IRS

An IRS special agent is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose information regarding what the agent contends is mishandling of an investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.

If you receive payments via apps like Venmo, Zelle, Cash App or PayPal, your tax reporting requirements will change next year.

It’s that time of year when throngs of taxpayers are buckling down to file their income tax returns before Tuesday’s filing deadline, and many often pay to use software from private companies such as Intuit and H&R Block.

The deadline to file your taxes has arrived.

The Internal Revenue Service’s new commissioner promises that with billions in new funding, the agency will be faster, more service-focused and tech- savvy and will provide “real-world improvements” to taxpayers.

KPRC 2 Community is partnered with BakerRipley and Telemundo Houston to host a tax help phone bank on March 30 until 6:30 p.m. Volunteers are standing by to take calls in both English and Spanish. The phone number to call is 713-778-8920.

If you’ve finally gotten your taxes filed, you’re probably ready to put it all away and move on. Have you considered which documents you should keep? And for how long?

Willie Nelson owed millions in taxes, so the IRS came up with an idea to help.

We are right in the middle of tax filing season for 2022. Still, millions of returns from previous years are still not processed. The backlog is impacting a lot of people, including one Houston woman who called our KPRC 2 Investigates team for help.

We are right in the middle of tax filing season for 2022. Still, millions of returns from previous years are still not processed. The backlog is impacting a lot of people, including one Houston woman who called our KPRC 2 Investigates team for help.

Without the state’s safety net, districts with pending bond projects must now decide whether to pay more in interest or halt construction.

The Internal Revenue Service is extending help to taxpayers by opening a special assistance center in southwest Houston Saturday.

The IRS says most relief checks issued by states last year won't be subject to federal taxes, providing late guidance as taxpayers have begun filing returns.

Tax season is here again.

House Republicans have began their tenure in the majority by passing a bill that would rescind nearly $71 billion that Congress had provided the IRS.

Former President Donald Trump’s tax returns are expected to be released by the House Ways and Means Committee on Friday.

Now that the Democratic-controlled House Ways and Means Committee has voted to release former President Donald Trump’s tax returns, there's the potential of additional revelations in the coming days related to the finances of the longtime businessman.

The House has taken action after disclosures the IRS never fully reviewed Donald Trump’s tax returns during his presidency.

An IRS policy governing the audits of tax returns filed by U.S. presidents is under new scrutiny.

A congressional panel says the IRS failed to pursue mandatory audits of Donald Trump on a timely basis during his presidency.

Under the state’s Permanent School Fund’s Bond Guarantee Program, schools get the best interest rate on bonds. That soon may be over if the federal government doesn’t act.

A former Houston area tax preparer has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction of fraudulently filing tax returns from 2014 to 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Ghost tax preparer allegedly cost U.S. Government $4.4 million.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is laying out her vision for a modernized, responsive, tech-savvy tax collection agency equipped to manage 21st century challenges.

Have you ever wondered how Costco came into our lives?

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has directed the IRS to develop a plan within six months outlining how the tax agency will modernize its technology, customer service and hiring.

President Joe Biden has signed Democrats’ landmark climate change and health care bill.

Democrats have pushed their landmark climate and health care bill through Congress, handing an election-year victory to President Joe Biden.

A woman from the Houston area now faces prison time after she plead guilty to tax fraud, U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery announced.

Monday is Tax Day, the federal deadline for individual tax filings and payments.

Millions of Americans wait until the last minute to file their taxes, and this year is no exception.

With child tax credits and stimulus refunds, you may need help figuring out your taxes this year. Mom and pop offices pop up this time of year, and you should know the red flags to look out for.

For those animal lovers who spend so much money on their pets and hope to recoup some of that cash spent when tax season arrives, this is the cold, hard reality: For the most part, you can’t.

The IRS criminal investigation arm tasked with tracking down sanctioned Russian oligarchs' property failed to receive an infusion of money in the Ukraine aid package.

You likely know what “income” means, and of course you’re aware of federal and state taxes, and the fact that we have to do them (or have them prepared for us, in some cases), every year. But how much do you know about income tax overall?

Congress is racing to pass a mammoth $1.5 trillion legislative package that would fund the government for the rest of the year.

