In the blogs: What are they thinking?

The long reach of Uncle Sam; send it back; new blog on the block; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

What are they thinking?

• Tax Vox (https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/): The IRS Strategic Plan is "a serious and comprehensive effort to bring the agency into the 21st century," which would be nice, but there are difficult lingering questions — "some technical, some political."
• Tax Foundation (https://taxfoundation.org/blog): At this historical pinch point for production, some countries' investment incentives are scheduled to decrease — including in four nations that account for nearly a quarter of global private investment.
• Armanino (https://www.armanino.com/articles/): The Securities and Exchange Commission has a ruling that looks to adopt incentive-based compensation clawback provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. Will this change how your clients' accounting mistakes are scrutinized?
• National Association of Tax Professionals (https://blog.natptax.com/): The IRS is still finalizing some of its rules, including specifying which non-fungible tokens will be considered collectibles, but the temporary rules until final guidance do provide a window into IRS thinking.
• Vertex (https://www.vertexinc.com/resources/resource-library/filter/field_asset_type/blog?page=0): "Tax compliance activities can be considered a necessary evil," according to the European Parliament's Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies. "But, at the same time, they burden private enterprises with costs that may eventually cause them additional tax-induced burden." The response of many tax leaders struggling to manage VAT returns? " 'Tell me about it.' " 

Far and wide

• HBK (https://hbkcpa.com/insights/): "Accidental Americans" are living in a different country unaware that they're U.S. citizens — with all the related tax filing obligations that come with that privilege.
• Virginia – US Tax Talk (https://us-tax.org/about-this-us-tax-blog/): Another look at a recent gift from a Polish lottery winner and the intricacies of international taxation on a straightforward gift from mom.
• The Tax Times (https://www.thetaxtimes.com): Deceased nonresidents who were not American citizens are subject to U.S. estate taxation with respect to their U.S.-situated assets — and many who are doing returns in this limited area don't know all the tax-saving  probabilities.
• Avalara (https://www.avalara.com/blog/en/north-america.html): Maine ponders a seasonal sales tax.
• Taxjar (https://www.taxjar.com/resources/blog): Economic nexus in Mississippi.
• TaxConnex (https://www.taxconnex.com/blog-): A recent survey examines how satisfied companies are with the effort it takes them to comply with sales tax law.
• Peisner Johnson (https://peisnerjohnson.com/blog/): Automating parts of the sales tax process can help compliance, but often only if the process to follow is clear. Unfortunately, the sales tax process is typically ambiguous and nuanced. Tech pitfalls to look for.
• Sovos (https://sovos.com/blog/): Not to mention considerations of moving sales tax compliance processes into the cloud.
• Taxbuzz (https://www.taxbuzz.com/blog): The Massachusetts Speaker of the House has unveiled a $654 million tax cut plan, which is geared toward helping the state's senior citizens, renters, homeowners and small-business owners. 
• Rubin on Tax (http://rubinontax.floridatax.com/): A new decision is a welcome clarification of Florida waiver-of-homestead-by-deed issues.

Set a good precedent

• TaxProf Blog (http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/): A look at the recent IRS ruling that forced sterilization payments are excludable from income.
• National Taxpayer Advocate (https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/taxnews-information/blogs-nta/): The ability of the IRS to assess a Chapter 61 penalty was recently challenged before the Tax Court in Farhy v. Commissioner and, "in a precedential decision," the court held that the IRS lacks statutory authority to assess and collect penalties under IRC 6038(b).
• Solutions For CPA Firm Leaders (http://ritakeller.com/blog/): Fixing mistakes (with input from the reviewer) is how new people learn and progress. Yet re-doing the work for them in the interest of speedy workflow seems a difficult habit for managers and partners to break. For the good of your firm, don't hesitate to treat a new pro's goofs like an underdone steak.
• Von Lehman CPA and Advisory Firm (https://vlcpa.com/articles/): Documentation and accountability are always important in business, but possibly more so for nonprofits. This chart helps you and your nonprofit clients stay atop the details.
• The Rosenberg Associates (https://rosenbergassoc.com/blog/): Times have changed for CPA firms: staffing crises, remote workers, tech advances, retiring partners … Strategic planning needs a new model. Here's a look at one.

New to us

• Meyers Brothers Kalicka (https://www.mbkcpa.com/insights): This Massachusetts firm offers their take on a half dozen of the hottest topics, including health care, nonprofits and, of course, taxation. Recent entries cover QCDs and SECURE 2.0, successful nonprofit finance, cybersecurity and Sec. 179D. Welcome!