etrent17/irs-articles huggingface dataset:
Reporting is Voluntary for All Employers for 2011 and Small Employers for 2012
IR-2011-31, March 29, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued interim guidancePDF to employers on informational reporting on each employee's annual Form W-2 of the cost of the health insurance coverage they sponsor for employees.
The IRS is also requesting comments on this interim guidance. The IRS emphasized that this new reporting to employees is for their information only, to inform them of the cost of their health coverage, and does not cause excludable employer-provided health coverage to become taxable; employer-provided health coverage continues to be excludable from an employee's income, and is not taxable.
The Affordable Care Act provides that employers are required to report the cost of employer-provided health care coverage on the Form W-2.
Notice 2010-69PDF, issued last fall, made this requirement optional for all employers for the 2011 Forms W-2 (generally furnished to employees in January 2012). In today's guidance, the IRS provided further relief for smaller employers (those filing fewer than 250 W-2 forms) by making this requirement optional for them at least for 2012 (i.e., for 2012 Forms W-2 that generally would be furnished to employees in January 2013) and continuing this optional treatment for smaller employers until further guidance is issued.
Using a question-and-answer format, Notice 2011-28PDF also provides guidance for employers that are subject to this requirement for the 2012 Forms W-2 and those that choose to voluntarily comply with it for either 2011 or 2012. The notice includes information on how to report, what coverage to include and how to determine the cost of the coverage.
The 2011 Form W-2, prior IRS Notice 2010-69PDF deferring the reporting requirement for 2011, and Notice 2011-28PDF containing the new guidance are available on IRS.gov.
Related Items:
Employer-Provided Health Coverage Informational Reporting Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
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Update Jan. 24, 2014 — Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, now obsolete. After June 30, 2013, the FBAR must be filed electronically with FinCEN.
IR-2011-30, March 25, 2011
WASHINGTON — Taxpayers abroad can now use IRS Free File to prepare and electronically file their returns for free, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.
Five Free File companies can handle returns filed from foreign addresses. This means both U.S. citizens and resident aliens living abroad with adjusted gross incomes of $58,000 or less can use brand-name software to prepare their returns and then e-file them for free.
This option may be especially attractive to taxpayers living and working abroad who claim the foreign earned income exclusion.
That’s because the $58,000 income limit applies after the exclusion of up to $91,500 is subtracted, thus effectively making Free File available to many higher-income taxpayers. Eligible taxpayers claiming this exclusion on Form 2555 or the foreign tax credit on Form 1116 should check their software to ensure it supports these forms.
To get started, visit IRS Free File and select "Pick a Free File Company."
Taxpayers also can use Free File to request an extension if they cannot meet the regular tax deadline. Free File will be open until Oct. 17, 2011, to accommodate taxpayers who get the regular six-month tax-filing extension, as well as people taking advantage of the special June 15 tax-filing deadline available to taxpayers who live and work outside the U.S.
The IRS reminds U.S. citizens and resident aliens that federal law requires them to report income from all sources, both foreign and domestic, including income from foreign trusts and foreign bank and securities accounts. In most cases, affected taxpayers also need to fill out Part III of Schedule B, including reporting the country or countries in which the accounts are located.
In addition, taxpayers with foreign accounts whose aggregate value exceeded $10,000 at any time during 2010 must file Treasury Department Form TD F 90-22.1. This form is due June 30, 2011, and is filed with the Treasury Department. Details on this requirement are in Publication 4261PDF, Do You Have a Foreign Financial Account?
The IRS today again urged taxpayers who, in the past, failed to disclose foreign accounts or report foreign income to take advantage of the agency’s new Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative.
Announced last month and available for a limited time only, this special initiative is designed to bring offshore money back into the U.S. tax system and help people with undisclosed income from hidden offshore accounts get current with their taxes. Taxpayers participating in the new initiative must file all returns and pay any taxes, interest and accuracy-related penalties due by Aug. 31, 2011.
Full details are on IRS.gov.
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IR-2011-29, March 23, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service seeks civic-minded volunteers to serve on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), a federal advisory committee that listens to taxpayers, identifies key issues and makes recommendations for improving IRS service.
