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Marianna Dyson practices in the areas of payroll tax, fringe benefits, and information reporting, with a specific focus on perquisites provided to employees and directors, worker classification, tip reporting, cross-border compensation, backup withholding, information reporting, and penalty abatement.
Ms. Dyson advises large employers on the application of employment taxes, the special FICA tax timing rules for nonqualified deferred compensation, the voluntary correction of employment tax errors, and the abatement of late deposit and information reporting penalties for reasonable cause. On behalf of the restaurant industry, her practice provides extensive experience with tip reporting, service charges, tip agreements, and Section 45B tax credits.
She is a frequent speaker at Tax Executives Institute (TEI), the Southern Federal Tax Institute, and the National Restaurant Association.
- Assisted a large technology company before IRS Appeals with its successful resolution of an IRS employment tax dispute over the employer's fringe benefit treatment of certain food and beverage benefits.
- On behalf of a global energy company, successfully resolved a lengthy employment tax dispute with IRS Appeals a covering six calendar years; issues included fringe benefits, cross-border compensation, business expense reimbursements, relocation expenses, settlement payments, information reporting and related penalties, including the abatement of intentional disregard penalties.
- Launched a successful coalition of large companies from a wide range of industries for the purpose of urging IRS and Treasury to develop simpler rules applicable to substantiating the business use of cellular telephones, BlackBerry smartphones, and similar telecommunications. This initiative was ultimately instrumental in raising awareness of ongoing payroll tax controversies with the IRS, resulting in proposed legislation to remove cell phones from the category of "listed property" under IRS rules.
Pro Bono
- Internal Revenue Service
- Special Assistant for Fringe Benefits (Field Coordination), Office of IRS Associate Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits and Exempt Organizations) (1993-1994)
- Office of IRS Associate Chief Counsel (Employee Benefits and Exempt Organizations), Senior Attorney (1990-1992)
Memberships and Affiliations
- IRS Commissioner’s Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee, Former Member
- American Bar Association, Member
February 13, 2020, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
Today, the IRS published proposed regulations addressing changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “TCJA”) to how an employee instructs an employer to withhold income taxes on his or her Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Certificate). The Form W-4 was redesigned for 2020 to reflect the TCJA changes to how income...… Continue Reading
December 17, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
To corporations hoping for a holiday reprieve from the IRS’s narrow interpretation of the grandfathering rules included in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) amendment of section 162(m), the IRS has said “Bah… Humbug!” To those foreign private issuers, publicly traded partnerships, and issuers of public debt hoping for relief from the expanded definition...… ...
September 19, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
Although the facts are still unfolding, recent developments surrounding the collapse of payroll firm MyPayrollHR serve as a reminder to employers to regularly verify the actions of payroll service providers. This should be a routine practice, regardless of the provider’s reputation and the longevity of the relationship. In particular, employers should open ...
August 15, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
In the category of “everything old is new again,” the IRS announced in late July that it intends to require that nonemployee compensation (“NEC”) paid during the 2020 calendar year be reported on new Form 1099-NEC, instead of being reported in Box 7 of Form 1099-MISC. A draft of Form 1099-NEC was posted on the...… Continue Reading
August 9, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
Reminiscent of Kermit’s lament, “it’s not easy to be green,” it has not been easy to be the Form W-4 since personal exemptions were eliminated by tax reform in 2017. Two days after unveiling its new Tax Withholding Estimator, which is discussed in our post of August 6, 2019, today the IRS released “the second...… Continue Reading
August 6, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
Today, the IRS unveiled its new Tax Withholding Estimator to help employees complete the Form W-4 and ensure that withholdings are sufficient to cover their income tax liability. The new calculator was previewed in the draft 2020 Form W-4. (See earlier coverage.) A near-final draft 2020 Form W-4 is expected to be released soon. Currently,...… Continue Reading
July 24, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
In May, the IRS issued a private letter ruling to an individual taxpayer regarding the deductibility of 23andMe’s at-home DNA test kits under section 213(d) of the Code, which permits the deduction of medical expenses. In the ruling, the IRS determined that an allocable portion of the purchase price may be treated as a deductible medical...… Continue Reading
June 12, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
On May 31, the IRS released a draft 2020 Form W-4 that addresses some, but not all, of the privacy concerns that led the IRS to abandon the redesigned form for 2019. According to an accompanying news release, the IRS anticipates releasing a near-final form in July to allow payroll processors and employers to begin...… Continue Reading
May 29, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
On May 23, the IRS and Treasury released final regulations governing certified professional employer organizations (“CPEOs”). CPEOs were created by the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, P.L. 113-295, which added new Code sections 3511 and 7705 that contain certification requirements for, and the federal employment tax consequences of, being a CPEO. The ...
March 6, 2019, Tax Withholding & Reporting Blog
On February 19, 2019, the IRS issued AOD 2019-01, 2019 IRB 569, acquiescing in the result only in the Tax Court’s decision in Jacobs v. Commissioner, 148 T.C. 24 (2017). (Earlier coverage, here.) By virtue of the AOD on Jacobs, the IRS indicated its acceptance of the Tax Court’s holding and will follow Jacobs “only...… Continue Reading
Season Tickets? Steak Dinners? Small Firms Rethink Client Events After Losing Tax Break
May 17, 2018, The Wall Street Journal
Marianna Dyson is quoted by The Wall Street Journal in an article regarding changes in the tax law that reduce limits on deductions for entertainment and meals. Among the uncertainties is whether companies will still be able to claim a 50% deduction for business meals with customers or business associates, or whether those expenses will be considered ...
2016-present, Thomson Reuters' Critical Issues Series
2004, National Association of College and University Business Officers
- Chambers USA, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (2008-2019)
- The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Litigation & Controversy - Tax (2010-2019)
- International Tax Review, Women in Tax Leaders (2016-2018)
- Legal 500, Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation (2010-2017); Leading Lawyer, (2011-2017); Hall of Fame (2017)
- Legal 500, Labor & Employment: Employee Health and Retirement Plans (2017)
- Named to The National Law Journal’s list of Washington’s Most Influential Women Lawyers (2010).