitting, and you continue to have an open door for 2020.

The IRS introduced that there have been 6 million returns backlogged, they usually shut down the digital submitting system for his or her annual upkeep on January 3, which may be very uncommon contemplating the truth that you prolonged the deadline for each estimated tax funds, in addition to any filings due on 10/15.

You’ve gotten lots of people who have not filed, you might have an incredible backlog of 6 million returns, which is 5 million greater than regular, and the IRS not likely speaking nonetheless a lot about both the IRS, the Treasury, or Social Safety that obtained hacked final 12 months. There’s been Senate conferences, however there’s been no disclosure on it.

The IRS is holding lots of people’s refunds as a result of they do not even know if the return that they are is definitely the return that was filed.

I’ve had quite a few purchasers needed to re-file. I’ve had quite a few purchasers that haven’t gotten their refunds, and it has been a serious, main drawback. As a preparer, I haven’t got many solutions for purchasers apart from once we name the tax practitioners hotline, they inform us that they are in course of or they ask us for extra info.

It will be very attention-grabbing this 12 months to see how these new pin numbers work out with the submitting of the return and if that’ll trigger additional delay. As a result of with the hacking of the federal government, the federal government concurrently issued an alert for everyone to get a pin quantity, and now these pin numbers come within the mail. Coming within the mail and having to coordinate with nevertheless many individuals you put together their returns for goes to essentially additional delay, or trigger extra issues.

These are among the highlights. I believe it’ll be a difficult 12 months. We have in my workplace have additionally braced for the truth that we might, as might anyone, be affected by COVID-19. We have all ready, in that I’ve given out exams to each certainly one of my employees members, in order that they’ve a number of exams in case they do find yourself having to bow out for every week or 10 days. Scary instances.

Marie Sapirie: Turning to the query of customer support on the IRS versus enforcement, calling the IRS to get questions answered has been particularly troublesome for taxpayers lately. The taxpayer advocate’s report stated that the IRS’s customer support representatives answered 32 million calls of the 282 million that the company obtained final 12 months.

In mild of the customer support difficulties, the taxpayer advocate and different skilled teams have beneficial that the IRS must prioritize taxpayer service over compliance efforts. What would you prefer to see the IRS do to enhance customer support?

Paul Miller: I believe I wish to see the agent on the telephone be out there to reply or resolve extra of the issues on the telephone. They need to job the individual or the agent that they placed on the telephone with the capabilities of resolving the problem at hand.

I believe that plenty of instances it is a name again. They’ll deal with a number of of the duties. They cannot deal with the vast majority of the duties. It is also extremely troublesome at present to get an auditor on the telephone. I believe that if I used to be operating the IRS, I’d grant extra talents to the folks answering the phone.

Beverly Winstead: That is truly an excellent level, Paul. I believe one of many issues I realized again in December, which I did not know, is that IRS makes use of the identical individuals who solutions the telephones to additionally course of the returns. If the returns are getting processed, nobody is answering the telephones. In the event that they’re answering the telephones, the returns do not get processed.

Now we’re in a scenario the place we’re about to enter one other tax season, as Paul talked about. IRS is behind 6 million tax returns. Now could be the time when taxpayers usually need two issues. They need to have the ability to name IRS and have IRS reply the telephone, in addition to additionally get their returns processed. Two competing pursuits if the one who solutions the telephone can also be processing the return.

I am actually involved about this tax season additionally, as a result of as I stated earlier than, it is plenty of frustration from all people. However relating to customer support, IRS positively must reply the telephone and, as Paul says, be capable of resolve the problem.

Every part begins with, they’re just below staffed. They actually haven’t got the capability to do what they’re tasked to do, and I can solely think about, if we’re 6 million behind now, by the top of this tax season, I’d enterprise to say we’re in all probability going to be about 8 million behind. It is time to simply brace your self.

Marie Sapirie: Persevering with with the subject of prioritizing customer support, there have been a number of requires the IRS to droop all automated assortment notices till the company is present, or at the very least extra present, on processing the unique and amended returns and the unprocessed correspondence. There additionally appears to be some curiosity in Congress about pausing automated notices.