"TAP members are a voice for the nation’s taxpayers and provide valuable insights that are important to effective tax administration," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
The TAP provides a forum for taxpayers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to raise concerns about IRS service and offer suggestions for improvement. The TAP reports annually to the Secretary of the Treasury, the IRS Commissioner and the National Taxpayer Advocate. The Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, an independent organization within the IRS, provides oversight and funding for the TAP.
"In trying to comply with an increasingly complex tax system, taxpayers may find they need different services than the IRS is currently providing," said Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate. "The TAP is vital because it provides the IRS with the taxpayers’ perspective as well as recommendations for improvement that will help the IRS deliver the best possible service to assist taxpayers in meeting their tax obligations."
To be a member of the TAP you must be a U.S. citizen, current with your federal tax obligations, able to commit 300 to 500 hours during the year and able to pass an FBI criminal background check.
New TAP members will serve a three-year term starting in December 2011. Anyone chosen as an alternate member will be considered to fill any vacancies that open in their area during the next three years.
The TAP is seeking members in the following locations: Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Alternates are needed for Iowa, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota and West Virginia.
Applications for the TAP will be accepted through April 29, 2011. Applications are available online at ImproveIRS.org. For additional information about the TAP or the application process, please call toll-free 888-912-1227.
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IR-2011-27, March 14, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the release of the 2010 IRS Data BookPDF, an annual snapshot of agency activities for the fiscal year.
The report describes activities conducted by the IRS from Oct. 1, 2009, to Sept. 30, 2010, and includes information about returns filed, tax collections, enforcement and taxpayer assistance, as well as the IRS budget and workforce.
During fiscal year 2010, the IRS collected $2.3 trillion in revenue, and processed 230 million returns. More than 116 million returns, including almost 70 percent of individual income tax returns, were filed electronically. More than 119 million individual income tax return filers received a tax refund, totaling $358 billion. In fiscal year 2010, IRS spent an average of 53 cents to collect each $100 of tax revenue.
The IRS examined more than 1.5 million individual income tax returns and nearly 30,000 returns filed by corporations, excluding S corporations. The IRS provided taxpayer assistance through 305 million visits to IRS.gov and assisted more than 78 million taxpayers through its telephone helpline or at walk-in sites.
An electronic version of the 2010 IRS Data Book can be found on the Tax Stats.
Printed copies of the IRS Data Book, Publication 55B, will be available by mid-April from the U.S. Government Printing Office. To obtain a copy, write to the Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. You may also order by calling (202) 512-1800 or faxing a request to (202) 512-2250.
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IR-2011-26, March 14, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is reminding those who haven’t filed their tax returns that they can receive their refunds in the form of savings bonds, payments to retirement accounts, mutual funds, as well as in the form of cash directly deposited to a checking or savings account.
By March 4, the IRS had issued more than 52 million refunds worth $161 billion for an average refund of $3,070.
For tax year 2010 returns, there are new savings bond options. Last year, if the taxpayer chose to receive a savings bond as part of the refund, it could only be issued in the taxpayers’ name.
This year, taxpayers can designate anyone to receive a savings bond and also designate the co-owner or beneficiary.
Also a new section was added to Form 8888, Allocation of Refund (Including Savings Bond Purchases), for entering savings bond information so that taxpayers no longer need to enter a pre-specified routing number. Instead, taxpayers will enter the bond owner’s name. The savings bonds will be mailed to the taxpayer.
Taxpayers who claim a tax refund on Form 1040 can use Form 8888 to split their refunds. Refunds can be directed into bank accounts and other financial institutions where their mutual funds or retirement accounts are managed and to purchase U.S. Series I Savings Bonds.
Taxpayers can choose to use a portion of the refund to buy up to $5,000 in low-risk savings bonds, which earn interest and protect owners against inflation. The bonds must be purchased in $50 increments. Direct deposit of any remaining refund amounts is no longer required. Paper checks can be requested for the balance.
During 2010, more than 99,000 bonds were purchased using Form 8888, totaling more than $11 million dollars. To check the status of a bond purchase request, go to the “Where’s My Refund?” section of IRS.gov.
If the IRS has already processed the refund and placed the request for the bond, then the tax filer should contact Treasury Retail Securities at 1-800-245-2804.
 

