etrent17/irs-articles huggingface dataset:
IR-2012-54, May 22, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced a sweeping office space and rent reduction initiative that over the next 2 years will close 43 smaller offices and reduce space in many larger facilities. These measures will save more than 40 million in taxpayer dollars. Coupled with space reductions last year, the initiative will slash total IRS office space by more than one million square feet.
“Given today’s tight budget environment, we have to be willing to make the tough but responsible calls to save taxpayer dollars,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.  “Cutting and consolidating our real estate is a responsible way we can save money. It’s an important addition to our growing portfolio of cost-saving measures.”
To ensure that the agency uses rental space as efficiently and effectively as possible, the IRS will:
Close 43 smaller offices.  These are offices without taxpayer assistance centers and currently have fewer than 25 employees.
Consolidate multiple offices within the same commuting area.
Explore innovative ways to do more with existing space, such as desk sharing and increased telecommuting.
None of the offices being closed under this initiative are walk-in taxpayer assistance centers. Because of the nature of the work performed in these offices, the IRS anticipates minimal taxpayer impact as a result of these closures.
This cost-cutting initiative is projected to save $17.2 million in annual rental costs in fiscal 2012 and $23.5 million in fiscal 2013. These are permanent reductions in space and rent so these savings will be realized in future years as well.
The initiative will cut space by 715,000 square feet in fiscal 2012 and 230,000 square feet in fiscal 2013. This is on top of a 105,000-square-foot reduction in fiscal 2011.
The IRS has more than 650 offices around the country. Today’s initiative supplements space saving projects over the past seven years that are now yielding $70 million annually in rental savings . This is part of a broader Administration effort which has cut government real estate costs by over $1.5 billion and is on track to exceed the President's directive to save $3 billion by the end of the year.
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IR-2012-52, May 14, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service will jointly conduct another consultation and listening session regarding the application of the General Welfare Exclusion to Benefits Provided under Indian Tribal Government Programs.
Pursuant to Treasury’s Tribal Consultation Policy and Executive Order 13175, Treasury and the IRS have been actively engaged in consultation with Tribes and Tribal leaders. Treasury and IRS began consultation on this specific topic in November 2011, and have held several public, in-person sessions. Treasury and IRS requested written comments and received over 65 comments in response to Notice 2011-94PDF.
During recent consultations, Treasury and IRS heard tribal concerns regarding consistent treatment of tribal programs in the IRS compliance programs. To address those concerns, the Office of Indian Tribal Governments of the IRS is looking at what administrative steps it can take to develop a national coordination process in order to ensure that general welfare programs are reviewed in a consistent fashion.
The IRS also plans to publish written guidance that will address issues raised by the tribes in their comments. The intent is that this published guidance, along with improved internal coordination procedures, will improve the clarity and consistency of the application of the general welfare doctrine to tribal government programs.
To provide Tribes and Tribal leaders additional opportunities for input, and to provide Treasury and the Service the opportunity to further discuss the issues, Treasury and the Service will host a stakeholder conference call with Tribes and Tribal leaders on May 30, 2012 at 3:00pm (Eastern Daylight Time). The conversation is expected to last approximately two hours. The conference call number is 1-888-810-9155 and the access code is 750610.
Participation is open to all Tribes and Tribal leaders regardless of whether formal comments were submitted. While the official deadline for formal comments has passed, Tribes and Tribal leaders are still encouraged to submit comments which can still be considered. Comments should be submitted to Internal Revenue Service, CC:PA:LPD:PR (Notice 2011-94), Room 5203, P.O. Box 7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, DC 20044, or electronically to Notice.Comments@irscounsel.treas.gov. Please include “Notice 2011-94” in the subject line of any electronic communications.
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IR-2012-51, May 4, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced it is accepting applications for the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC), which provides a public forum for IRS officials and representatives of the public to discuss relevant federal tax administration issues.
"Recommendations from IRSAC members assist the IRS in a wide range of administrative and strategic decisions," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
Applications will be accepted through June 15, 2012. IRSAC is comprised of up to 35 members, who are appointed to three-year terms by the Commissioner. Applications are currently being accepted for approximately seven appointments that will begin in January 2013.
IRSAC members submit a report to the IRS Commissioner annually at a public meeting in the fall.
