etrent17/irs-articles huggingface dataset:
IR-2018-246, December 7, 2018
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued Notice 2018-97PDF offering guidance on a recent tax law change that allows qualified employees of privately-held corporations to defer paying income tax, for up to five years, on the value of qualified stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs) granted to them by their employers. 
The tax law change was included in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). In general, executives, highly-compensated officers and those owning one percent or more of the corporation’s stock cannot make the deferral election. Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax payable on the value of qualified stock may not be deferred.
Notice 2018-97PDF, posted today on IRS.gov, offers initial guidance taxpayers can rely on until proposed regulations are issued and requests public comment on additional issues that should be addressed in those regulations.
Updates on this and other TCJA provisions can be found on the Tax Reform page of IRS.gov.
IR-2018-244, December 6, 2018
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2019.  The rates will be: 
six (6) percent for overpayments [five (5) percent in the case of a corporation];
three and one-half (3.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000;
six (6) percent for underpayments; and
eight (8) percent for large corporate underpayments. 
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 2018 to take effect November 1, 2018, based on daily compounding.
Revenue Ruling 2018-32PDF, announcing the rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2018-51, dated December 17, 2018.
IR-2018-242, December 4, 2018
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today granted taxpayers an extra day, until Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 to file any return or pay any tax originally due on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
The IRS granted the extra time, following the Dec. 1 Executive Order closing all federal agencies on Dec. 5, as a mark of respect for George Herbert Walker Bush, the forty-first President of the United States
The one-day extension applies to any return, required to be filed with the IRS, on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. It also applies to any required federal tax payment, originally due on that day. In addition, it also applies to any federal income, payroll or excise tax deposit due on Dec. 5, including those required to be made through the Treasury Department’s Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).
IR-2018-239, December 4, 2018
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service wants to remind those with disabilities that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017) made major changes to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts. Eligible individuals may now put more money into their ABLE account and also roll money from their qualified tuition programs (529 plans) into their ABLE accounts. And certain contributions made to ABLE accounts by low- and moderate-income workers may now qualify for the Saver's Credit.
ABLE accounts are designed to help people with disabilities and their families save and pay for disability-related expenses. Though contributions are not deductible, distributions, including earnings, are tax-free to the designated beneficiary if used to pay qualified disability expenses. These expenses can include housing, education, transportation, health, prevention and wellness, employment training and support, assistive technology and personal support services and other disability-related expenses.
Normally, contributions totaling up to the annual gift-tax exclusion amount, currently $15,000, may be made to an ABLE account each year for the benefit of an eligible person with a disability, known as a designated beneficiary. Starting in 2018, if the beneficiary works, the beneficiary can also contribute part, or all, of their income to their ABLE account.
This additional contribution is limited to the poverty-line amount for a one-person household. For 2018, this amount is $12,140 in the continental U.S., $13,960 in Hawaii and $15,180 in Alaska. The designated beneficiary is not, however, eligible to make this additional contribution if their employer contributes to a workplace retirement plan on their behalf.
Also starting in 2018, ABLE account beneficiaries can qualify for the Saver’s Credit based on contributions they make to their ABLE accounts. Up to $2,000 of these contributions may qualify for this special credit designed to help low- and moderate-income workers. Claimed on Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions, this credit can reduce the amount of tax a person owes or increase their refund.
Finally, some funds may now be rolled into an ABLE account from the designated beneficiary’s own 529 plan or from the 529 plan of certain family members.
For more information about ABLE accounts and other tax reform changes visit IRS.gov/taxreform.
IR-2017-14, January 31, 2017
WASHINGTON — The IRS announced today the release of an updated Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, that will help tax-exempt organizations avoid common mistakes when filing their annual return.
The updated Form 990-EZ includes 29 “help” icons describing key information needed to complete many of the fields within the form. The icons also provide links to additional helpful information available on IRS.gov. These “pop-up” boxes share information to help small and mid-size exempt organizations avoid common mistakes when filling out the form and filing their return.
“We’ve been reviewing the areas of the form where exempt organizations encounter the most trouble,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “One out of three paper filers has an error on their form. After reviewing these trouble spots, we developed this new option to help groups navigate the form. This common-sense approach is designed to make it easier for exempt organizations to avoid problems up front – and avoid getting a follow-up contact from the IRS.” 
