Drake Software blog for tax pros, covering tax, IRS news, and more

Bob Williams

Forget genes; I’ve got words in my DNA. Communication has been part of who I am nearly all my life. From a long career in radio news to another one in newspapers – and a University of Georgia journalism degree sandwiched between the two – language has been my life. I’ve also been fortunate to have learned the tax business from the ground up here at Drake, starting with 1040.com online forms some years ago before moving on to work on the Web. In all things tax-ish, we aim to give you tools you can use.

IRSAC Supports Initiatives for Preparers

Bob Williams - November 21, 2017

We recently reported on the Internal Revenue Service’s Advisory Council (IRSAC) report that stresses that inadequate funding is severely hampering the agency’s ability to serve individual taxpayers.…

IRS Advisory Council Renews Call for Adequate Funding

Bob Williams - November 17, 2017

The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) has issued its annual report to the agency, and once again is calling on Congress to adequately fund the IRS so it can fulfill its mission to the American people.…

Taxes and the Sharing Economy

Bob Williams - November 09, 2017

No doubt about it, the sharing economy is big business. Thousands of Americans participate, from offering homes to travelers to running errands for subscribers or giving rides around town. But taking…

New Protections Coming for Business Returns

Bob Williams - October 19, 2017

No doubt individual returns have gotten the bulk of press coverage on identity theft recently. But fraudsters and identity thieves have begun to include businesses and non-profits in their list of targets.…

Progress Noted on ID Theft Front in 2017

Bob Williams - October 18, 2017

For John Koskinen and the members of the Security Summit, it’s been a pretty good year. Koskinen, the commissioner of the IRS, joined the Security Summit this week in praising the advances made in the fight against identity theft, while laying the groundwork for the 2018 filing season.…

Tax Relief Extended to California Fire Victims

Bob Williams - October 16, 2017

The Internal Revenue Service has extended its disaster-relief tax measures to victims of the California wildfires. Qualified taxpayers and businesses now have until January 31, 2018 to file certain returns and make some tax payments.…

Fake Tax Form Scam Making Rounds

Bob Williams - October 16, 2017

Tax professionals are being warned to be on the lookout for a scam using a fake insurance tax form in an effort to steal annuity and life insurance accounts.…

Phishing Scam Targets e-Services Users

Bob Williams - October 12, 2017

The Internal Revenue Service is warning tax professionals that scammers are trying to trick them into “signing” a new e-Services user agreement.…

Tax Relief Measures Extended to Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Taxpayers

Bob Williams - October 04, 2017

As the extent of hurricane damage to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands unfolds, the Internal Revenue Service is extending additional tax relief to both sets of weather-torn islands.…

IRS Action Makes Low-Income Housing Available to Storm Victims

Bob Williams - September 28, 2017

Refugees from the recent hurricanes—no matter where in the U.S. they live—now have another option for emergency housing. The Internal Revenue Service has waived certain rules for owners and operators of low-income housing projects so they can provide temporary emergency housing for those displaced by one of the major storms, regardless of their income.…