Nominations of qualified individuals may come from individuals or organizations. IRSAC members are drawn from substantially diverse backgrounds. Membership is balanced to include representation from the tax professional community, including but not limited to: tax attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, appraisers, and the business community.  Federally registered lobbyists cannot be members of IRSAC. 
Nominations should describe and document the proposed member’s qualification for IRSAC membership, including the applicant’s knowledge of Circular 230 regulations and the applicant’s past or current affiliations, as well as dealings with the particular tax segment or segments of the community that the applicant wishes to represent on the council. 
More information, including application forms, are available on the Tax Professional’s Page on IRS.gov, the official IRS Web site. Questions about the application process can be sent to the following e-mail address:  *public_liaison@irs.gov.
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IR-2012-67, June 29, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) recently presented its 2012 Annual Report to Congress during a public meeting. The report discusses five groups of recommendations on issues in electronic tax administration.
Highlights of the report include recommendations on the following key outcomes:
Reinforcing standards for security, privacy, and fraud prevention
Moving forward on e-file of employment tax and information tax returns,
Creating Internet tools for taxpayers and tax professionals,
Leveraging tax delivery service channels and
Funding Modernized e-File and Customer Account Data Engine to completion
"Through its recommendations, ETAAC provides an important voice to the IRS," said David Williams, Director of the Return Preparer Office. "We appreciate the long hours and focus the ETAAC brings, and we will carefully review these recommendations."
The 14-member committee provides an organized public forum for discussion of electronic tax administration issues and the overriding goal that paperless filing should be the preferred and most-convenient method of filing tax and information returns.
"ETAAC commends IRS on surpassing its goal and receiving more than 80 percent of individual tax returns electronically. IRS can now turn its attention to employment tax returns and re-focus on delivering electronic interactions to taxpayers and tax professionals," said Mark Steber, ETAAC Chairman.
ETAAC submits an annual progress report to Congress each June. The IRS Electronic Tax Administration created the ETAAC in 1998 as required by the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.
The report is the result of research and analysis as well as meetings with senior IRS executives. Public comments on the report may be sent to etaac@irs.gov.
IR-2012-65, June 26, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced a plan to help U.S. citizens residing overseas, including dual citizens, catch up with tax filing obligations and provide assistance for people with foreign retirement plan issues.
"Today we are announcing a series of common-sense steps to help U.S. citizens abroad get current with their tax obligations and resolve pension issues," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
Shulman announced the IRS will provide a new option to help some U.S. citizens and others residing abroad who haven’t been filing tax returns and provide them a chance to catch up with their tax filing obligations if they owe little or no back taxes. The new procedure will go into effect on Sept. 1, 2012.
The IRS is aware that some U.S. taxpayers living abroad have failed to timely file U.S. federal income tax returns or Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs). Some of these taxpayers have recently become aware of their filing requirements and want to comply with the law.
To help these taxpayers, the IRS offered the new procedures that will allow taxpayers who are low compliance risks to get current with their tax requirements without facing penalties or additional enforcement action. These people generally will have simple tax returns and owe $1,500 or less in tax for any of the covered years.
The IRS also announced that the new procedures will allow resolution of certain issues related to certain foreign retirement plans (such as Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plans). In some circumstances, tax treaties allow for income deferral under U.S. tax law, but only if an election is made on a timely basis. The streamlined procedures will be made available to resolve low compliance risk situations even though this election was not made on a timely basis.
Taxpayers using the new procedures announced today will be required to file delinquent tax returns along with appropriate related information returns for the past three years, and to file delinquent FBARs for the past six years. Submissions from taxpayers that present higher compliance risk will be subject to a more thorough review and potentially subject to an audit, which could cover more than three tax years.
The IRS also announced its offshore voluntary disclosure programs have exceeded the $5 billion mark, released new details regarding the voluntary disclosure program announced in January and closed a loophole used by some U.S. citizens. See IR-2012-64 for more.
IR-2012-64, June 26, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that its offshore voluntary disclosure programs have exceeded the $5 billion mark and released new details regarding the voluntary disclosure program announced in January, including tightening the eligibility requirements.
"We continue to make strong progress in our international compliance efforts that help ensure honest taxpayers are not footing the bill for those hiding assets offshore," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "People are finding it tougher and tougher to keep their assets hidden in offshore accounts."