On the new form, the help icons are marked in boxes with a blue question mark. The icons and underlying links work on any device with Adobe Acrobat Reader and Internet access. Once completed, filers can print Form 990-EZ and mail it to the IRS.
Although many large exempt organizations are required to file Form 990-series information returns electronically, the IRS encourages all exempt organizations to consider filing electronically.
In 2016, the error rate for electronically-filed 990-EZ returns was only 1 percent, compared to the 33 percent error rate in paper-filed returns. In 2016, the IRS processed over 263,000 Forms 990-EZ, with the majority of the filings – 139,000 -- on paper.
A list of providers assisting with electronic filing is available on IRS.gov.
Exempt organizations should keep in mind that the new help icons do not replace the Form 990-EZ instructions. Filers should review the Form’s instructions when completing a return and use the help icons as an additional tool.
The IRS also reminds exempt organizations that Form 990-series returns are due on the 15th day of the fifth month after an organization’s tax year ends. Many organizations use the calendar year as their tax year, making May 15, 2017, the deadline to file for tax year 2016.
IR-2017-13, Jan. 30, 2017
WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today reminds employers that the due date for filing Forms W-2PDF, the Wage and Tax Statement for their employees for calendar year 2016, is now Jan, 31, 2017. Also, any Forms 1099-MISC reporting payments to contract workers (box 7, nonemployee compensation) must also be filed by Jan. 31.
The new deadline applies whether an employer e-files or files a paper Form W-2. Employers must file with the Social Security Administration a Form W-2 showing the wages paid and taxes withheld for the year for each employee.
The new deadline is part of legislation signed into law at the end of 2015 to combat identity-theft and refund fraud.
The Social Security Administration encourages all employers to e-file their Forms W-2 by using its Business Services Online.  Employers who file paper Forms W-2 should file them with the Social Security Administration, Data Operations Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001.
E-filing can save time and effort and helps ensure accuracy. Employers must e-file if they file 250 or more Forms W-2 or W-2c. Employers who are required to e-file but fail to do so may incur a penalty. E-filing can save time and effort and helps ensure accuracy.
The IRS projects that employers will file more than 250 million Forms W-2 this year; the vast majority will be e-filed.
The new rule does not affect the filing deadline for other types of Form 1099 or Forms 1097, 1098,  3921, 3922, or W-2G, which are filed on paper by Feb. 28, 2017, or by March 31, 2017 if filed electronically.
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Claiming EITC or ACTC? Your Refund May Be Delayed: English| Spanish | ASL (Obsolete)
IR-2017-11, Jan 26, 2017 
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service urges Native American taxpayers to look into the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and correctly claim it if they qualify. EITC and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) greatly reduce poverty for working families.
The EITC is a federal income tax credit for working people who don't earn a lot ($53,505 or less for 2016) and meet certain eligibility requirements. Because it’s a refundable credit, those who qualify and claim the credit could pay less federal tax, pay no tax or even get a tax refund. EITC can mean up to a $6,269 refund for working families with qualifying children. Workers without a qualifying child could be eligible for a smaller credit up to $506. On average, EITC adds $2,400 to refunds.
The IRS has identified American Indian communities as a group of workers at risk for overlooking this important credit.
To qualify for EITC, the taxpayer must meet basic rules and have earned income from employment, being self-employed or running a business. This includes home-based businesses and work in the service, construction and agriculture industries. Eligibility also depends on family size, but single workers without a qualifying child who earn under $20,430 may qualify for a smaller credit. Also, certain disability payments may qualify as earned income for EITC purposes. The IRS recommends using the EITC Assistant, on IRS.gov, to determine eligibility, estimate the amount of credit and more.
There are many reasons qualified individuals and families do not claim the EITC. They may think they are ineligible, not know about the credit or worry about paying for tax preparation services. To get the credit, individuals must file a tax return, even if they do not owe any tax or are not required to file. Qualified taxpayers should consider claiming the EITC by filing electronically, whether through a qualified tax professional; using free community tax help sites; or doing it themselves with IRS Free File.
Many EITC filers will get their refunds later this year than in past years. That’s because a new law requires the IRS to hold refunds claiming the EITC and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until mid-February. The IRS cautions taxpayers that these refunds likely will not start arriving in bank accounts or on debit cards until the week of Feb. 27. Taxpayers claiming the EITC or ACTC should file as soon as they have all of the necessary documentation together to prepare an accurate return. In other words, file as they normally would.