How are the processing delays and the automated notices particularly affecting taxpayers? What ought to we anticipate going into the brand new submitting season?

Paul Miller: I believe anyone who will get an IRS discover is disturbed. I believe the intent to levy is a really disturbing letter. I believe I wish to see much less of that.

I believe, once more, it must be a re-analysis of what they’re doing. They instantly ship out these letters when they might have the knowledge an individual could have made a cost. Remember that with the IRS being shut down, plenty of funds have been being made manually.

When the funds are being made manually, we noticed plenty of mailmen not delivering mail and a backlog in mail. Lots of funds have been sitting there. I personally had a shopper who had a 2019 return, which was in a field delivered to the IRS, and it was simply sitting there, they usually’re nonetheless sending out letters to him, although they’ve obtained this return.

It isn’t a straightforward reply. The system is damaged and it is not simple to repair. However I believe if they often make strides to say, “OK, this works, this does not work,” and attempt to transfer extra readily, Like Beverly says, having an individual answering the telephone and inputting the return does not make plenty of sense.

I believe they need to open up the phone traces extra. I’ve by no means heard any particular person not complain about being on a phone name with the IRS. I do not perceive why they can not make investments more cash. It is a income for the federal government. That is their income. Why not spend money on it?

Beverly Winstead: I believe this 12 months is unquestionably going to be attention-grabbing when it comes to the notices which can be popping out. IRS actually ought to focus their efforts on, “What’s the most urgent problem?” And actually, probably the most urgent problem is processing the returns and getting folks their refunds.

I run the Low-Revenue Taxpayer Clinic on the College of Maryland, and an individual who’s a low-income taxpayer positively is impacted by the truth that they are not getting their refunds.

I had a shopper name me in misery, and this was early on within the pandemic. Ordinarily you’d be capable of get TAS on the road and attempt to facilitate a extra expeditious refund. However that positively did not occur, as a result of TAS is inundated too. There’s such a backlog with TAS additionally.

I known as my native taxpayer advocate workplace, and the message on the telephone was like, “Hey, now we have an enormous backlog, anticipate a name again inside 30 days.” What? 30 days?

The moratorium on foreclosures and evictions was lifted in August 2021, at the very least right here in Maryland. Folks nonetheless have not gotten their refund, and that is the cash that they may use so as to have the ability to stay one other day of their condominium or home, significantly in the event that they qualify for the earned revenue tax credit score or the kid tax credit score.

That is greater than only a monetary, “I have not gotten my tax return.” It is also a livelihood, a well being problem. As a result of in case you are not in a position to pay your hire, guess what? You are stressed. All these items impacts your well being. You are attempting to determine the place are you going to stay? How are you going to feed your children?

I wish to see IRS put their efforts and assets towards processing the returns versus assortment, and even audits. They actually ought to be taking all their manpower and attempting to determine how they will course of these returns.

Marie Sapirie: Let’s transfer to among the large tax regulation modifications which have affected people. This previous 12 months, following the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act, the IRS distributed further financial impression funds and launched the month-to-month funds of the advance youngster tax credit score.

How will the modifications have an effect on return preparation this season?

Beverly Winstead: I do tax returns too. Three years in the past, I did not have any grey hair. The final three years coping with this pandemic, have you learnt how a lot grey hair I’ve gotten? Simply coping with the frustration of all the pieces that is taking place on this pandemic, after which now I can solely simply think about how difficult this season goes to be.

You are going to have taxpayers that are available in, who obtained the advance youngster tax credit score or the third stimulus examine, they usually’re not going to have their paperwork. They are not going to recollect what they obtained. Despite the fact that IRS sends the letters.

Many individuals aren’t going to recollect what they obtained, they usually’re not going have that letter. We’re doing lots to attempt to educate those that they should deliver that letter in, however I do know lots of people aren’t going to have it.

As soon as we file the return, they might be considering they will get a sure refund again, after which when they do not get that refund again, we’re coping with a flurry of calls from taxpayers. “Why’s my refund brief?”