Shulman said the IRS offshore voluntary disclosure programs have so far resulted in the collection of more than $5 billion in back taxes, interest and penalties from 33,000 voluntary disclosures made under the first two programs. In addition, another 1,500 disclosures have been made under the new program announced in January.
The voluntary disclosure programs are part of a wider effort by the IRS to stop offshore tax evasion and ensure tax compliance. This includes beefed up enforcement, criminal prosecution and implementation of third-party reporting through the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
The IRS also closed a loophole that’s been used by some taxpayers with offshore accounts. Under existing law, if a taxpayer challenges in a foreign court the disclosure of tax information by that government, the taxpayer is required to notify the U.S. Justice Department of the appeal.
The IRS said that if the taxpayer fails to comply with this law and does not notify the U.S. Justice Department of the foreign appeal, the taxpayer will no longer be eligible for the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP). The IRS also put taxpayers on notice that their eligibility for OVDP could be terminated once the U.S. government has taken action in connection with their specific financial institution.
Additional details of these eligibility issues are available in a new set of questions and answers released today on the current OVDP, which was announced in January (see IR-2012-5). The IRS reopened the OVDP following continued strong interest from taxpayers and tax practitioners after the closure of the 2011 and 2009 programs.
This program – which helps bring people back into the tax system -- will be open for an indefinite period until otherwise announced. The program is similar to the 2011 program in many ways, but with a few key differences. Unlike last year, there is no set deadline for people to apply. However, the terms of the program could change at any time going forward.
Under the current OVDP, the offshore penalty has been raised to 27.5 percent from 25 percent in the 2011 program. The reduced penalty categories of 5 percent and 12.5 percent are still available.
The IRS also announced a plan to help U.S. citizens residing overseas to catch up with tax filing obligations and assistance for people with foreign retirement plan issues. See IR-2012-65 for more.
IR-2012-61, June 13, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that it has a reached a settlement with the accounting firm of BDO USA, LLP (formerly BDO Seidman LLP, hereafter “BDO”). Under the settlement, BDO will pay a civil penalty to the IRS of slightly more than $34.4 million stemming from its violation of the tax law concerning the registration of tax shelters. BDO did not register various tax shelters as required by law, some of which were abusive and fraudulent, in an effort to conceal the tax shelters from the IRS and assist high-income taxpayers evade federal income taxes.
This penalty is part of a $50 million payment that BDO has agreed to pay the United States in connection with the filing of an Information charging the firm with one count of engaging in a tax fraud conspiracy from approximately 1997 to 2003, and a deferred prosecution agreement with the United States for the criminal charge if specific conditions are met.
In addition to the civil penalty payment, BDO has agreed to cooperate with the IRS in civil matters, including IRS audits and litigations relating to its tax shelter products, and to work with the IRS to ensure that it is in compliance with federal tax laws involving tax shelters.
"Today's enforcement action is another reminder that taxpayers can't hide behind complicated schemes or corporate tax shelters," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "The IRS is strongly committed to stopping illegal tax shelters."
The IRS is pleased with BDO’s commitment to cooperate with the IRS in civil matters involving tax shelters and to ensure that it fully complies with the federal tax laws involving tax shelters.
The settlement and payment resulted from the following determinations:
Between 1997 and 2003, BDO violated federal tax laws concerning the registration, and maintenance and turning over to the IRS of tax shelter investor lists, involving abusive and fraudulent tax shelters.
	 
Primarily through a group within the firm known as The Tax Solutions Group, BDO developed, marketed, sold and implemented fraudulent tax shelter products to high net worth individuals, who had, or expected to have, reportable income or gains in excess of $5 million.
	 
These fraudulent tax shelters, although designed to appear to the Internal Revenue Service to be investments, were, in fact, a series of pre-planned steps that assisted BDO’s high net worth clients to evade individual income taxes of approximately $1.3 billion.
	 
The fraudulent tax shelters were sometimes known under the following names: SOS, Short Sale, BEST, BEDS, Spread Options, Currency Option Investment Strategy or “COINS,” Digital Options, G-1 Global Fund, FC Derivatives, Distressed Asset Debt, POPS, OPIS, Roth IRA, and OID Bond.
BDO USA, LLP has consented to issuance of this news release in accordance with disclosure laws under section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code.
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Preparing for Disasters: English | Spanish | ASL
IR-2012-60, June 11, 2012
WASHINGTON — With the early start of this year’s hurricane season, the Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals and businesses to safeguard themselves against natural disasters by taking a few simple steps.