The IRS and partners nationwide will hold the annual EITC Awareness Day on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 to alert millions of workers who may be missing out on this significant tax credit and other refundable credits. One easy way to support this outreach effort is by participating on the IRS Thunderclap to help promote #EITCAwarenessDay through social media. For more information on EITC and other refundable credits, visit the EITC page on IRS.gov.
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IR-2017-10, January 25, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry today renewed their warning about an email scam that uses a corporate officer’s name to request employee Forms W-2 from company payroll or human resources departments.
This week, the IRS already has received new notifications that the email scam is making its way across the nation for a second time. The IRS urges company payroll officials to double check any executive-level or unusual requests for lists of Forms W-2 or Social Security number.
The W-2 scam first appeared last year. Cybercriminals tricked payroll and human resource officials into disclosing employee names, SSNs and income information. The thieves then attempted to file fraudulent tax returns for tax refunds.
This phishing variation is known as a “spoofing” e-mail. It will contain, for example, the actual name of the company chief executive officer. In this variation, the “CEO” sends an email to a company payroll office or human resource employee and requests a list of employees and information including SSNs.
The following are some of the details that may be contained in the emails:
Kindly send me the individual 2016 W-2 (PDF) and earnings summary of all W-2 of our company staff for a quick review.
Can you send me the updated list of employees with full details (Name, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Home Address, Salary).
I want you to send me the list of W-2 copy of employees wage and tax statement for 2016, I need them in PDF file type, you can send it as an attachment. Kindly prepare the lists and email them to me asap.
Working together in the Security Summit, the IRS, states and tax industry have made progress in their fight against tax-related identity theft, cybercriminals are using more sophisticated tactics to try to steal even more data that will allow them to impersonate taxpayers.
The Security Summit supports a national taxpayer awareness campaign called Taxes. Security. Together. and a national tax professional awareness effort called Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself. These campaigns offer simple tips that can help make data more secure.
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IRS YouTube Video
Claiming EITC or ACTC? Your Refund May Be Delayed: English | Spanish | ASL (Obsolete)
IR-2017-08, January 24, 2017
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service wants taxpayers living in rural communities to be aware of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and correctly claim it if they qualify.
Whether living in the big city or a small town, EITC can help. The EITC is a federal income tax credit for working people who don't earn a lot ($53,505 or less for 2016) and meet certain eligibility requirements. Because it’s a refundable credit, those who qualify and claim the credit could pay less federal tax, pay no tax or even get a tax refund. EITC can mean up to a $6,269 refund for working families with qualifying children. Workers without a qualifying child could be eligible for a smaller credit up to $506. On average, EITC adds $2,400 to refunds.
Even though household income in many rural areas is below the national average, many of these taxpayers are often not aware that they may qualify for EITC. An eligible taxpayer must have earned income from employment or running or owning a business or farm and meet basic rules. Eligibility also depends on family size, but single workers without a qualifying child who earn under $20,430 may qualify for a smaller credit. Also, certain disability payments may qualify as earned income for EITC purposes. The IRS recommends using the EITC Assistant, on IRS.gov, to determine eligibility, estimate the amount of credit and more.
To get the credit, Taxpayers must file a tax return, even if they do not owe any tax or are not required to file. Qualified taxpayers should consider claiming the EITC by filing electronically: through a qualified tax professional; using free community tax help sites; or doing it themselves with IRS Free File.
Many EITC filers will get their refunds later this year than in past years. That’s because a new law requires the IRS to hold refunds claiming the EITC and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until mid-February. The IRS cautions taxpayers that these refunds likely will not start arriving in bank accounts or on debit cards until the week of Feb. 27. Taxpayers claiming the EITC or ACTC should file as soon as they have all of the necessary documentation together to prepare an accurate return. In other words, file as they normally would.
The IRS and partners nationwide will hold the annual EITC Awareness Day on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 to alert millions of workers who may be missing out on this significant tax credit and other refundable credits. One easy way to support this outreach effort is by participating on the IRS Thunderclap to help promote #EITCAwarenessDay through social media. For more information on EITC and other refundable credits, visit the EITC page on IRS.gov.
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IR-2017-03, Jan. 11, 2017
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and tax industry leaders today warned tax professionals to be alert to an email scam from cybercriminals posing as clients soliciting their services.
A new variation of this phishing scheme is targeting accounting and tax preparation firms nationwide. The scheme's objective is to collect sensitive information that will allow fraudsters to prepare fraudulent tax returns.
