Tax-exempt bonds

The number of letter rulings fell to four in 2018 when the fee rose to $28,300, from 16 rulings in 2008 when the fee was only $11,500.

S&P Global reports state HFAs are maintaining high ratings this year, “buoyed by demand for affordable housing and mortgages, low interest rates, relatively low unemployment, increasing wages, and the overall strong domestic economy.”

Public safety and jail bonds, sinking fund overfunding and variable rate bonds are the top IRS compliance and enforcement priorities for the municipal bond market in fiscal 2020.

Despite his pessimism about legislation, Mayor Steve Benjamin was upbeat about the effort by himself and other advocates of the municipal bond industry to get out their message.

Internal Revenue Service enforcement officials told NABL workshop attendees the service is hiring five new revenue agents, up from the current 20, and two additional tax law specialists.

Rich Moore takes over the top spot at NABL during the first day of a three-day annual conference in Chicago.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Thursday it is expanding the Rental Assistance Demonstration program to Section 202 PRAC units that house senior citizens.

The Council of Development Finance Agencies recommends that conduit issuers cover their costs by imposing fees.

The bipartisan legislation would increase the bank-qualified cap to $30 million from $10 million, a high priority for several muni market groups.

Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee touts his bill as “a good example of giving businesses an incentive to lower carbon emissions without forcing it upon them with regulations.”