Then now we have to cease and examine why the refund is brief if we will. We’ll say, “Hey, ship us a replica of the discover once you get the discover.” Then the discover is just not even actually clear. It simply says, “It is a math error. Your stimulus examine wasn’t calculated. Your restoration rebate credit score was not calculated appropriately.”

It makes it seem like we did one thing fallacious because the taxpayer, like, we did not do the return work, and that is not true. It is that no matter you stated that you just obtained because the restoration rebate credit score did not match what IRS has of their system that they gave to you.

That is one other factor that form of provides to the frustration, as a result of now your shopper is like, “Nicely, you did not put together an correct return. That is what I stated I used to be speculated to get,” they usually depend on that. As soon as they approve that return and it says they will get a refund of $3,600, after which the refund comes again $2,400, effectively guess what? That is $1,200 that that they had accounted for and allotted to cowl another expense. Proper?

Paul Miller: Or could have spent already.

Beverly Winstead: Oh, yeah, or could have spent it already. So, that is one factor.

The opposite factor is that I do know that is going to be an issue, I already foresee it, is those that obtained these advance youngster tax credit funds. Guess what? Lots of people simply thought it was free cash, significantly with the confusion round stimulus checks. They’re similar to, “Oh, I obtained my stimulus examine.” I’ve folks name me, “Oh, I obtained one other stimulus examine.”

After they go and file their tax return in 2022, and it must be reconciled again to the 2021 tax return, and their refund is shorter than what they usually get in prior years, they will really feel like they have been taken benefit of, like they have been duped by the federal government. They spent that cash once they have been getting it each month, not understanding that each one that stuff needed to be claimed on the tax return the following submitting season.

It is humorous as a result of I would stated I used to be fasting from wine this 12 months. However I’ll have to select a glass of wine up a few times throughout this tax season.

Paul Miller: Beverly brings up plenty of strong factors. I believe if you consider what is going on to be a giant problem this tax season, you need to return to the primary matter that we talked about, which is the delay in submitting.

What occurs if a few of these folks, which is unquestionably going to occur, have filed and their returns have not been processed? And so they have an over-payment on their unique return, or they’ve creditor-led carryforwards or they’ve some passive loss carryforwards?

Tax returns roll from one 12 months to the following, and you may be challenged by getting the 2021 return earlier than they’ve processed their 2020 return. That is going to create much more notices, extra confusion.

I would love the federal government to say at present, “We’ll lengthen the deadline now, and let’s not wait. And a part of us extending the deadline is, possibly solely till February 15 we will settle for 2020 returns. Or simply one way or the other you’ll be able to solely file your 2021 when you did not, until you’ve got already filed 2020, or now we have 2020 on file.” I believe that is one thing that they actually need to consider, as a result of as a preparer, I take into consideration this stuff.

We now have a shopper proper now who has his 2019 return who cannot get a creditor-led carryforward — it is some huge cash — and he has fraud on his account. To get that eliminated you need to bodily get the taxpayer on the telephone, they usually should determine themselves.

These are troublesome issues to do. First getting the IRS on the telephone, second discovering a time when the shopper goes to get on the telephone with you. I discover it overwhelming.

We have held folks’s returns to not manually file for the 21-day maintain, three-week interval for upkeep, and now we will begin submitting all these 2020 returns to attempt to have them acknowledged once they file their 2021 return. You simply have to consider that for a second and say, “Wow, that is lots. It is lots that this is occurring and no person’s paying any consideration to this.” It isn’t even a mentioned merchandise.

That is the federal government’s cash. It is crucial factor we want. It will be fully overwhelming. You see, nobody’s desirous about this like, “He is obtained a carryforward. Did he get his refund from final 12 months? He did not get his refund from final 12 months. Are we going to get our refund this 12 months?” It is lots.

Marie Sapirie: Very like particular person taxpayers, companies have additionally seen new developments within the tax regulation, they usually should cope with these. What are the main points you see within the submitting season forward for enterprise taxpayers that you just work with?

