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For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, all taxpayers with tangible property such as materials and supplies, furniture and fixtures, equipment, and buildings, are required to adopt new accounting methods under the final tangible property regulations. These regulations address every phase of an asset’s life cycle—from acquisition or construction, to repair or improvement, to disposition.
To comply, taxpayers filed Forms 3115 with their 2014 tax returns and the IRS National Office or, in the case of a small taxpayer, followed the procedures outlined in Rev. Proc. 2015-20. Rev. Proc. 2015-20 was only applicable for the 2014 tax year. In addition, certain automatic changes in accounting methods were only available for the 2014 tax year.
In May 2016, the IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2016-29, providing a new comprehensive list of automatic method changes which all taxpayer must now use to file method changes for tangible property.
In September 2016, the IRS released its Audit Techniques Guide on Capitalization of Tangible Property, which provides instructions to IRS agents on the examination of taxpayer compliance with the tangible property regulations.
In December 2016, the IRS issued Notice 2017-6 waiving the five-year eligibility rule that would otherwise prevent a taxpayer from using the automatic method change procedures when they filed the same method change within the preceding five-year period.
The waiver of the five-year eligibility rule creates an opportunity for taxpayers to re-visit the work that was performed for the 2014 tax year to comply with the tangible property regulations. Any missed or corrective method changes should be filed with the 2016 tax return in advance of an IRS audit.
The IRS will request the following documentation during a tangible property regulation compliance audit:
- All Forms 3115 filed in prior years (n/a in the case of a small taxpayer following Reg. Proc. 2015-20)
- Work papers supporting any Section 481(a) adjustments (n/a in the case of a small taxpayer following Rev. Proc. 2015-20)
- Documentation supporting changes in accounting methods
- Confirmation that accounting methods were in fact changed in 2014 and consistently followed in subsequent tax years
Now is the time to make sure documentation is in place and to file Forms 3115 for any missed or corrective method changes.
Freed Maxick’s Tax Experts Can Assist with New Tangible Property Regulation Compliance
Our tax team is well versed in the Tangible Property Regulations and implementing procedures, and the method changes that can result in significant tax savings.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding compliance with the new Tangible Property Regulations or any other tax issue, you can schedule a complimentary Tax Situation Review with a member of our Tax Team here.
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