Create a Backup Set of Records Electronically
Taxpayers should keep a set of backup records in a safe place. The backup should be stored away from the original set.
Keeping a backup set of records –– including, for example, bank statements, tax returns, insurance policies, etc. –– is easier now that many financial institutions provide statements and documents electronically, and much financial information is available on the Internet. Even if the original records are provided only on paper, they can be scanned into an electronic format. With documents in electronic form, taxpayers can download them to a backup storage device, like an external hard drive, or burn them to a CD or DVD.
Document Valuables
Another step a taxpayer can take to prepare for disaster is to photograph or videotape the contents of his or her home, especially items of higher value. The IRS has a disaster loss workbook, Publication 584PDF, which can help taxpayers compile a room-by-room list of belongings.
A photographic record can help an individual prove the market value of items for insurance and casualty loss claims. Photos should be stored with a friend or family member who lives outside the area.
Update Emergency Plans
Emergency plans should be reviewed annually. Personal and business situations change over time as do preparedness needs. When employers hire new employees or when a company or organization changes functions, plans should be updated accordingly and employees should be informed of the changes.
Check on Fiduciary Bonds
Employers who use payroll service providers should ask the provider if it has a fiduciary bond in place. The bond could protect the employer in the event of default by the payroll service provider.
IRS Ready to Help
If disaster strikes, an affected taxpayer can call 1-866-562-5227 to speak with an IRS specialist trained to handle disaster-related issues.
Back copies of previously-filed tax returns and all attachments, including Forms W-2, can be requested by filing Form 4506PDF, Request for Copy of Tax Return.
Alternatively, transcripts showing most line items on these returns can be ordered on-line, by calling 1-800-908-9946 or by using Form 4506T-EZPDF, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return.    
Related Items:
Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
Frequently Asked Questions for Disaster Victims
Publication 583PDF, Starting a Business and Keeping Records
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IR-2012-69, Aug. 27, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded truckers and other owners of heavy highway vehicles that in most cases, their next federal highway use tax return is due on Aug. 31, 2012.
The deadline generally applies to Form 2290 and the accompanying tax payment for the tax year that begins on July 1, 2012, and ends on June 30, 2013. Returns must be filed and tax payments made by Aug. 31 for vehicles used on the road during July. For vehicles first used after July, the deadline is the last day of the month following the month of first use. This means that the temporary Nov. 30 deadline that generally applied in 2011 will not apply this year.
The highway use tax applies to highway motor vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more, which generally includes trucks, truck tractors, and buses. Ordinarily, vans, pick-ups, and panel trucks are not taxable because they fall below the 55,000-pound threshold. The tax of up to $550 per vehicle is based on weight, and a variety of special rules apply, which are explained in the instructions to Form 2290.
Though some taxpayers have the option of filing Form 2290 on paper, the IRS encourages all taxpayers to take advantage of the speed and convenience of filing this form electronically and paying any tax due electronically. Taxpayers reporting 25 or more vehicles must e-file. A list of IRS-approved software providers can be found on IRS.gov.
Due to IRS facility maintenance taking place over the Labor Day weekend (from 1 p.m. on Aug. 31 to noon on Sept. 4), the IRS asks taxpayers to e-file Form 2290 before 1 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, Aug. 31. For those who miss the 1 p.m. cutoff, formal guidance announcing an extension to e-file Form 2290 by Sept. 7 will be issued soon. The deadline for filing paper returns is unaffected and those returns must, as usual, be mailed and postmarked by midnight on Aug. 31.
For more information on the federal highway use tax, visit /truckers.
IR-2012-68, Aug. 23, 2012
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning Oct. 1, 2012. The rates will be:

three (3) percent for overpayments [two (2) percent in the case of a corporation];
three (3) percent for underpayments;
five (5) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
one-half (0.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points.
Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.
The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during July 2012 to take effect Aug. 1, 2012, based on daily compounding.
Revenue Ruling 2012-23, announcing the rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2012-39, dated Sept. 24, 2012.
IR-2012-72, Sept. 25, 2012
WASHINGTON — Farmers and ranchers who previously were forced to sell livestock due to drought, like the drought currently affecting much of the nation, have an extended period of time in which to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.