These latest phishing emails come in typically two stages. The first email is the solicitation, which asks tax professionals questions such as "I need a preparer to file my taxes." If the tax professional responds, the cybercriminal sends a second email. This second email typically has either an embedded web address or contains a PDF attachment that has an embedded web address.
In some cases, the phishing emails may appear to come from a legitimate sender or organization (perhaps even a friend or colleague) because they also have been victimized. Fraudsters have taken over their accounts to send phishing emails.
The tax professional may think they are downloading a potential client's tax information or accessing a site with the potential client's tax information. In reality, the cybercriminals are collecting the preparer's email address and password and possibly other information.
The IRS urges tax professionals and tax preparation firms to consider creating internal policies or obtain security experts' recommendations on how to address unsolicited emails seeking their services.
One tip: Never respond to or click on a link in an unsolicited email or PDF attachment from an unknown sender. As the IRS, states and the tax industry make progress in the fight against identity theft, cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated in their efforts to steal additional client information. Criminals need more data in their effort to impersonate clients and file fraudulent returns to claim refunds, and schemes like this can help in this effort.
Read more at Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself, the Security Summit initiative to increase awareness about the tax professional community.
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IR-2017-49, February 28, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that the Winter 2017 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin is available on IRS.gov. The Statistics of Income (SOI) Division produces the online Bulletin quarterly, providing the most recent data available from various tax and information returns filed by U.S. taxpayers. This issue includes articles on the following topics:
Unrelated Business Income Tax Returns, 2012: For tax year 2012, tax-exempt organizations reported $12 billion in gross unrelated business income, a 6 percent increase from tax year 2011. Total unrelated business income tax liability increased by 17 percent over the same period, to $429 million. Filers classified as charitable organizations, which are tax exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), made up the most common Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return, filers and represented more than one-third (35 percent) of all organizations that filed the return for tax year 2012.
	 
Foreign Recipients of U.S. Income, 2013: During 2013, U.S.-source income payments to foreign persons rose to $697.6 billion, an increase of 3.7 percent from 2012. These payments are reported on Form 1042-S, Foreign Person’s U.S.-Source Income Subject to Withholding.
SOI Bulletin articles are available for download at IRS.gov/taxstats. For more information about this data, write to the Director, Statistics of Income (SOI) Division, RAAS:S, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, (K-Room 4112), Washington, DC 20224.
Related Items:
SOI Bulletin: Winter 2017
Historical Tables and Appendix
Tax Statistics
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Updated 3/1/18 to include correct link to the Tax Time Guide.
IR-2017-48, Feb. 28, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers that IRS.gov offers many useful tips and information to find a qualified tax professional.
This is the third in a series of 10 IRS tips called the Tax Time Guide, designed to help taxpayers navigate common tax issues. This year’s tax-filing deadline is April 18.
More than 150 million individual returns were filed last year and over half of those were prepared by a paid return preparer. Taxpayers can use the IRS.gov/chooseataxpro website that includes a list of consumer tips for selecting a tax professional. There is also a page with IRS Tax Pro Association Partners that includes links to national nonprofit tax professional groups which can help taxpayers seeking the right type of qualified help.
Here are some basic tips to keep in mind when selecting a tax professional:
Select an ethical preparer. Taxpayers entrust vital personal data with the person preparing their tax return, including income, investments and Social Security numbers.
Review the tax return and ask questions before signing. Taxpayers are legally responsible for what’s on their tax return, regardless of whether someone else prepared it.
Make sure the preparer signs the return and includes their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The vast majority of paid preparers are required to have a valid PTIN.
Never sign a blank tax return. It’s a clear red flag when a taxpayer is asked to sign a blank tax return. The preparer can put anything they want on the return — even their own bank account number for the tax refund.
In 2015, the IRS launched a Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications on the IRS website to help taxpayers verify credentials and qualifications of tax professionals. The Directory is a searchable, sortable database that includes the name, city, state and zip code of credentialed return preparers who are CPAs, enrolled agents or attorneys, as well as those who have completed the requirements for the IRS Annual Filing Season Program.  
The IRS requires anyone who prepares any federal tax return for compensation to obtain a PTIN. Valid PTINs are issued by the IRS. There are almost 700,000 individuals with valid PTINs. Anyone with a valid PTIN can prepare and sign federal tax returns they prepare.
For more information, see:
Who can represent you before the IRS?