2011 FILING SEASON STATISTICS


Cumulative through the weeks ending 03/05/10 and 03/04/11


Individual Income Tax Returns


2010


2011


% Change


Total Receipts


61,287,000


60,536,000


-1.2%


Total Processed


57,211,000


58,282,000


1.9%


 


 


 


 


E-filing Receipts:


 


 


 


TOTAL


51,600,000


53,863,000


  4.4%


Tax Professionals


31,880,000


32,680,000


  2.5%


Self-prepared


19,720,000


21,182,000


  7.4%


 


 


 


 


Web Usage:


 


 


 


Visits to IRS.gov


109,663,929


119,793,481


9.2


 


 


 


 


Total Refunds:


 


 


 


Number


51,980,000


52,564,000


  1.1%


Amount


$160.185


Billion


$161.345


Billion


  0.7%


Average refund


$3,082


$3,070


-0.4%


 


 


 


 


Direct Deposit Refunds:


 


 


 


Number


44,032,,000


45,357,000


  3.0%


Amount


$143.600


Billion


$145.972


Billion


  1.7%


Average refund


$3,261


$3,218


  -1.3%

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IR-2011-25, March 8, 2011
WASHINGTON — The IRS today announced that it has made available information in eight foreign languages about the 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative (OVDI) for those taxpayers with undisclosed offshore accounts. The agency took this step to reach taxpayers whose primary language may not be English.
The IRS is offering people with undisclosed income from offshore accounts an opportunity to participate in a new, voluntary disclosure initiative to get current on their tax returns. The 2011 OVDI will be available only through Aug. 31, 2011.
The news release, announcing the agency’s terms for its offshore voluntary disclosure initiative was translated into Chinese ( Traditional and Simplified), Farsi, German, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.
The agency has taken this step to get information about the initiative to people that need it in response to requests made by taxpayers and tax professionals. A similar effort took place in 2009, when the IRS translated material on its special provisions for undisclosed offshore accounts into several languages.
The 2011 initiative has a higher penalty rate than the previous voluntary disclosure program, which ended on Oct. 15, 2009, but offers clear benefits to encourage taxpayers to disclose foreign accounts now rather than risk IRS detection and possible criminal prosecution.
Taxpayers participating in the new initiative must file all original and amended tax returns and include payment for taxes, interest and accuracy-related penalties by the Aug. 31 deadline.
The IRS recently launched 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative on IRS.gov that includes the full terms and conditions, including an extensive set of questions and answers to help taxpayers and tax professionals.
The site also includes details on how people can make a voluntary disclosure.
Complete information about this initiative including all of the translations can be found by typing the term ‘voluntary disclosure’ on IRS.gov.
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IR-2011-24, March 4, 2011
WASHINGTON — Almost 19 million tax returns have been filed with the IRS from home computers so far this year, an increase of almost 6 percent compared to the number of returns from the same time last year.
IRS reminds taxpayers that everyone can use Free File to prepare and e-File their tax returns for free, either by using brand name software or Free File Fillable Forms, which is the electronic version of IRS paper forms.
Individuals or families with 2010 adjusted gross incomes of $58,000 or less can use Free File software. Using Free File Fillable Forms has no income restrictions.
Free File software is a product of a public-private partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, LLC. The Alliance is a consortium of approximately 20 tax software providers who make versions of their products available exclusively on line.
All Free File members must meet certain security requirements and use the latest in encryption technology to protect taxpayers’ information.
The easiest way to locate a software provider is to use the online tool that, with a little of a taxpayer’s personal information, can identify matching products. Or, taxpayers can review all providers and their offers. Some software providers also offer state income tax preparation for free or for a fee. 
This is the third year that the Free File Alliance has provided the Free Fillable Forms program, which is like completing a Form 1040 online, except the program performs some math calculations and provides links to some IRS publications.
However, it does not use the familiar question-and-answer format used by tax preparation software. It also does not support state income tax returns. Taxpayers can e-file the forms for free. Taxpayers must access the tax products through IRS.gov to avoid any charges for preparing or e-filing a federal tax return.
The total number of individual income tax returns that have been e-filed this year is 46.9 million, an increase of 2 percent from the same time last year. E-file includes both returns filed from home computers and returns e-filed by professional tax return preparers.
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2011 FILING SEASON STATISTICS


Cumulative through the weeks ending 02/26/10 and 02/25/11


Individual Income Tax Returns


2010


2011


% Change


Total Receipts


  53,556,000


51,927,000


-3.0%


Total Processed


49,751,000


49,278,000


-1.0%


 


 


 


 


E-filing Receipts:


 


 


 


TOTAL


45,873,000


46,868,000


  2.2%


Tax Professionals


28,048,000


27,983,000


-0.2%


Self-prepared


17,826,000


18,885,000


  5.9%


 


 


 


 


Web Usage:


 


 


 


Visits to IRS.gov


98,691,224


107,028,830


8.5


 


 


 


 


Total Refunds:


 


 


 


Number


45,544,000


45,077,000


-1.0%


Amount


$143.417


Billion


$141.054


Billion


-1.6%


Average refund


$3,149


$3,129


-0.6%


 


 


 


 


Direct Deposit Refunds:


 


 


 