In many cases, the victim of check fraud is out thousands of dollars even though their bank cashed the forged or fraudulent checks. Our KPRC 2 Investigates team is getting answers about who is ultimately liable.

Whether you’re new to owning your own business or a seasoned vet, taxes can be so stressful. It’s easy to overlook things or simply forget an item here and there.

Tax season is officially here, meaning you have the next couple months to get those returns filed! This year’s IRS deadline is April 18.

Alternative finance has captured the attention of investors across the U.S. As the 2022 tax season approaches, traders who are new to cryptocurrency taxation will have to contend with the IRS’ rules for reporting on taxable events.

The White House and Treasury Department launched a revamped Child Tax Credit website meant to help people who were eligible for the expanded tax credit under last year’s pandemic relief bill claim the second half of the payment they were due.

U.S. taxpayers, brace yourselves because tax filing season starts Monday and you can expect the task to be more cumbersome than usual this year.

For those who plan on donating to a charitable organization for Giving Tuesday, there could be some opportunities to receive money back when filing taxes next year.

The Internal Revenue Service is gearing up for the 2022 tax season, and taxpayers are encouraged to plan ahead.

KPRC 2 investigates the IRS backlog and how it’s impacting people in our area. Right now, the United States Treasury is still working on some 9 million tax returns from 2020. The delays are causing a domino effect for business owners who need their tax returns to get emergency disaster loans. One Woodlands couple called KPRC 2 Investigates because they worry they will have to close their business if they can’t get help soon.

Don't focus on the bottom line.

What does Bitcoin have to do with roads and bridges.

Lawyers for Donald Trump on Wednesday urged a federal judge to block the Treasury Department from handing his tax returns over to the House Ways and Means Committee.

A Republican senator who helped negotiate a nearly trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill says a proposal to strengthen IRS enforcement to raise money to help pay for the bill's spending is officially off the table.

The first of six child tax credit payments to parents will hit bank accounts and mailboxes on July 15. Some families may absolutely need the money now to pay bills. That is why President Biden pushed the advance payments. If you don’t need it, there are several reasons you may want to opt-out of receiving the early payments.

The Internal Revenue Service has launched two new online tools designed to help parents manage their monthly child tax credit payments.

Republicans in Congress are alarmed by the leak of confidential IRS data to ProPublica that has enabled the investigative news organization to reveal that famous billionaires including Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg paid little in U.S. income tax at times.

Two key U.S. senators introduced legislation Wednesday designed to spur faster payouts from donor-advised funds and foundations, giving new momentum to an effort that has deeply divided philanthropy.

Starting this summer, the federal government is sending money to parents with children as part of the expanded child tax credit. The child tax credit is not new. Parents can claim a $2,000 credit per child when you file your taxes. What is new this year is that the credit is much higher for certain families and you don't have to wait until you file your 2021 taxes to get it.

Have you done your taxes yet? If not, there are some new tax credits and deductions you need to know about so you get the most money back from Uncle Sam this year.

A U.S. tax court has handed a major victory to the estate of Michael Jackson in a years-long battle.

At KPRC 2, we’re dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston.

HOUSTON – If you collected unemployment in 2020, you could get a bigger tax refund. Usually, when you collect unemployment, you have to pay federal income tax on that money. This year, you do not have to pay taxes on $10,200 of those benefits if you earned less than $150,000. Mary Bynum emailed consumer expert Amy Davis, writing, “I collected unemployment in 2020 and filed my return and received my refund in mid-February. On the IRS website, the agency explains what forms you should use and file if you are doing your taxes yourself to get the tax break.

If you already anticipate needing some extra time to file your federal tax return, there’s some good news. You can always file for an extension.

If you grew up watching your parents get stressed around tax season, then you're probably not looking forward to filing yourself for the first time.

The Internal Revenue Service says it's delaying the traditional tax filing deadline from April 15 until May 17. The pandemic hit in the middle of last year's tax filing season, setting the agency back in terms of processing. Additionally, the extension gives the IRS time to issue guidance on recent tax law changes. Ad“Never before has the law changed so substantially in the middle of tax filing season," Patrick Thomas, director of Notre Dame Law School’s Tax Clinic, said in a statement. A number of lawmakers and professionals from the tax community have urged the tax filing season be extended to accommodate for these pressures.

Even for those of us who think we have some knowledge about anything tax related, it can be a stressful time. And it's certainly not a time when you want to play a guessing game.