Farmers and ranchers who, due to drought, sell more livestock than they normally would may defer tax on the extra gains from those sales. To qualify, the livestock generally must be replaced within a four-year period. The IRS is authorized to extend this period if the drought continues.
The one-year extension of the replacement period announced today generally applies to capital gains realized by eligible farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes due to drought. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes, and poultry are not eligible.
The IRS is providing this relief to any farm located in a county, parish, city or district, listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought conditions by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), during any weekly period between Sept. 1, 2011, and Aug. 31, 2012. All or part of 43 states are listed. Any county contiguous to a county listed by the NDMC also qualifies for this relief.
As a result, farmers and ranchers in these areas whose drought sale replacement period was scheduled to expire at the end of this tax year, Dec. 31, 2012, in most cases, will now have until the end of their next tax year. Because the normal drought sale replacement period is four years, this extension immediately impacts drought sales that occurred during 2008. But because of previous drought-related extensions affecting some of these localities, the replacement periods for some drought sales before 2008 are also affected. Additional extensions will be granted if severe drought conditions persist.
Details on this relief, including a list of NDMC-designated counties, are available in Notice 2012-62PDF, posted today on IRS.gov. Details on reporting drought sales and other farm-related tax issues can be found in Publication 225, Farmer’s Tax Guide, also available on the IRS web site.
IR-2012-71, Sept. 24, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced availability of the summer 2012 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin, which features sole proprietorship data for tax year 2010.
Nearly 23 million individual income tax returns reported nonfarm sole proprietorship activity for 2010. Profits reported on these returns were $267.7 billion.
The Statistics of Income (SOI) Division produces the SOI Bulletin on a quarterly basis.  Articles included in the publication provide the most recent data available from various tax and information returns filed by U.S. taxpayers. This issue of the SOI Bulletin also includes articles on the following:
Partnership and sole proprietorship data, by region and state. For tax years 2007-2009, partnership returns filed increased 3.1 percent, from 3,183,882 to 3,281,985.  Partnership gross receipts (less returns and allowances) for the U.S. decreased 5.7% percent over the same period. The total number of sole proprietorship returns filed for the U.S. fell 1.9 percent, from 24,643,537 in 2007 to 24,179,615 in 2009. Nationally, gross receipts reported on sole proprietorship returns decreased over the period 2007-2009.
Foreign-controlled domestic corporations. For tax year 2009, there were 66,197 foreign-controlled domestic corporations that reported combined profits (i.e., net income less deficit) of $36.4 billion.
Corporations claiming a foreign tax credit. For tax year 2008, 7,242 corporations claimed a total foreign tax credit of over $100 billion against their U.S. income tax liability.
The Statistics of Income Bulletin is available for download at IRS.gov/taxstats. Printed copies of the Statistics of Income Bulletin are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The annual subscription rate is $67 ($93.80 foreign), single issues cost $44 ($61.60 foreign).
For more information about these data, write to the Director, Statistics of Income (SOI) Division, RAS:S, Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 2608, Washington, DC 20013-2608.
Related Items:          
SOI Bulletin: Summer 2012
Historical Tables and Appendix
Tax Statistics
IRS YouTube VideosHelp for Disaster Victims: English | Spanish | ASL
IR-2012-70, Sept. 5, 2012
Updated 9/17/12 to include additional parishes
Updated 9/10/12 to include additional parishes and counties.
WASHINGTON –– The Internal Revenue Service is providing tax relief to individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Isaac.
Following recent disaster declarations for individual assistance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS announced today that affected taxpayers in Louisiana and Mississippi will receive tax relief, and other locations may be added in coming days based on additional damage assessments by FEMA.
The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred on or after Aug. 26. As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until Jan. 11, 2013 to file these returns and pay any taxes due. This includes corporations and businesses that previously obtained an extension until Sept. 17, 2012, to file their 2011 returns and individuals and businesses that received a similar extension until Oct. 15. It also includes the estimated tax payment for the third quarter of 2012, normally due Sept. 17.
The IRS will abate any interest, late-payment or late-filing penalty that would otherwise apply. In addition, the IRS is waiving failure-to-deposit penalties for federal employment and excise tax deposits normally due on or after Aug. 26 and before Sept. 10, if the deposits are made by Sept. 10, 2012. Details on available relief, including information on how to claim a disaster loss by amending a prior-year tax return, can be found on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov.