Number


39,569,000


39,821,000


  0.6%


Amount


$130.774


Billion


$129.684


Billion


  -0.8%


Average refund


$3,305


$3,257


  -1.5%
IR-2011-23, March 4, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today released the 2011 version of its discussion and rebuttal of many of the more common frivolous arguments made by individuals and groups that oppose compliance with federal tax laws.
Anyone who contemplates arguing on legal grounds against paying their fair share of taxes should first read the 84-page document, The Truth About Frivolous Tax Arguments.
The document explains many of the common frivolous arguments made in recent years and it describes the legal responses that refute these claims. It will help taxpayers avoid wasting their time and money with frivolous arguments and incurring penalties.
Congress in 2006 increased the amount of the penalty for frivolous tax returns from $500 to $5,000. The increased penalty amount applies when a person submits a tax return or other specified submission, and any portion of the submission is based on a position the IRS identifies as frivolous.
The 2011 version of the IRS document includes numerous recently decided cases that continue to demonstrate that frivolous positions have no legitimacy.
Frivolous arguments include contentions that taxpayers can refuse to pay income taxes on religious or moral grounds by invoking the First Amendment; that the only “employees” subject to federal income tax are employees of the federal government; and that only foreign-source income is taxable.
In addition, the document highlights cases involving injunctions against preparers and promoters of Form 1099-Original Issue Discount schemes, and the imposition of criminal and civil penalties on taxpayers who claimed they were not citizens of the United States for federal income tax purposes.
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IR-2011-22, March 4, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service’s next IRS Live webinar, “Requirements for Federal Tax Return Preparers” is Wednesday, March 30, at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The program will include current information on early program accomplishments, Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) guidelines, plans for upcoming competency testing and continuing education, background checks and electronic filing requirements.
David R. Williams, director, IRS Return Preparer Office, will be the main presenter for the webinar, which will also include a panel of representatives from the tax professional industry. Panelists are:
CPA David Lifson from Crowe Horwath LLP.
	 