Paul Miller: I believe enterprise taxpayers, all people continues to be forgetting about their forgiveness of their Paycheck Safety Program mortgage. I believe that is a difficulty lots of people are ignoring and we attempt to deliver it to their consideration.

Lots of people are nonetheless ready for his or her second Financial Damage Catastrophe Mortgage, in the event that they’re out there. It looks like that is gone radio silent on the authorities’s finish.

When it comes to new tax developments, it is fairly just like final 12 months, besides increasing for inflation, which is a giant quantity. 

I simply suppose any of the cash that you have gotten from the federal government or obtained from the federal government, whether or not it would be an area stimulus, a federal stimulus, “Is it taxable or is it not taxable?” is a giant problem. However the restaurant revitalization program is just not taxable, and plenty of purchasers have obtained that cash in New York Metropolis.

Processing all of these nuances and modifications for a preparer and a agency is lots. Getting all people up to the mark and who’s working remotely? Who’s working within the workplace? You attempt to accommodate the entire employees to offer them what works greatest for everyone, and everybody’s anxiousness, and everybody’s fears and strengths, and it is troublesome as a result of this can be a enterprise that is very related.

You are related to the employees. You are related to the purchasers. It is very onerous to delegate that and never have them related with you at some degree, both within the agency or on a digital assembly.

However I believe, the identical factor with companies, the identical factor with people, it’ll take lots. I would really like the federal government to acknowledge now if they will lengthen the deadline and never say, “Nicely, I am simply giving folks an out.” That is the federal government’s mentality.

They suppose that in the event that they lengthen the deadline, all people will lengthen. However possibly that is smart this 12 months to offer all people an opportunity to catch up, together with the IRS, and letting us know forward of time, so Beverly does not should drink an excessive amount of wine, or I do.

I gave that up 9 or 10 years in the past, however that is high-quality, I completely perceive. Sleep can also be one thing we might use much more of. However it’s a hectic time for everyone, and I do not suppose it is truthful to have all of us get grays, all of us want some kind of aid to place this quantity of stress on folks for a career for a really brief time frame.

Beverly Winstead: Lots of what Paul says I agree with, and I’d say the very same factor. I believe the identical points that plague the person processing are also plaguing the enterprise neighborhood.

We filed purposes for S corp conversions and C corp conversions, and haven’t gotten any response from IRS. If we have gotten a response, it has been a 12 months, two years later. Shoppers are actually on this holding sample, as a result of they do not know whether or not or not they’re going to be accepted for an S corp or C corp or if they need to be submitting as a restricted legal responsibility firm. That is one problem.

The opposite problem that, and I do not do plenty of work on this space, however positively see is the worker retention credit score. That was new beneath the Coronavirus Help, Aid, and Financial Safety Act. I do know individuals are nonetheless attempting to grasp and see if it applies to them. The worker retention credit score truly has been modified three or 4 instances, beneath the assorted legal guidelines, so individuals are attempting to determine whether or not or not it applies to them.

Then, as Paul says, you bought the PPP, you bought the EIDL, you bought grants, whether or not it is state and native. It might be taxable on the federal degree, however not the state degree, or nontaxable on the federal degree, taxable on the state degree. It is positively lots.

That is what I inform individuals who plenty of instances they’ll simply rent someone simply to do their return. It might be their uncle, cousin, or someone like that. I do not suppose now could be a time to only get someone to do your return. You actually need to go to an expert who has been holding abreast of the tax legal guidelines and may help you navigate at present’s tax system.

As a result of I have been doing this for like 15 years. By no means in my life, my younger life, have I skilled simply a lot. It is positively a unique atmosphere when you find yourself actually serving taxpayers and attempting to assist them adjust to tax legal guidelines.

Paul Miller: Proper. It is a career that is one of many least fascinating professions to enter. It isn’t a glorified career. That even places extra of a pressure. Much less staffing out there, extra work.

Authorities has thrust a lot compliance on preparers, it is difficult to satisfy all of their requests at each degree. Each month it is one thing new they’re asking for.