The tax relief is part of a coordinated federal response to the damage caused by the hurricane and is based on local damage assessments by FEMA. For information on disaster recovery, individuals should visit disasterassistance.gov.
So far, IRS filing and payment relief applies to the following localities:
In Louisiana: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana parishes;
In Mississippi: Adams, Amite, Clarke, Forrest, George, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson, Lincoln, Marion, Pearl River, Pike, Stone, Walthall, Warren and Wilkinson counties.
Update Feb. 4, 2012 — New link at bottom specifies counties in NJ and NY which have an additional tax filing and payment extension.  
IR-2012-82, Oct. 31, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced it is granting taxpayers and tax preparers affected by Hurricane Sandy until Nov. 7 to file returns and accompanying payments normally due today.  
The relief applies to taxpayers and tax preparers in an area affected by Hurricane Sandy or otherwise impacted by the storm that hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States this week.
This relief primarily applies to businesses whose payroll and excise tax returns and payments are normally due today. No action is required by the taxpayer; this relief is automatic. Regular federal tax deposits are due according to current rules. However, the IRS notes that if taxpayers or tax practitioners receive a penalty notice for this period, they can contact the IRS at the number on the notice to request penalty abatement due to reasonable cause on account of the storm.
IRS expects to grant additional filing and payment relief as qualifying disaster declarations are issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Details will be posted on the Tax Relief in Disaster Situations page on IRS.gov.
Related Items:
IR-2013-16, IRS Extends Tax Relief to Some New Jersey and New York Victims of Hurricane Sandy; Return Filing and Tax Payment Deadline Extended to April 1, 2013
Help for Victims of Hurricane Sandy
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Update Oct. 31, 2012 — The webinar has been cancelled due to severe weather conditions. It will be rescheduled. Please keep checking for updates.  
IR-2012-81, Oct. 26, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service’s next IRS Live webinar, “Get Prepared: A to Z Details on the Registered Tax Return Preparer Test” is Wednesday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
The program will cover the latest information from the IRS Return Preparer Office about the registered tax return preparer test. This free one-hour broadcast is for aspiring registered tax return preparers and will also explain the requirements for those who wish to take their career to the next level and become an enrolled agent.
To register for the event, visit the Internal Revenue Service Webinar Registration website. Certificates of completion are being offered for this broadcast. This webinar qualifies for one CE credit under federal tax.
Tax professionals are encouraged to watch the free webinar and submit questions by e-mail to IRS.Live@irs.gov during the broadcast.
The event will be archived for later viewing on the IRS Video Portal approximately three weeks after the live event.
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IR-2012-80, Oct. 24, 2012                                                              
WASHINGTON — The Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC) today released its 2012 Report, which includes recommendations pertaining to a number of information reporting issues such as cost basis reporting for debt and options, the new Form 1099-K, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, information return corrections and other tax administration issues.
The IRPAC is a federal advisory committee comprised of members from the tax professional community that provides input to the IRS on relevant information reporting issues.
“The members of IRPAC have volunteered a significant amount of their time over the past year to bring private-sector feedback to the IRS on new and existing issues in information reporting,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Their partnership with the IRS helps improve the tax system across many taxpayer groups and sectors of the economy.”
IRPAC made recommendations on a broad array of issues and concerns, including the following:
Corrections on Form 1099
Cost basis reporting on debt and options
Code Section 6050W and the new Form 1099-K
Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement
Employer and insurer reporting under the Affordable Care Act
Withholding and tax information reporting under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
The 2012 Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee Public Report can be found on IRS.gov.
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IR-2012-79, Oct. 22, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded the nation’s 730,000 federal tax return preparers that they must renew their Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) for 2013. Also, preparers who have a competency test requirement should take the time now to schedule an appointment for the exam.
Anyone who is a paid federal tax return preparer must register with the IRS and have a PTIN, as must all Enrolled Agents. Additionally, some return preparers have new continuing education and competency test requirements.
“We ask that you renew your PTIN as soon as possible to avoid a last-minute rush. It’s easy to let this slip as the holiday season approaches,” said Carol A. Campbell, Director, IRS Return Preparer Office. “And, if you have a testing requirement and haven’t yet scheduled an appointment, please do so at the same time.”
The online PTIN renewal process takes about 15 minutes. Renewed PTINs will be valid for calendar year 2013. The IRS also has significantly upgraded the PTIN system to make it easier to use and more intuitive.