Bill Parrish, practicing as Bill Parrish – Private Practice Group, LLC.
Retired IRS communications manager Mike Quinn will moderate the program.
Viewers can register online anytime before the program and download a calendar reminder. Enrolled agents can receive one CPE credit. Other tax professionals may receive credit if the broadcast meets their organization's or state's CPE requirements.
More information about CPE credit is available on IRS.gov.
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-2011-48, April 25, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) recently prevailed in an agency appeal against a Florida certified public accountant, who challenged the length of the expedited suspension sought by OPR, after he pled guilty to a tax misdemeanor, according to the published Decision on AppealPDF.
Lawrence Legel, a Ft. Lauderdale practitioner who was represented by counsel, voluntarily waived his right to a trial in Federal District Court and pled guilty to a violation of section 7203 for assisting with a client’s efforts to hide income from the IRS. When OPR initiated an expedited proceeding to indefinitely suspend him, Legel recanted his admission of guilt, alleging prosecutorial misconduct and coercion by his criminal defense attorney.
In a subsequent administrative hearing on the suspension, rejecting OPR’s recommendation of a 36 month suspension, Administrative Law Judge Susan Biro, imposed a suspension of 24 months and calculated the start date for the suspension from the date Legel was placed on probation in the criminal proceeding. Legel’s probation commenced one year before OPR took action to suspend him from practice before the IRS. OPR appealed both the length and commencement date of the suspension.
On March 31, the Treasury Appellate Authority (TAA) ruled that 36 months was the appropriate suspension period under the circumstances, and that the correct date from which to calculate the period of suspension is the date on which OPR imposed its suspension under the expedited procedure provisions of Circular 230.
According to the published Decision on Appeal, the Appellate Authority reviewed the administrative law judge’s analysis of aggravating and mitigating factors, agreeing with some and disagreeing with others. Seriously aggravating factors were “ Legel’s lack of concern with telling the truth in sworn testimony in the [criminal proceeding] and in his testimony in the disciplinary proceeding, and his lack of remorse…both weigh very heavily against suitability [to practice before the IRS],” according to the Appellate Authority.
 “The Appellate Authority makes it clear in his decision that he considers a conviction of knowingly and willfully assisting in the failure of another to pay income tax to be a very serious charge that strikes at the heart of the agency’s mission and is directly contrary to the duties of one who practices before the IRS,” said OPR Director Karen L. Hawkins. “Convicted practitioners can expect OPR to continue its aggressive use of the expedited suspension procedures in Circular 230 to quickly and efficiently remove them from practice for the taxpaying public’s protection.”
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IR-2011-46, April 18, 2011
WASHINGTON — With the tax deadline arriving tonight, the Internal Revenue Service announced taxpayers set a record this weekend for e-filed tax returns, topping 100 million for the first time.
The IRS saw a late surge of e-filed returns over the weekend. By early Monday morning, the IRS had received nearly 101 million e-filed returns for the 2011 tax season, representing an 8.8 percent increase from last year. In addition, this weekend's e-file by taxpayers pushed the number above the number filed for all of calendar year 2010, when 98.7 million tax returns were e-filed.
The IRS is also approaching another milestone of one billion tax returns filed electronically since the e-file program went national in 1990.
For those still needing to file, the IRS reminds taxpayers that e-file and Free File remain available – both through tonight and for those filing with a six-month extension.
The IRS also reminds taxpayers they can request an extension to file by submitting Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax ReturnPDF, to the IRS by April 18, 2011. The extension allows additional time to file but not to pay. Taxpayers who owe should submit a payment with Form 4868.
All taxpayers can use Free File to submit an extension. Taxpayers also can e-file an extension request using tax preparation software with their own computer or by going to a tax preparer who has the software. The IRS will acknowledge receipt of the extension request if you file by computer.
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IR-2011-45, April 14, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers to review their tax returns for common errors that could result in delayed refunds. Here are some ways to avoid common tax return errors.
File electronically. Filing electronically, whether through e-file or IRS Free File, vastly reduces the errors in a tax return, as the tax software does the calculations, flags common errors and prompts the taxpayers for missing information.
Remember Making Work Pay. The Making Work Pay tax credit –– available in 2009 and 2010 –– is worth up to $400 for individuals and $800 for married couples. Most people got it as a reduction to their paycheck withholding. Form 1040 filers must complete Schedule M, attach it to their returns, and claim the credit to benefit from it. (Tax software handles these calculations automatically for e-filers.)
Mail a paper return to the right address. Paper filers should check the appropriate address where to file in IRS.gov or their form instructions to avoid delays in processing. Fill in all requested information clearly, including Social Security numbers.
Check only one filing status. Also, check the appropriate exemption boxes. When you enter Social Security numbers, make sure they are correct.
Double check all figures. While software catches and prevents many errors on e-file returns, math errors remain common on paper returns.
Get the right routing and account numbers. Requesting a federal refund directly deposited into one, two or even three accounts is convenient and allows the taxpayer access to his or her money faster. Make sure the financial institution routing and account numbers entered on the return are accurate. Incorrect numbers can cause a refund to be delayed or deposited into the wrong account.
Sign and date the return. If you are filing a joint return, both you and your spouse must sign and date the return. E-filers can sign using a self-selected personal identification number (PIN).
Attach forms to the front of the return. Paper filers need to attach W-2s and other forms that reflect tax withholding, as well as other necessary forms and schedules, to the front of their returns. Those claiming credits that require special documentation, such as the Homebuyers Credit or the Adoption Credit, are also reminded to include all the suitable records with their returns.
Request a Filing Extension. If you cannot meet the April 18 deadline, requesting a filing extension for your return is easy and will prevent late filing penalties. You can either use Free File or Form 4868PDF. But keep in mind that while an extension will grant you additional time to file, you are still required to pay any taxes owed by April 18.
Do you owe tax? If so, a number of e-payment options are available. Or send a check or money order payable to the "United States Treasury."
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IR-2011-44, April 13, 2011
WASHINGTON — As the April 18 tax return filing deadline nears, taxpayers can find a wealth of tax-related information on the IRS YouTube channel. The channel, which debuted in August 2009, features numerous IRS experts answering common and not-so-common tax questions.
The IRS YouTube channel is home to hundreds of videos on subjects ranging from how to choose a tax preparer to filing your taxes for free to checking on your refund.
Videos are posted in English, Spanish and American Sign Language.
To date, there have been more than 1.7 million views. The IRS YouTube video channel is the fifth most viewed out of more than 125 U.S. government YouTube channels.
Taxpayers can even subscribe to the channel to receive notice of new video offerings. In fact, the IRS will soon be featuring summertime video tax tips. Topics include the tax implications of summer day camps and summer jobs.
Hot Topics for the Final Week of Filing Season
The following videos include information last-minute filers will find useful:
Last-Minute Tax Tips (obsolete video removed 4/28/11)
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[Filing season statistics for the week ending April 8, 2011, are provided below.]
 