Things to remember when choosing a tax preparer
When, and how, do I file a complaint about a tax preparer?   
Other tips in the Tax Time Guide are available on IRS.gov.
 
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IR-2017-47, Feb. 27, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the release of its IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) annual report (obsolete), reflecting the significant accomplishments and criminal enforcement actions taken in fiscal year 2016.
IRS CI initiated 3,395 cases in FY 2016 that focused on tax-related identity theft, money laundering, public corruption, cybercrime and terrorist financing.
“The IRS continues to work to ensure that everyone is playing by the same rules and paying their fair share,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “The IRS is committed to fairly administering and enforcing the tax code, and our criminal investigators play a critical role in that effort.”
The CI report is released each year for the purpose of highlighting the agency’s successes while providing a historical snapshot of the make-up and priorities of the organization.  The very first Chief of IRS CI, Elmer Lincoln Irey, served from 1919 to 1946 and envisioned releasing such a document each year to showcase the agency’s investigative work.
“I could not be more proud of all that our special agents and professional staff have accomplished in spite of our budget challenges,” said Richard Weber, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation Division. “Though the total number of cases has dropped for the third consecutive year due to fewer agents and professional staff, we have continued to find ways to become even more efficient and the quality of our cases has never been greater.”
CI is the only federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over federal tax crimes.  This year, CI again boasted a conviction rate rivaling all of federal law enforcement at 92.1percent.  That conviction rate speaks to the thoroughness of the investigations.  CI is routinely called upon by prosecutors across the country to lead financial investigations on a wide variety of financial crimes including international tax evasion, identity theft, terrorist financing and transnational organized crime.
CI investigates potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes in a manner to foster confidence in the tax system and compliance with the law. The 50-page report summarizes a wide variety of IRS CI activity throughout the fiscal year and includes case examples on a range of tax crimes, money laundering, public corruption, terrorist financing and narcotics trafficking financial crimes.
“I’m proud of IRS-CI and the reputation that this agency has as the best financial investigators in the world,” Weber said.  “Regardless of our budget challenges over the past several years, I am proud that we have not lost sight of our impact or mission and that the quality of our cases remains high.”
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IR-2017-46, Feb. 27, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today unveiled its 100th eBook — a milestone in IRS efforts to share information to meet the changing needs of taxpayers.
The IRS eBooks effort, which began two years ago, offers an easy way to read and review some of the most commonly used IRS tax products. Through eBooks, taxpayers can view Form 1040 instructions, Publication 17 and other frequently used tax publications by using mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets and eReaders.
"This milestone reflects our continuing commitment to share information with taxpayers so they have the information they need in the way they prefer," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "Our eBook initiative makes it easier for taxpayers to access common publications, even if they’re using a mobile phone or tablet.”
The eBook format makes it much easier to navigate a publication, adjust the print size and add comments or bookmarks on mobile devices. It also provides accessibility for users who are visually impaired.
The complete list of all eBook publications is available at /forms-pubs/ebooks. Tax publications are also available on IRS.gov for free downloading in PDF and HTML versions.
Taxpayers can obtain federal tax forms and publications anytime. All IRS forms, instructions and publications are available on the IRS.gov website. In addition, tax products are generally available online six to eight weeks before paper products are distributed. To view and download tax products, use the ‘Forms and Pubs’ tab on IRS.gov.
Updated 3/1/18 to include correct link to the Tax Time Guide.
IRS YouTube Video:
Welcome to Free File: English
IR-2017-45, Feb. 27, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded the millions of taxpayers who have yet to file their taxes that IRS Free File remains available either online at IRS.gov/FreeFile or through the mobile app, IRS2Go. The IRS2Go app is available for Android and iOS devices.
The IRS Free File service makes brand-name tax software products and electronic filing available to most taxpayers for free. Some products offer both free federal and free state return preparation.
The IRS has developed a series of tips, the Tax Time Guide, to help taxpayers navigate common tax issues as this year’s April 18 deadline approaches. This is the second in a series of 10 tips.
Taxpayers have the option to prepare their return at any time and schedule a tax payment as late as the April 18 deadline. Taxpayers who cannot meet the April tax filing deadline can also use IRS Free File to request an automatic six-month extension until Monday, Oct. 16, 2017.
Through a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, a group of 12 leading tax software companies make their branded products available for free. Since 2003, more than 49 million people have used IRS Free File, saving $1.4 billion based on a conservative $30 fee estimate.