Even if we think we have some knowledge about anything tax-related, it can be a stressful time. And it's certainly not a time when you want to play a guessing game.

Tax season can be a reason to laugh, as these famous TV episodes showed.

A common aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two or so years has been more employees working remotely, but that doesn’t necessarily mean all those people were working from their homes.

Tax season is busier than usual for professional athletes and the people they put in charge of their taxes.

These 10 celebrities found out the hard way not to mess with the IRS.

Are you knee-deep in receipts, 1099 forms and W2s? Or are you all done?

When it comes to tax write-offs, many people will stretch the limits to see what they can get away with.

It is easy to put off doing your taxes until the last minute. No one likes to deal with the IRS, and sometimes, procrastination happens as a result.

Victims of the winter storms have until June 15, 2021, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced Monday.

Regardless of whether you’ve paid someone for help or tried to do it on your own, even just gathering all the data you need for filing your federal income taxes can seem daunting.

Free tax centers to help individuals and families with their tax returns are usually bustling this time of year. Thanks to COVID, those volunteer tax services had to change up their routine. Help is still available, but this year, but you'll have to make an appointment with one of these organizations.

Stimulus checks: When you can expect to get your moneyHOUSTON – If you know you qualified for the most recent stimulus payment but you never received it, the IRS says you will receive it when you tackle your taxes. Input the amount of money you received for the second economic impact payment, plus any amounts you received for dependents. If you don’t normally don’t file taxes, but are owed stimulus money, fill out the “non-filers” tax return form. Good newsIf you received a larger stimulus payment than you should have, the IRS will not take it back. You will get your refund back quicker than if you send your return in by snail mail.

Fortunately, there are some COVID tax breaks and credits for people who fall into those categories. The form is for folks who earned money but didn’t pay taxes on those earnings. AARP volunteer tax preparer Bart Hatfield says those workers should have put aside some money to pay those taxes. AdYou will owe taxes on your unemployment benefitsLook out for your 1099 if you collected unemployment. You will owe taxes.

By now, you should have received all of your 2020 tax statements and documents. You should know there are some things you can do when you file your taxes to keep more money for you and your family. You can use that to your advantage because this year, the IRS will let you use the income that gets you a larger earned income tax credit. If you are eligible for the EITC, the more money you make, the higher the credit you will get. If you had a higher income in 2019 than in 2020, you can use your 2019 income to get the higher amount in the EITC the child tax credit.

HOUSTON – The Senate approved the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Friday, which would include a third round of stimulus checks. Tune in as I discuss the state of our economy and the need for the American Rescue Plan. https://t.co/JmFqJvPL8z — President Biden (@POTUS) February 5, 2021READ: President Biden remarks on push for $1.9 trillion planAdThe White House is apparently open to narrowing the $1,400 stimulus checks to certain households but keeping those payments to $1,400 per person, according to the Washington Post. Congressional Republicans and senior Democrats raised concerns that Biden’s proposal to send another round of stimulus checks would give government aid to Americans who do not need it, according to reports. The third stimulus plan is in addition to the $600 checks Congress approved in December.

HOUSTON – If your second stimulus check never arrived, you may be able to track it down by requesting a payment trace. You have to listen to the recorded message before you can connect to an agent to make the request. Or you can mail or fax a completed form 3911. Mail the form to:Austin Internal Revenue Service3651 S Interregional Hwy 35Austin, TX 78741You should not mail Form 3911 if you’ve already requested a trace by phone. And you should not request a Payment Trace to determine if you were eligible to get a check, or to confirm the amount you should have received, the IRS said.

The IRS said that after initial problems, it is getting more of the second round of relief payments to taxpayers. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)The IRS said that after initial problems, it is getting more of the second round of relief payments to taxpayers. A number of tax preparation companies said that they were able to resolve the issues. The IRS said Tuesday that it worked over the weekend to help a smaller set of impacted taxpayers and is reissuing payments for eligible taxpayers whose accounts may have been closed. No action is needed for most eligible taxpayers to get the payment.