2011 FILING SEASON STATISTICS


Cumulative through the weeks ending  04/09/10 and 04/08/11


Individual Income Tax Returns


2010


2011


% Change


Total Receipts


  98,802,000


98,562,000


-0.2%


Total Processed


93,205,000


95,806,000


  2.8%


 


 


 


 


E-filing Receipts:


 


 


 


TOTAL


77,395,000


83,662,000


  8.1%


Tax Professionals


50,070,000


53,658,000


  7.2%


Self-prepared


27,325,000


30,004,000


  9.8%


 


 


 


 


Web Usage:


 


 


 


Visits to IRS.gov


162,235,522


172,489,766


6.3


 


 


 


 


Total Refunds:


 


 


 


Number


79,705,000


80,874,000


1.5%


Amount


$234.306


Billion


$234.161


Billion


- 0.1


Average refund


$2,940


$2,895


-1.5%


 


 


 


 


Direct Deposit Refunds:


 


 


 


Number


61,428,000


64,343,000


  4.7%


Amount


$194.813


Billion


$199.490


Billion


  2.4%


Average refund


$3,171


$3,100


  -2.2%
For IRS videos, see: YouTube/IRSVideos
IR-2011-43, April 12, 2011
WASHINGTON — Are you unable to complete and file your federal individual tax return by the April 18 deadline? If so, you can request an extension of time to file, which will automatically give you until Oct. 17, 2011, to submit your tax return to the Internal Revenue Service.
An extension gives you an additional six months to file your tax return. But keep in mind that an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. All outstanding balances are due on April 18, 2011.
The IRS expects to receive approximately 10 million extension requests in 2011, which is about the same as last year.
Numerous Ways to Get an Extension
In order to get an extension, you need to file Form 4868 with the IRS.
Taxpayers can electronically file Form 4868 through IRS Free File or Free File Fillable Forms. Using Free File to prepare and electronically submit Form 4868 is free to everyone, regardless of income.
Paid preparers can also electronically file Form 4868 as can tax software that you run on your computer.
Finally, a paper version of Form 4868PDF is available for download from IRS.gov. However, the IRS will only provide an acknowledgement of your extension request if you e-file or Free File the request.
When you request an extension, you need to estimate your tax liability and pay any balance due by the April 18 deadline. If you are unable to pay the total balance due, you should pay as much as possible and apply for an installment agreement.
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IR-2011-41, April 12, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers to use new mobile phone applications launched this filing season to check the status of their refunds and to get other tax information on the go.
To date, there have been more than 250,000 downloads of the IRS2Go app.
In late January, the IRS unveiled IRS2Go, its first smartphone application that lets taxpayers check on the status of their tax refund and obtain helpful tax information. The IRS2Go phone app gives people a convenient way of checking on their federal refund. It also gives people a quick way of obtaining easy-to-understand tax tips.
Apple users can download the free IRS2Go application by visiting the Apple App Store. Android users can visit the Android Marketplace to download the free IRS2Go app. The mobile app, among a handful in the federal government, offers a number of safe and secure ways to help taxpayers.
Get Your Refund Status
Taxpayers can check the status of their federal refund through the new phone app with a few basic pieces of information. First, taxpayers enter their Social Security number, which is masked and encrypted for security purposes. Next, taxpayers pick the filing status they used on their tax return. Finally, taxpayers enter the amount of the refund they expect from their 2010 tax return.
For people who e-file, the refund function of the phone app will work within about 72 hours after taxpayers receive an e-mail acknowledgement saying the IRS received their tax return.
For people filing paper tax returns, longer processing times mean they will need to wait three to four weeks before they can check their refund status.
About 70 percent of the 142 million individual tax returns filed were filed electronically last year, and that percentage is expected to rise this year.
Get Tax Updates
Phone app users enter their e-mail address to automatically get daily tax tips. Tax Tips are simple, straightforward tips and reminders to help with tax planning and preparation. Tax Tips are issued daily during the tax filing season and periodically during the rest of the year. The plain English updates cover topics such as free tax help, child tax credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit, education credits and other topics.
Follow the IRS
Taxpayers can sign up to follow the IRS Twitter news feed, @IRSnews. IRSnews provides the latest federal tax news and information for taxpayers. The IRSnews tweets provide easy-to-use information, including tax law changes and important IRS programs.
IRS2Go is the latest IRS effort to provide information to taxpayers beyond traditional channels. The IRS also uses tools such as YouTube and Twitter to share the latest information on tax changes, initiatives, products and services through social media channels. 
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IR-2011-40, April 7, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the availability of the winter 2011 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin, which features preliminary data on 140.5 million individual income tax returns filed for tax year 2009.
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. Some of the articles in this issue of the SOI Bulletin include the following:
Individual income tax rates and shares: For 2008, individuals filed 142.5 million tax returns. Of those returns, 90.7 million (or 63.6 percent) were taxable, which means that, at the return level, the taxpayer reported total income tax greater than zero. Adjusted gross income (AGI) reported on taxable returns was almost $7.6 trillion, while total income tax was $1 trillion.    