Preparers who have forgotten their log-in information, password or email address can use online tools to resolve these issues. Get started at /ptin.
New continuing education and testing requirements also apply to approximately 340,000 preparers who previously had no such requirements. These preparers must certify when renewing their PTIN for 2013 that they have completed the 15-hour requirement for continuing education in 2012. Learn more about the 2012 continuing education requirement at /taxpros/ce.
Additionally, preparers with a testing requirement should schedule their tests, whether it is the Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) test or the more extensive Special Enrollment Exam (SEE) for those interested in becoming Enrolled Agents. Compare the tests and credentials at /taxpros/tests. The RTRP test can be scheduled online through the PTIN system by selecting “next steps and additional requirements” from the PTIN account Main Menu. The SEE can be scheduled online at www.prometric.com/see. Preparers who wait until next year to schedule a test may find it difficult to arrange the test at a convenient date, time and location.
Enrolled Agents, Certified Public Accountants and attorneys are exempt from the new continuing education requirements because they already pass more extensive tests and take continuing education courses to satisfy their professional credentials.
For more information about requirements for federal tax professionals, go to /for-Tax-Pros.
IR-2012-78, Oct. 18, 2012
WASHINGTON — For tax year 2013, the Internal Revenue Service announced today annual inflation adjustments for more than two dozen tax provisions.
The annual exclusion for gifts rises to $14,000 for 2013, up from $13,000 for 2012.
The amount used to reduce the net unearned income reported on a child’s tax return subject to the “kiddie tax,” is $1,000, up from $950 for 2012.
The foreign earned income exclusion rises to $97,600, up from $95,100 in 2012.
Details on these inflation adjustments and others such as the low-income housing credit, the dollar limits for high-deductible health plans and other amounts can be found in Revenue Procedure 2012-41PDF, which will be published in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2012-45 on Nov. 5, 2012.
IR-2012-76, Oct. 10, 2012
WASHINGTON — The IRS today announced that Doug Shulman, the 47th commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, has decided to step down on Nov. 9, the last day of his term. Shulman indicated earlier this year that he planned to step down at the end of his term.
Shulman has served as IRS Commissioner since March 24, 2008. Under the law, IRS commissioners are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a term of up to five years with their terms ending on Nov. 12 of their final year (Nov. 9 is the last work day of Shulman's term because Nov. 12 is a federal holiday).
"The IRS team made remarkable progress in the last few years during a challenging period," Shulman said. "It has been an honor to serve the American people during this dynamic time."
Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement Steven T. Miller, who is a 25-year veteran of the IRS, will serve as acting IRS Commissioner when Shulman steps down.
IR-2012-75, Oct. 1, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is seeking applications for vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT). The committee provides a venue for public input on relevant areas of tax administration.
Vacancies exist in the following customer segments:
Employee Plans – two vacancies
Exempt Organizations – two vacancies
Members are appointed by the Department of the Treasury and serve two-year terms, beginning in June 2013. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 2, 2012.
The ACT is an organized public forum for the IRS and representatives who deal with employee plans, exempt organizations, tax-exempt bonds, and federal, state, local and Indian tribal governments. The ACT allows the IRS to receive regular input on administrative policy and procedures of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division (TE/GE).
Applications can be made by letter or by completing an applications form available on IRS.gov. In either case, applications should reflect the proposed member’s qualifications. Members of the ACT may not be federally registered lobbyists. A notice published in the Federal Register, dated Oct. 1, 2012, contains more details about the ACT and the application process.
The ACT membership applicationPDF is available on this web site.
Applications should be sent to Bobby Zarin, TE/GE Communications and Liaison Director, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Ave., NW-SE:T:CL, NCA 679, Washington, DC 20224, or by fax to 202-283-9848 (not a toll-free number).
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IR-2012-74, Oct. 1, 2012
Washington ― The IRS today reminds tax professionals that they can earn continuing professional education credits online through seminars filmed at the 2012 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums. The 15 self-study seminars are now available on the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums Online (NTFO). Self-study seminars provide information to students using interactive videos, PowerPoint slides and transcripts.
The 2012 NTFO seminars cover many topics of interest to tax professionals including:

tax law updates,
registered tax return preparer regulations,
Treasury Circular No. 230 overview,
American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Credit specifics,
new information on payment card and basis reporting requirements, and
EITC due diligence for preparers.