The U.S. Treasury and IRS have sent out the bulk of the second economic impact payments, which are intended to provide some relief to Americans. However, frustration is high among millions of people who did not receive payments yet and must wait for the mail or file their taxes before they receive it. If you are eligible, check the IRS Get My Payment tool on its website to find out the status of you payment. However, some people may find that they get their payment in a different form this time than last. If you get the “Payment Status #2 – Not Available” message, then you will not receive the payment and instead need to claim it on your tax return.

A number of taxpayers who use tax preparation services, such as H&R Block and TurboTax, say their second relief payments were sent to the incorrect bank account. The IRS and the Treasury Department began issuing the Economic Impact Payments last week of Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)A number of taxpayers who use tax preparation services, such as H&R Block and TurboTax, say their second relief payments were sent to the incorrect bank account, forcing them to wait longer for their money. However, many people said that they checked the IRS site and found their payments were sent to an account they did not recognize. The IRS has said that there is no action required by eligible individuals to receive this second payment.

Checks for $600 started arriving in some bank accounts via direct deposit this week. For people who didn’t file a 2019 tax return, they had to provide bank information by Dec. 22. So, what happens if you have switched bank accounts since then? According to IRS.gov, your payment information cannot be changed. AdIf your government benefits are currently deposited on a Direct Express Card, your stimulus payment will also be deposited to that card.

FILE - In this April 23, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump's name is seen on a stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, in San Antonio. There were just a few hundred coronavirus cases when Congress first started focusing on emergency spending in early March. By the end of that month, as Congress passed the massive $2.2 trillion Cares Act, cases skyrocketed above 100,000 and deaths climbed past 2,000. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

It’s worth noting that unemployment benefits are all subject to federal taxes but not all states tax it. As such, people who did not receive their payment or only got a partial payment can resolve this issue on their 2020 taxes when they file. Another big issue is for those who relocated or moved during the pandemic, which could complicate where they need to report and pay state taxes, Pyron said. Workers may need to file taxes in multiple states. The IRS continues to urge taxpayers to file their taxes online and use other online tools whenever possible.

Earlier this week, the IRS announced the 2021 tax year annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax previsions. Those include tax rate schedules and other tax changes. The following are the 2021 tax rates, which will be used when filing taxes in 2022 for the previous year of income. Taxpayers with lower incomes with have lower federal tax rates. Click or tap here to learn about more changes that have come with tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2021.

When JCT staffers disagree with the IRS on a decision, the review is typically kept open until the matter is resolved. Even acknowledging that Trump's taxes were before the panel is verboten. Representatives for the Trump Organization did not respond to messages for comment and confirmation that the Joint Tax Committee had reviewed Trump's taxes. Former JCT staffers would not comment on whether they remembered the dispute with Trump, citing confidentiality rules. Neal, the lead force behind a Democratic lawsuit to expose Trump’s taxes, said the Times’ reporting is proof that the documents should be given to Congress.

A federal judge says the IRS can't keep withholding coronavirus relief payments from incarcerated people, potentially clearing the way for at least 80,000 checks totaling more than $100 million to be sent to people behind bars across the United States. The legislation passed in March that authorized the payments of up to $1,200 per person during the pandemic doesn't specifically exclude jail or prison inmates. Still, that's exactly the claim that the IRS made a couple of weeks after the coronavirus rescue package passed. Prison officials in Maryland and California are working to notify all lock-up facilities. Some inmates may be reluctant to apply even if they hear about the ruling in time, Dermody said.

A key question is whether those deductions reported by The New York Times were excessive and possibly illegal; they enabled Trump to avoid millions of dollars in taxes. It would be up to the IRS, which is auditing some of Trump’s returns, to decide whether the deductions are legitimate. The agency defines an ordinary expense as one that’s common and accepted in a company’s trade or type of business. According to the Times, Trump has treated some of his residences as businesses, in the process deducting millions of dollars. Moreover, under the tax legislation Trump signed into law in 2017, he would have been limited to $10,000 a year in property tax deductions for 2018.

(Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON – Millions of Americans are in danger of missing coronavirus relief payments of up to $1,200 per individual because of incomplete government records, a government watchdog said in a report issued Monday. But GAO said Treasury and the IRS have still failed to update information on how many eligible recipients have yet to receive funds. The lack of "such information could hinder outreach efforts and place potentially millions of individuals at risk of missing their payment,” the GAO said in its report. The IRS then reported as of July 31 that 5.3 million individuals had used an online IRS tool for nonfilers to help them receive payments. In addition to the problem of missing individuals eligible for the payments, an earlier GAO report found that nearly 1.1 million in coronavirus relief payments totaling some $1.6 billion went to dead people.