Individual noncash contributions: For tax year 2008, 23 million individual taxpayers who itemized deductions reported $40.4 billion in deductions for noncash charitable contributions.   
Tax-exempt bonds: More than 24,000 tax-exempt governmental bonds and more than 3,400 tax-exempt private activity bonds were issued in 2008, raising $334.4 billion and $135 billion in proceeds, respectively.  
Controlled foreign corporations: For tax year 2006, foreign corporations controlled by U.S. multinational corporations held $11.7 trillion in assets and reported receipts of $4.8 trillion.  
Projections of federal tax return filings: The IRS expects that individual and business taxpayers will file 236.6 million tax returns during calendar year 2011.
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 $53 ($74.20 foreign), single issues cost $39 ($48.75 foreign).
For more information, 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: Winter 2011 
Historical Tables and Appendix 
Tax Statistics
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IR-2011-37, April 5, 2011
Washington — The Internal Revenue Service today issued guidancePDF that designates the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March 2011 as a qualified disaster for federal tax purposes. This guidance affects recipients of disaster relief payments as well as employer-sponsored private foundations.
The guidance allows recipients of qualified disaster relief payments to exclude those payments from income on their tax returns. Also, the guidance allows employer-sponsored private foundations to assist employee victims in areas affected by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan without affecting their tax-exempt status.
Charities usually fall into one of two categories – public charities or private foundations. Under the tax law, a private foundation that is employer-sponsored may make qualified disaster relief payments to employees affected by a qualified disaster. These payments generally include amounts to cover necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses that were not covered by insurance. They also include expenses to repair or rehabilitate personal residences or repair or replace the contents to the extent that they were not covered by insurance. Again, these payments would not be included in the individual recipient’s gross income.
Qualified disasters include Presidentially declared disasters, as well as other catastrophic events.  Because of its catastrophic nature, the IRS has determined that the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that occurred last month is a qualified disaster for purposes of the federal tax law.  The IRS has made similar determinations regarding prior international disasters, such as the Haitian earthquake in 2010 and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.
The IRS will presume that qualified disaster relief payments made by an employer-sponsored private foundation to employees and their family members in areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan are consistent with the foundation's charitable purposes.
Today's guidance does not affect individuals interested in contributing to victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami. The IRS reminds taxpayers that there are some simple steps they can take to ensure that their contributions go to charities eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. The IRS has posted more information on IRS.gov. 
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IR-2011-36, April 4, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that it has published guidance for taxpayers in the telecommunications industry with the aim of resolving disputes involving the capitalization and depreciation of network assets.
The three revenue procedures issued today resulted from two Industry Issue Resolution (IIR) Program projects that were recently completed. The IIR Program resolves business tax issues common to significant numbers of taxpayers, usually within a specific industry, through new and improved guidance.
“This program strives to find the best way to resolve outstanding tax disputes affecting industries,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Through guidance, we seek to eliminate confusion and minimize conflict while providing taxpayers greater certainty.”
Differences regarding the appropriate manner to capitalize network asset repair and replacement costs have led to $3.6 billion in accounting method disputes between taxpayers and the IRS affecting 80 percent of the telecom industry. The capitalization project is designed to minimize these disputes. A related wireless depreciation project aims to minimize depreciation disputes involving the recovery period of assets in the wireless telecom sector. In 2007 alone, the wireless sector placed in service $8 billion of new fixed assets.
The guidance released today includes the following:
A revenue procedure (RP-11-28PDF) for the wireless telecom sector providing two alternative safe-harbor methods for determining the amount of network asset repair and replacement expenditures that must be capitalized.
A revenue procedure (RP-11-27PDF) that provides similar safe harbors for ‘wireline’ telecom carriers, firms with ‘landline’ networks.
A revenue procedure (RP-11-22PDF) that provides a safe-harbor method for determining the recovery period for depreciation of certain tangible assets used by wireless telecommunications carriers.
This published guidance results from a combined effort involving representatives of the telecommunications industry and IRS and Treasury Department officials to resolve areas of long-standing tax controversy in a manner that provides consistency, efficient use of government and taxpayer resources, along with greater certainty.
Project selections are based on the criteria set forth in Revenue Procedure 2003-36. For each issue selected, a multi-functional team of IRS, Chief Counsel and Treasury personnel is assembled. The teams gather and analyze the relevant facts from industry groups and taxpayers for each issue and recommend guidance.
