Federal

  • January 14, 2025

    DOL Finalizes ERISA Voluntary Correction Program Changes

    The U.S. Department of Labor's employee benefits arm has finalized changes to a program allowing retirement plan managers to voluntarily self-correct when they fail to forward employee contributions on time or make other transaction errors, according to a notice the agency posted online Tuesday.

  • January 13, 2025

    Special Counsel Slams Biden's Critique Of Son's Prosecution

    The special counsel who oversaw the investigation into Hunter Biden, which was wiped out by a presidential pardon, released a report published Monday criticizing President Joe Biden's "baseless accusations" that his son was "selectively" prosecuted and warning that such comments threaten "the integrity of the justice system as a whole."

  • January 13, 2025

    Feds Say Par Funding Fraud Caused $404M In Losses

    Prosecutors and defense attorneys spent hours in a marathon hearing Monday trying to convince a Pennsylvania judge of how much financial damage they thought the principals of the Par Funding merchant lending business did by allegedly fleecing investors, with the government pushing for a $404 million figure.

  • January 13, 2025

    IRS Puts Out Spinoff Rules, Multiyear Reporting Regime

    The Internal Revenue Service released proposed regulations Monday for a narrow set of corporate separation transactions, known as spinoffs, that the agency will approve as tax-free ahead of time, alongside guidance detailing multiyear reporting requirements for those deals.

  • January 13, 2025

    AGs, Lobbyists Ask Justices To Keep Shell Co. Law Blocked

    The U.S. Supreme Court should deny the federal government's emergency application to stay a Texas district court's injunction on a law aimed at cracking down on crimes committed with shell companies, according to numerous state attorneys general and interest groups and a handful of small businesses.

  • January 13, 2025

    Tax Firm Asks Court To Ax Final IRS Microcaptive Rules

    A global tax services provider asked a Texas federal court to vacate finalized tax rules requiring the reporting of certain transactions involving captive insurance companies deemed as potentially abusive, arguing the guidance goes beyond the agency's authority.

  • January 13, 2025

    Sen. Warren To Grill Treasury Pick On Trump's Tax Agenda

    Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., plans to ask Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent at his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday about President-elect Donald Trump's tax agenda and plans for the Internal Revenue Service, according to a letter she sent the nominee.

  • January 13, 2025

    Tax Court Spares Woman From Fine For Frivolous Arguments

    A woman who frivolously claimed her wages were nontaxable owes $15,700 in taxes and penalties, but she doesn't owe a fine for making groundless arguments, the U.S. Tax Court said in an opinion Monday.

  • January 13, 2025

    IRS Eases Process Of Insurance Co. Alternate Tax Revocation

    The Internal Revenue Service laid out a streamlined process Monday by which certain insurance companies that took an elective application of an alternative tax may obtain automatic consent to revoke that election.

  • January 13, 2025

    The Tax Angle: GOP Lawmakers Grapple With TCJA Renewal

    From a look at Congress setting parameters for consideration of legislation to renew the GOP's 2017 tax overhaul law to other upcoming tax action in the House and Senate, here's a peek into a reporter's notebook on a few of the week's developing tax stories.

  • January 13, 2025

    Tax-Exempt Regs Should Cover Trust Payments, Tribes Say

    Five tribal leaders told the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday that trust payments distributed to members, including those issued to minors and special-needs individuals, should be included among the tribal welfare benefits that recent proposed rules would exempt from federal income taxes.

  • January 13, 2025

    Ariz. Taking Rebate Tax Fight With IRS To 9th Circ.

    Arizona is turning to the Ninth Circuit its battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the federal taxation of its 2023 rebates to taxpayers with dependents, the state told the lower court that dismissed its case.

  • January 13, 2025

    Trump Wants Higher SALT Cap, House Republican Says

    President-elect Donald Trump wants to increase the $10,000 federal cap on state and local tax deductions, a House Ways and Means Committee member said Monday.

  • January 13, 2025

    Tax-Lien Biz Atty Accused Of Duping Bank Can't Touch Money

    A Manhattan federal judge declined Monday to unfreeze assets on behalf of a former compliance lawyer accused of duping a bank into lending his tax-lien investment firm $20 million, complicating his plan to go to trial with private counsel.

  • January 13, 2025

    Justices Won't Review Reversal Of Firm's Tax Penalty Win

    The U.S. Supreme Court let stand Monday a Fifth Circuit decision overturning a jury ruling that a wealth management company didn't owe $579,000 in tax penalties because an employee's mental health problems excused the company's failure to file information returns on time.

  • January 12, 2025

    Justices To Review Whether Ex-Wife Can Challenge Tax Levy

    The U.S. Supreme Court will review a Third Circuit decision allowing a woman to continue challenging what she claims was an improper application of her tax payment to her ex-husband's bill even after the Internal Revenue Service stopped pursuing a proposed property seizure against her.

