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

Ryan Norton

Whether designing superheroes, penciling caricatures, or just doodling, I always knew I was going to earn some sort of art degree while in college. That was my goal before I decided to trade Edgar Degas for Edgar Allan Poe during a Freshman English class. The BA in English soon morphed into a double-major in English and Philosophy, eventually becoming an MA in English. It only makes sense that I learned of a writing opportunity for a local marketing firm while teaching a first-year college English course. Before I knew it, I was writing and editing tax-related articles for Taxing Subjects, and this has been my home since 2014.

IRS, Tax Industry Working to Redirect Some EIP Direct Deposits

Ryan Norton - January 08, 2021

The Internal Revenue Service this afternoon announced it was working with the tax and financial industry to redirect Economic Impact Payments that were direct deposited in closed, inactive, or “unfamiliar” bank accounts.…

What is remote desktop connection software?

Ryan Norton - January 05, 2021

Remote desktop connection software, like Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol, is a program that allows users to remotely control another device via a network connection, like the Internet.…

Go to IRS.gov for Answers to EIP Questions

Ryan Norton - January 04, 2021

The second set of Economic Impact Payments are already showing up in eligible Americans’ bank accounts, but some may encounter problems with their direct payment. Rather than picking up the phone, the Internal Revenue Service today advised taxpayers to instead visit the IRS website for answers since “IRS phone assistors do not have additional information beyond what’s on IRS.gov.”…

IRS Publishes Qualified Residential Living Facility Safe Harbor

Ryan Norton - December 31, 2020

The Internal Revenue Service this week published a safe harbor for the management or operation of qualified residential living facilities in Revenue Procedure 2021-9.…

Treasury Has Started Sending $600 Payments

Ryan Norton - December 30, 2020

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service yesterday evening announced that the next set of Economic Impact Payments are officially on the way. According to the IRS release, the agency aimed to start direct deposits later that night and send the first round of paper checks today.…

President Signs Second Coronavirus Stimulus, Direct Payments on the Way

Ryan Norton - December 29, 2020

The president signed H.R. 133, or the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, on Sunday, December 27, greenlighting $900 billion in coronavirus relief for Americans.…

2021 Standard Mileage Rates Now Available

Ryan Norton - December 23, 2020

Taxpayers who expect to do some business-related driving next year will probably be happy to learn that the optional standard mileage rates for 2021 are now available from the Internal Revenue Service. Included in Notice 2021-02, the new standard mileage rates will apply on January 1, 2021.…

FTC Warns of Scams in “12 Days of Consumer Protection” Campaign

Ryan Norton - December 22, 2020

The Internal Revenue Service and its Security Summit partners routinely raise awareness about data security issues threatening the financial health of taxpayers. Unsurprisingly, they’re not the only agency trying to protect you from con artists.…

$900 Billion in Coronavirus Relief Includes Direct Payments, Unemployment Benefits

Ryan Norton - December 21, 2020

According to reporting from The Hill, Congress is poised to vote on a second coronavirus relief package. The bill is expected to pass Congress and land on the president’s desk later today, greenlighting $900 billion in aid that will include direct payments, unemployment benefits, and additional Paycheck Protection Program funds.…

Security Summit Urges Businesses to Tighten Defenses

Ryan Norton - December 03, 2020

Businesses should be on high alert as thieves try to use their stolen names and data to file fraudulent income tax returns. The warning comes from the Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and tax industry partners who make up the Security Summit partnership.…