NTFO is registered with the IRS Return Preparer Office and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a qualified sponsor of continuing professional education (CPE). For a fee, Registered Tax Return Preparers, RTRP candidates, Enrolled Agents and CPAs taking NTFO seminars can earn CPE credit. To earn CPE credit, users must create an account, answer review questions after viewing each chapter, and pass a short test at the end of the seminar.
NTFO seminars can also be audited for free. Users who choose to audit seminars will not have access to the review questions or final examination and will not receive credit for the seminar.
In addition to the recently-added seminars, NTFO offers over 40 other seminars from prior year IRS Nationwide Tax Forums from 2009 through 2011.
Tax professionals interested in these seminars should visit www.irstaxforumsonline.com.
IR-2012-100, Nov. 30, 2012
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today the selection of four new members and a chairperson to the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC).
ETAAC provides an organized forum for discussion of issues in electronic tax administration and supports the goal of increasing electronic transactions between tax professionals and the IRS.  
The new members are:
Shaun Barry, of New York City, is the Principal Solutions Architect in the Financial Crimes organization at SAS Institute. He develops solutions for managing fraud. Barry has 19 years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing technologies to improve tax administration.
Mark Castro, of Woodinville, Wash., is a certified public accountant and governmental liaison at Petz Enterprises Inc. He promotes operational and compliance issues with regard to the IRS, e-file and tax preparation.   
Steven Lewis, of Sarasota, Fla., is an enrolled agent and a director for Jackson Hewitt Tax Services Inc. He is responsible for the delivery of their Online Tax Software.
Blair Whitworth, of Charlottesville, Va., is the president of PRO-TAX, the Tax University, and Tax Business Management. His companies provide retail tax preparation services, online tax training and management software for independent tax businesses.
Alice Burnett, of Atlanta, Ga., has been elected by the members to serve as the Chairperson of ETAAC for 2012-2013. She is a small business owner with experience in addressing private sector and public sector stakeholder interests. Prior to starting her own practice, Burnett held a senior manager level position within a major financial institution for over 20 years, and led the implementation and operation of the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). She has served for two years and is in her final year on ETAAC.
Each June, the ETAAC submits a report to Congress reporting on the progress of the IRS’ electronic tax initiatives. ETAAC was created in 1998 by the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA 98).
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IR-2012-99, Nov. 30, 2012
WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning Jan. 1, 2013. The rates will be:
three (3) percent for overpayments [two (2) percent in the case of a corporation];
three (3) percent for underpayments;
five (5) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
one-half (0.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis.  For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. 
Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.
The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during October 2012  to take effect  Nov. 1, 2012, based on daily compounding.
Revenue Ruling 2012-32PDF, announcing the rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2012-52, dated Dec.27, 2012.
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Video: Undeliverable Refunds:  English |Spanish |ASLPodcast: Undeliverable Refunds
WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service is looking to return tax refunds that were not delivered earlier this year because of mailing address errors. 
Taxpayers who did not get their refund in the mail as expected and believe their refund check may have been returned to the IRS should use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can access a telephone version of “Where’s My Refund?” by calling 1-800-829-1954.
Nearly three-quarters of all individual income tax filers are due a refund on their annual tax return. Although the vast majority of those refunds are issued as direct deposits, more than 25 million taxpayers request paper refund checks. The IRS recommends filing tax returns electronically and using direct deposit. Electronic filing eliminates the risk of lost returns and reduces errors on tax returns that can cause refund delays. Direct deposit prevents the possibility of a check being returned to the IRS as undeliverable and ends the danger of paper checks being lost or stolen.
Taxpayers should be aware that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.  This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels.. E-mails informing taxpayers of pending tax refunds and asking for personal information are phishing scams. The agency urges taxpayers receiving such messages not to release any personal information, reply, open any attachments or click on any links to avoid malicious code that can infect their computers. 
The best way for individuals to verify if they have a pending refund is to go directly to IRS.gov and use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool.
Taxpayers should be aware that, when a refund is undelivered one year and the taxpayer files a subsequent year’s tax return, the refund will be applied to any balance due on that subsequent–year tax return (or added to any refund owed the taxpayer) and delivered to the taxpayer per the instructions on their newly-filed return.