Republicans are expected to introduce a bill today that outlines their plan for the next economic stimulus package. What if you never received the first stimulus payment? Those who havent received their stimulus checks yet can use the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website to track the status of their payment. If the tool shows your payment was issued, or you received a notice in the mail, but you have not received it, you can request a Payment trace by calling the IRS Economic Impact Payment line at 800-919-9835. People who register for a payment using the tool before then will receive their check by the end of the year.

As the coronavirus pandemic took hold this spring, the federal government postponed the traditional April 15 filing deadline until July 15. In most cases, you must file and pay your taxes by July 15. Those were originally due on April 15 and June 15 respectively. One worth noting is that July 15 is also the deadline to claim a refund for 2016 tax returns. An estimated $1.5 billion refunds for 2016 are sitting unclaimed because people failed to file tax returns.

The legislation authorizing the payments during the pandemic doesnt specifically exclude jail or prison inmates, and the IRS has refused to say exactly what legal authority it has to retrieve the money. While the IRS says checks sent to jail inmates also should be returned, the sheer number of jails and detention centers across the U.S. makes it difficult to tell if many are following those instructions. She says prison officials are accustomed to intercepting tax documents to screen for potential scams, priming them to follow this request. Intercepting relief checks may also have a disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic inmates, who are incarcerated at a higher rate than white Americans. Prison officials nationwide have been trying to intercept the checks, with varying results.

(CNN) There are about 12 million low-income people who are at risk of missing out on the federal government's stimulus payment program because they don't have to file taxes, according to an estimate from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. More than 4 million people have used the non-filer tool to get payments so far, according to the House Ways and Means Committee. On June 3, the IRS said it had sent money to all eligible Americans for whom it had the necessary information, totaling 159 million payments worth $267 billion. Most were directly deposited into people's bank accounts, but about 35 million people were sent paper checks and another 4 million were sent pre-paid debit cards in the mail. But the Ways and Means Committee has estimated that there are about 30 to 35 million payments that still need to be made.

Houston – With so many people unemployed, many are considering pulling money out of retirement plans to pay bills. Why 2020 is the best year to borrow from retirement plansThe federal CARES Act includes provisions that make it easier and less punitive for people who have been impacted by COVID-19 to take money out of their IRAs, 401ks and other qualified plans. Until the end of 2020, you can withdraw up to $100,000 from a qualified retirement account with no 10% penalty. Proceed with CautionDon’t think of this as a free pass to use your retirement money if your income has not been impacted by COVID-19. If you can’t provide that, you will likely have to pay the taxes and penalty on the money you took out.

HOUSTON – The IRS started sending the very first stimulus payments in mid-April, but they are still millions they haven’t sent out. Even if you’ve checked it before and it gave you an error message or a “payment status not available” message, check it again. If they don’t have your bank account information, the IRS will hold your payment until it received your current mailing address. (800) 919-9835(800) 829-1040Will there be another stimulus payment? A second round of stimulus payments is possible, but it will be at least a month before that would happen.

Important question: Have you gotten your stimulus check yet? In fact, most people don’t need to take any action, and will automatically receive the payment. Let’s talk through the tools available to investigate what might be holding up your check, prepaid debit card or direct deposit. You’re eligible for the Economic Impact Payment, right? Here’s a detailed list you should triple-check just to make sure you’re eligible for the payment, and see how much you should receive.

But there are qualified people still waiting for their stimulus money. According to Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Bill Spencer, here are four things you can do that might help you get your stimulus money faster:Sign up for the stimulus programIf you haven’t already, go to the IRS payment portal and see if you qualify for a payment. Make sure you use direct depositIf you have a bank account, make sure you choose direct deposit for your payment. You’re more likely to get your money faster than having a check sent in the mail. 2nd District - Rep. Dan Crenshaw7th District - Rep. Lizzie Fletcher8th District - Rep. Kevin Brady9th District - Rep. Al Green10th District - Rep. Mike McCaul14th District - Rep. Randy Weber18th District - Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee22nd District - Rep. Pete Olson29th District - Rep. Sylvia Garcia36th District - Rep. Brian Babin