Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet? Are we there yet?
　　--- One of my grandsons
　　What’s the million dollar topic on members’ minds these days? It’s always a multiple choice with me so here you go:
　　1. The IRS
　　2. The congressional lame duck session
　　3. Extenders
　　4. Starting busy season
　　5. Government appropriations
　　6. Affordable Care Act compliance
　　7. The Keystone Pipeline
　　8. Immigration reform
　　9. Bipartisan cooperation in Washington
　　10. All of the above
　　(Ed, why is “starting busy season” on your list?  When you were in practice, did you look forward to starting busy season?  And isn’t bipartisan cooperation in Washington an oxymoron?  What were you thinking?)
　　OK, fair enough, maybe not starting busy season, but busy season is a key to a successful practice year, and getting through it with fewer gray hairs wouldn’t hurt. (By the way, take a peek at our recent Tax Power Hour (for Tax Section members) for some tips.)
　　I wish it were bipartisan cooperation, but the obvious answer is “extenders.”  We’re hearing from lots of members and rightfully so. Over 50 provisions expired last December.  Our tax advocacy team has been talking about those provisions on Capitol Hill for over a year.  And we recently sent in a letter about them.  IRS Commissioner Koskinen even asked for a copy of the letter to tout with members of Congress because of the IRS’ interest in getting off to a smooth and early start to filing season. Truth is, energy and immigration policy aren’t my thing but they really are intersecting with tax policy on Capitol Hill this year.  So what's the scoop?
　　The talk about quick passage of extenders is being replaced by congressional interest in smoothing the way for the Keystone Pipeline; indeed, legislation has passed in the House and Senate that the President has indicated would be vetoed (and they do not have enough votes to override the veto). And the President has acted on immigration issues through executive order; the Republicans have said such unilateral action could result in legal action to stop it.  And if that weren’t enough, there’s other legislation, such as the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, that requires congressional attention; and even talk about letting the continuing resolution, the temporary government funding mechanism, expire on Dec. 11. It may not be a likely result but even a remote possibility of a government shutdown leading up to tax busy season is not good!
　　There has also been quite a bit of talk on dealing with extenders, which is good news.  Piecemeal or blanket extension?  One year or two? The House has been interested in the permanent extension of some provisions and a temporary extension of the remaining provisions, and the Senate leans “blanket.”  And lots of groups are posturing for something to happen - one broad coalition of business groups has urged Congress to act right away lest uncertainty and instability be injected into the marketplace.  Even outgoing Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp has said he thought the Democrats were acting in good faith.
　　But some would like to see provisions wither away on the vine, for example, retroactive extension of the decades old wind production tax credit has garnered a long and vocal list of opponents. And the President recently warned he would veto a congressional deal in the works, contending that it benefits corporations more than families.
　　However, there is still hope and I’m a glass-half-full type of guy so let me go out on a limb and give you my predictions (OK, maybe they’re wishes):
　　Congress will enact a two-year extension of the 2013 extenders - one year retroactively - during the lame duck session.
　　Congress will also pass another continuing resolution to fund government though busy season.
　　IRS will expeditiously finish the forms and complete programming and get things off to a smooth start.
　　The President and Congress will quietly work towards a bipartisan solution to immigration, energy issues and other items that need attention.
　　And a giant duck will land on the end of the limb I just went out on . . . is that a crack, I hear? (Ed, that wasn't just your grandson asking if “we're there yet;” it was all 400,000 of the AICPA’s members.)
　　来源：AICPA China