Final regulations under section 7701 of the Code add an entity to the list of foreign business entities that are always classified as corporations. This entity is not eligible to check the box to change its classification.

This notice provides adjusted limitations on housing expenses for tax year 2008 for purposes of section 911 of the Code.

This notice provides guidance with respect to state volume limits under section 1400N that are applicable to (1) allocations of the low-income housing tax credit in the Midwestern and Hurricane Ike disaster areas, (2) the issuance of tax-exempt bonds for the Midwestern and Hurricane Ike disaster areas, and (3) the issuance of tax credit bonds for the Midwestern disaster areas. These provisions were enacted as part of the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008. The notice provides a list of the counties that qualify as Midwestern or Hurricane Ike disaster areas and provides the portion of the state population located in the disaster or other relevant areas for purposes of determining the volume limits applicable to each of these provisions. The notice also provides instructions for reporting the issuance of Midwestern and Hurricane Ike tax-exempt and tax credit bonds.

2009 optional standard mileage rates. This procedure announces 55 cents as the optional rate for deducting or accounting for expenses for business use of an automobile, 14 cents as the optional rate for use of an automobile as a charitable contribution, and 24 cents as the optional rate for use of an automobile as a medical or moving expense for 2009. The procedure also provides rules for substantiating the deductible expenses of using an automobile for business, moving, medical, or charitable purposes. Rev. Proc. 2007-70 and Announcement 2008-63 superseded.

Retirement plans; qualification, list of changes. This notice sets forth a list of changes referred to in Rev. Proc. 2007-44, 2007-2 C.B. 54, pertaining to the statutory, regulatory, and guidance changes needed for certain requests to the Service for opinion, advisory, and determination letters for the 12-month period beginning February 1, 2009.

A list is provided of organizations now classified as private foundations.

Final regulations under section 7701 of the Code add an entity to the list of foreign business entities that are always classified as corporations. This entity is not eligible to check the box to change its classification.

This announcement contains clarification to filing procedures in Publication 1187 for Form 1042-S, Foreign Person’s U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding, filed electronically. These changes are effective immediately. Rev. Proc. 2008-44 clarified.

This document provides notice of a public hearing on proposed regulations (REG-106251-08, 2008-39 I.R.B. 774) relating to options granted under an employee stock purchase plan as defined in section 423 of the Code. These proposed regulations affect certain taxpayers who participate in the transfer of stock pursuant to the exercise of options granted under an employee stock purchase plan. The public hearing is scheduled for January 15, 2009.