A quick glance at what IRS has up its sleeves can clue you in to changes that may make your job easier — or make you more likely to get audited.

The info comes to us courtesy of IRS’ 2008-2009 Priority Guidance. The list isn’t neccessarily inclusive of everything IRS will do over the coming year, but it gives you a good idea of what you can expect between now and June 2009.

The highlights include final regs and/or guidance on the following key topics that affect Payroll, A/P and Benefits pros:

• automatic enrollment into 401(k) plans
• cafeteria plans
• qualified nonpersonal use vehicles
• treatment of differential military pay as wages under the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Act (HEART)
• reporting and income tax withholding under Sec. 409A
• employee stock purchase plans
• comparable employer contributions to employee HSAs
• reporting FUTA taxes for home health care recipients
• information reporting on stock transfers
• employment tax adjustments and refund claims
• deductibility of lodging expenses not incurred in traveling away from home
• substantiation requirements for cell phones 
• meal expenses deduction limitations in third-party arrangements
• cross-border information reporting
• simplification of the tax extension filing process. 

Tags: A/P, Benefits, Fringe benefits, IRS, IRS regs, Payroll, Resource, T&E, Tax compliance, Tax filing