They simply despatched out this new regulation the place Zelle and PayPal, and all these folks are actually going to begin reporting $600 funds. Nicely, when you’re already charging it on a bank card and it is already included in your 1099, then you do not have problem with 1099. Not all people is aware of that.

These are the little nuances, however there are numerous bigger nuances. I would not say the system’s damaged; I simply suppose that all the pieces might be improved, and I do not know why it is not being improved.

When Michael Bloomberg turned mayor right here and he put 311 in, and it was like, “Why does not the IRS have a 311? We want assist.” Anyone who solutions the telephone, and who can truly assist the people and provides them a peace of thoughts once they want it.

Marie Sapirie: Let’s attempt to finish on a excessive notice. What facet of the submitting season do you suppose or hope will go significantly easily this 12 months?

Beverly Winstead: I am all the time hopeful. And I do wish to finish on a superb notice. I do wish to say I actually respect the onerous work that the IRS staff truly present. I simply obtained off the telephone earlier at present in an appeals listening to with certainly one of my purchasers and it was truly fairly cordial. The appeals officer was in good spirits.

Once I say that it is as a result of plenty of instances we’re bashing IRS, we’re bashing IRS, and I do know that they are working onerous. Do not get me fallacious. I respect them actually attempting.

I simply suppose that they do not have the capability to do all the pieces that they are tasked with doing. Just like the advance youngster tax credit, I do know by statute they needed to get the funds out starting July 15, however Congress actually ought to have held off on that, in my view, to permit IRS to deal with processing the returns.

However no, you stated, “IRS you bought to course of the returns. IRS, you bought to return and refund those that overpaid unemployment,” or it was tax on unemployment as a result of the regulation did not go for the exclusion till after IRS’s techniques have been up and returns have been being filed, so that they had to return and problem these refunds.

In addition they needed to manually have a look at the earned revenue tax credit score the prior 12 months to ensure that folks qualify for the earned revenue tax credit score. Then you definately needed to problem restoration rebate credit score. In addition they needed to do the advance youngster tax credit score cost. It was simply method an excessive amount of, method an excessive amount of.

I do respect each IRS worker and their work. Like I stated, I have been doing this 15 years, I am pals with some folks within the IRS to the extent you might be pals with folks, and I respect it.

On a optimistic notice, I’ll say I believe that all of us are going to work collectively and attempt to ship the perfect service. Whether or not we’re practitioners on this facet. Whether or not or not it is an IRS worker. Whether or not or not it is TAS.

I believe crucial factor once we’re coping with anyone is simply ensuring that on this COVID-19 period, that everybody stays wholesome and that we additionally proceed to offer one another grace.

Paul Miller: The optimistic factor about tax season is all people within the agency all the time comes collectively. You choose up the people who find themselves struggling. You trip with the people who find themselves doing rather well.

My expertise in talking in regards to the IRS is, I’ve all the time felt that the individual, the person, the auditor, the consultant on the telephone, whoever you are coping with is a human being, they usually’ve all the time accomplished what I contemplate to be their job or an acceptable job.

I am not saying anyone cannot have a foul day, anybody cannot be off. You begin on the high and say, “We all know it’ll be powerful, however let’s simply do the perfect we will and attempt to assist all people.” My expectations for anybody I get on the telephone is, “Are you able to assist me?” As a result of that is all I am asking for.

As a result of all we’re attempting to do is assist purchasers and supply a service, they usually’re offering a service to us, they usually should not simply have a look at it as that, “I’ve a job and I am getting paid 9-5.” They need to take delight within the job that they do. For probably the most half, the folks I’ve gotten on the telephone, I might say that I’ve gotten that feeling.

I believe in America the place everybody is worried about themselves or anxious about themselves, I believe it is a group, we’re all a group and we have to come collectively to assist one another. That is what I would really like. That is what I am hoping for on daily basis, and I keep eternally optimistic, and that is the vibe that I run for my agency.

Marie Sapirie: Nicely, thanks a lot, Beverly and Paul, for becoming a member of the podcast at present.

Paul Miller: You are most welcome. Thanks for having me.

Beverly Winstead: Thanks for having us.