The IRS has issued Proposed Regulations addressing the Centralized Partnership Audit Regime.  Back in November of 2015, statutory changes were enacted to replace the traditional audit rules for partnerships and replacing them with a new centralized partnership audit which, in most instances, places the tax liability at the partnership level rather than at the partner level.

Partnerships are pass through entities for US tax purposes and items of income, expense and credits are taken on the personal income tax returns of the individual partners.  Under the new statute, an audit of the partnership could result in additional taxes being owed at the partnership level rather than flowing through to the individual partners.

"It has taken over a year for the proposed regulations to be issued," said James N. Mastracchio, Co-Chair of Denton's Tax Controversy Practice, "and that is a good thing."  The proposed regulations are "extensive" and "cover a number of issues that we face as advisors to our clients." added Mastracchio.

There will be a long comment period with the ultimate effective date of the regulations to take place in early 2018.

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