Requests for guidance on tax issues under this program can be submitted at any time to IIR@irs.gov.  Submissions received are reviewed semi-annually.
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IR-2011-34, April 4, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today requested nominations for the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC), which advises the IRS on information reporting and administration issues of mutual concern to the private sector and the federal government.
“Information reporting is an important part of sound tax administration, and insights from IRPAC members assist the IRS in keeping pace with changing times,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
IRPAC presents an annual report to the IRS Commissioner at a public meeting in the fall. The committee consists of 24 volunteers who are appointed to three-year terms by the Commissioner. Terms are staggered so that about a third of the panel changes each year. Nominations are currently being accepted for up to seven appointments to terms that will begin January 2012.
The deadline for submitting applications is May 31, 2011. IRPAC members are drawn from diverse backgrounds. Members represent the taxpaying public, tax professional community, small and large businesses, colleges and universities, state tax administrations, banks, insurance companies, foreign financial institutions and the payroll community.
Anyone interested in being a member of IRPAC may nominate themselves or be nominated by a professional organization. All nominees must complete an application.
More information, including more on the application process, is available on the Tax Professional’s page of IRS.gov. Questions about the nomination process can be sent to the following e-mail address: *public_liaison@irs.gov.
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Update Jan. 24, 2014 — Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, now obsolete. After June 30, 2013, the FBAR must be filed electronically with FinCEN.
Update On June 17, FinCEN issued Notice 2011-2PDF extending the FBAR filing deadline for another small subset of filers. Notice 2011-2 applies to an employee or officer of an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission who has signature or other authority over and no financial interest in a foreign financial account of persons that are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
IR-2011-57, May 31, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today announced that a small subset of individuals with only signature authority required to file the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs) will receive a one-year extension beyond the upcoming filing date of June 30, 2011.
FinCen today issued Notice 2011-1 that extends the deadline until June 30, 2012, for the following individuals:
An employee or officer of a covered entity who has signature or other authority over and no financial interest in a foreign financial account of another entity more than 50 percent owned, directly or indirectly, by the entity (a “controlled person”).
An employee or officer of a controlled person of a covered entity who has signature or other authority over and no financial interest in a foreign financial account of the entity or another controlled person of the entity.
All other U.S. persons required to file an FBAR this year are required to meet the June 30, 2011, filing date. Unlike with federal income tax returns, extensions of time to file are not available.
Today’s notice was issued to facilitate more accurate compliance of FBAR filings in the wake of recent finalization of regulations. The FBAR filing requirements, authorized under one of the original provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act, have been in place since 1972.
On Feb. 24, 2011, FinCEN published a final rulePDF that amended the Bank Secrecy Act regarding FBARs.
The FBAR form is used to report a financial interest in, or signature or other authority over, one or more financial accounts in foreign countries.
U.S. persons are required to file FBARs Form TD F 90-22.1 annually if they have a financial interest in or signature authority over financial accounts, including bank, securities or other types of financial accounts, in a foreign country, if the aggregate value of these financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.
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IR-2011-56, May 23, 2011
WASHINGTON –– The Internal Revenue Service is accepting applications for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant programs, which will allow some organizations to apply for annual funding for up to three years.
Applications will be accepted May 23, 2011, through June 30, 2011. Previous grant recipients will have the option to apply for up to three years of annual funding which would reduce the amount of paperwork they must complete over the three-year period. This annual funding will also help recipients with budget planning.
The 2012 application packages and guidelines are available on the IRS website.  More information about the TCE and VITA grants is available in Publication 4680PDF, TCE & VITA Grant Programs.
In 2011 the IRS awarded 31 TCE grantees $6.1 million and 179 VITA grantees $12 million. Through April 10, 2011, the two grant programs filed more than 2 million returns at almost 9,000 sites nationwide.
The TCE program was established in 1978 to provide tax counseling and return preparation to persons age 60 or older and to give training and technical assistance to the volunteers who provide free federal income tax assistance to seniors across the nation. 
The VITA Grant program was established in 2007 to supplement the VITA program, which was created in 1969.  VITA provides underserved communities with free federal income tax filing assistance.  The grant program enables VITA to extend services to underserved populations in hard-to-reach urban and non-urban areas, to increase taxpayer’s ability to file returns electronically, to enhance training of volunteers and to improve the accuracy rate of returns prepared at VITA sites. 
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