Preparer penalties tax gap.

• Author: Hoops, Jeffrey R.

The Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of 2007 (SBWOA '07) was enacted on May 25, 2007. (It was passed as part of the package that extended funding for the war in Iraq.) SBWOA '07 changes the rules for imposing a return preparer penalty and increases the penalty amount. Under the new rules, the IRS can impose a penalty on a preparer if an undisclosed position on a tax return does not meet the "more likely than not" standard. Further, the penalty can be imposed with respect to a disclosed position for which there is no reasonable basis. It now applies to preparers of estate and gift tax, employment tax, and excise tax returns, as well as returns of exempt organizations, not just income tax returns. In addition, the penalty is increased to the greater of $1,000 ($5,000 if the failure is due to willfulness or intentional disregard of the rules and regulations) or 50% of the return-preparation fee. These changes were effective for returns prepared after the date of enactment.

It is important for MCPA members to understand these changes. For the first time, the standards are higher for preparers than for taxpayers. For taxpayers, the penalty standard remains at "substantial authority" for undisclosed positions and "reasonable basis" for disclosed positions.

Attempts at Change

The AICPA worked to get Congress to change these proposals before they were enacted. When Tax Division members learned of the proposals, they had numerous meetings and phone calls with the staffs of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation. The AICPA outlined objections to the proposals and suggested workable changes. Those comments were summarized in a letter sent to the Joint Committee on Taxation on May 18, 2007.

While these proposals were under consideration by Congress, the MCPA Council was meeting in Washington, DC. As a result, AICPA staff and Council members were able to jointly meet with the leadership of both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss the proposed changes to the preparer penalties.

Unfortunately, the bill passed without any changes to the proposals. After enactment, even some members of Treasury and the Service expressed surprise at passage of the preparer penalty changes and the new rules' scope and effective date. It became clear that complying with the new law would be very difficult for tax return preparers and taxpayers. Further, implementing...