  • January 10, 2025

    Up Next At High Court: Porn ID Check & Retiree Discrimination

    The U.S. Supreme Court will return to the bench Monday for a full argument session, in which the justices will debate whether a Texas law requiring pornography websites to verify their visitors aren't minors violates the First Amendment and if retirees have the right to sue former employers for benefits discrimination. 

  • January 10, 2025

    Treasury Finalizes Rules For Disregarded Foreign Payments

    The U.S. Treasury Department issued final regulations Friday that are designed to prevent companies from receiving foreign payments in a way that allows them to reduce their overseas taxes without a corresponding increase in U.S. taxable income.

  • January 10, 2025

    Ga. Law Firm Latest To Fight Corporate Transparency Act

    A federal law designed to combat money laundering violates the U.S. Constitution by forcing lawyers to disregard attorney-client privilege, a Georgia lawyer told a federal court, joining a chorus seeking legal action to stop the law.

  • January 10, 2025

    Illinois Joins IRS Direct File Program For 2025

    The Internal Revenue Service's free electronic tax filing program, Direct File, will be available in Illinois when tax season begins this month, the Illinois Department of Revenue and Gov. JB Pritzker announced Friday.

  • January 10, 2025

    IRS Delays Tax Deadlines Because Of California Fires

    Taxpayers in Los Angeles County will have until Oct. 15 to file individual and business tax returns and make payments as the area deals with ongoing California wildfires, the Internal Revenue Service announced Friday.

  • January 10, 2025

    IRS Proposes Automatic Retirement Plan Enrollment Guidance

    The Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Treasury Department proposed guidance Friday regarding rules establishing automatic enrollment requirements for certain retirement plans under changes made by the Secure 2.0 Act.

  • January 10, 2025

    Tax Season To Start Jan. 27, IRS Says

    The Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting and processing 2024 tax year returns on Jan. 27, the agency said Friday.

  • January 10, 2025

    Treasury, IRS Plan Rules For Clean Transportation Fuel Credit

    Treasury and the IRS released guidance Friday for producers of transportation fuel hoping to qualify for the newly available clean fuels production tax credit, saying they plan to release rules clarifying which entities qualify for the credit and how producers can determine allowable emissions levels.

  • January 10, 2025

    IRS Proposes Rules For Roth Catch-Up Contributions

    The Internal Revenue Service floated rules Friday for catch-up contributions made possible by the 2022 retirement law known as Secure 2.0, including the requirement that contributions made by certain participants be designated Roth contributions.

Expert Analysis

  • Litigation Inspiration: Reframing Document Review

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    For attorneys — new ones especially — there is much fulfillment to find in document review by reflecting on how important, interesting and pleasant it can be, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • Rank-And-File DOJ Attorneys Will Keep Calm And Carry On

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    Career prosecutors at the U.S. Department of Justice often pride themselves on their ability to remain apolitical in order to ensure consistency and keep the department’s mission afloat, and the incoming Trump administration is unlikely to upend this tradition, says Michael Landman at Bird Marella.

  • What Higher Education Can Expect From A 2nd Trump Admin

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    The election of Donald Trump for a second presidential term has far-reaching ramifications for colleges and universities — come January, institutions can expect a crackdown on DEI, increased scrutiny of campus protests, a rollback of the Biden administration's Title IX rules and more, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • Expect Surging Oil And Gas Industry Under New Trump Admin

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    Throughout his recent campaign, President-elect Donald Trump promised increased oil and natural gas production and reduced reliance on renewables — and his administration will likely bring more oil and gas dealmaking, faster federal permitting and attempts to roll back incentives for green energy, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule

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    Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.

  • Cos. Should Inventory Issues To Prep For New Congress

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    As the legislative and oversight agendas of the 119th Congress come into sharper focus, corporate counsel should assess and plan for areas of potential oversight risk — from tax policy changes to supply chain integrity — even as much uncertainty remains, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Conservation Easement Cases Weave Web Of Uncertainty

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    Much of the IRS and Justice Department’s recent success in prosecuting syndicated conservation easement cases can be attributed to the government’s focus on the so-called PropCo ratio, which could indicate treacherous waters ahead for participants and their advisers, even under the incoming Trump administration, say attorneys at Polsinelli.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • Legislation Most Likely To Pass In Lame Duck Session

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    As Congress begins its five-week post-election lame duck session, attorneys at Greenberg Traurig break down the legislative priorities and which proposals can be expected to pass.

  • What Trump's 2nd Presidency Could Mean For Crypto Sector

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    Trump's second term will bring a fundamental shift from the Biden administration's approach to crypto-asset regulation and banking supervision, with the most significant changes likely taking effect in the first two quarters of 2025 and broader policy shifts emerging over the next year, say attorneys at Cahill.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being

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    As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.

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