22 Jan Loving v. IRS deals blow to IRS Regulation of Tax Return Preparers
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in Enrolled Agent, IRS Enforcement, PTIN, Tax Abuse, Tax Court, Tax Fraud, Tax Guidance & Preparation, Tax Preparer, Tax Problems & Requests, Tax Whistle Blower, Taxpayer Advocate
In Loving v. IRS the IRS’ authority to regulate commercial tax return preparers has been successfully challenged. United States District Court for the District of Columbia Judge James E. Boasberg granted Loving’s motion for summary judgment describing the IRS Rules as “Ultra Vires.”
“Ultra Vires” as I understand is a legal term meaning “beyond the powers” referring to an activity that exceeds the powers granted to the person (or entity) engaging in that activity creating what the opinion calls “an invalid regulatory regime.”
As I further understand this means that tax return preparers who have not yet taken the competency test do NOT have to take it. It also means that there will be no Registered Tax Return Preparers (RTRPs) with the IRS and that the industry goes back to the way things were in 2009, before the Tax Return Preparer Initiative was launched. The wild, wild west where incompetency and fraud ran rampant. The only exception noted is that all tax return preparers still must register for and receive an annually renewable practitioner tax identification number or PTIN.
How will the IRS respond? This will be interesting to watch develop. Check out The Original Complaint.