Anyone who earned $64,000 or less last year qualifies to choose from among 12 software products. Those earning more than $64,000 can use IRS Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms. The Fillable Forms option is best for people who are comfortable preparing their own tax returns.
More than 70 percent of all taxpayers — 107 million people plus — are eligible for the software products. Each of the 12 companies has its own special offers, generally based on age, income or state residency. Taxpayers can review each company offer or they can use a “Help Me” tool that will find the software for which they are eligible.
Active duty military personnel with incomes of $64,000 or less may use any IRS Free File software product of their choice without regard to the criteria. IRS Free File software does the hard work. It walks users through the tax preparation process, and helps identify those tax changes that may affect their return.
IRS Free File allows taxpayers to deposit all or part of their refunds into myRA, a free starter retirement savings account from the Treasury Department. Just use Form 8888 or follow the software product’s instructions.
IRS Free File will be available through Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, only through IRS.gov/FreeFile.
All taxpayers should keep a copy of their tax return. Beginning in 2017, taxpayers using a software product for the first time may need their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) amount from their prior-year tax return to verify their identity. Taxpayers can learn more about how to verify their identity and electronically sign tax returns at Validating Your Electronically Filed Tax Return.
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IR-2017-44, Feb. 24, 2017
WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service is reminding farmers and fishermen about Wednesday’s deadline to take advantage of special rules that can allow them to forgo making quarterly estimated tax payments.
Taxpayers with income from farming or fishing have until Wednesday, March 1 to file their 2016 Form 1040 and pay the tax due to avoid making estimated tax payments. This rule generally applies if farming or fishing income was at least two-thirds of the total gross income in either the current or the preceding tax year.
Since 2014, IRS Direct Pay has offered individual taxpayers an easy way to quickly pay the tax amount due or make quarterly estimated tax payments directly from checking or savings accounts without any fees or pre-registration.
IRS Direct Pay is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be scheduled up to 30 days in advance. Last year, IRS Direct Pay received more than nine million tax payments from individual taxpayers totaling more than $31.6 billion.
When a taxpayer uses the tool they receive instant confirmation after they submit their payment. Direct Pay cannot be used to pay the federal highway use tax, payroll taxes or other business taxes.
Taxpayers who wish to pay their federal business taxes electronically should enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), or visit IRS.gov/payments to check out other payment options.
Farmers and fishers choosing not to file by March 1 should have made an estimated tax payment by Jan. 17 to avoid a penalty.
Related Items
Tax Topic 416, Farming and Fishing Income
Publication 5034PDF Need to Make a Tax Payment? (English and Spanish)
Fishing Tax Center
Agriculture Tax Center
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IR-2017-41, Feb. 22, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that publicly available information from approved applications for tax exemption using Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption, is now available electronically for the first time.
The data on IRS.gov is available in spreadsheet format and includes information for approved applications beginning in mid-2014, when the 1023-EZ form was introduced, through 2016. The information will be updated quarterly, starting with the first quarter of calendar year 2017. The IRS’s Tax Exempt and Government Entities division approved more than 105,000 applications for exemption submitted on the Form 1023-EZ from 2014 through 2016.
Previously, Form 1023-EZ data was only available through a lengthier process that included completing and submitting Form 4506-A to the IRS.
“The new online availability of Form 1023-EZ data is an important step forward and will allow taxpayers to more easily research information on tax-exempt organizations,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. The IRS is committed to ongoing improvements in taxpayer service across the agency and we continue to look for innovative ways like this to provide taxpayers the information they need, when they need it.”
Information in the Form 1023-EZ includes basic identifying information such as the name of the organization, Employer Identification Number and the names of officers, directors and trustees. The Form also contains information regarding items such as the organizing documents, state of incorporation, purpose and activities of the organization.
Form 1023-EZ must be filed electronically. The IRS reminds filers that they should not include Social Security numbers on their submissions.
This is part of continuing effort to provide information about the tax-exempt community. In June 2016, the IRS announced that it was making publicly available data on electronically filed Forms 990 in machine-readable format through Amazon Web Services.
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IR-2017-40, Feb. 21, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Tuesday after Presidents Day marks the single busiest day of the year for telephone calls and visits to the Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayers can find answers faster to most of their questions by using IRS.gov.
The IRS anticipates a high volume of calls today. At peak times, the IRS expects to field thousands of calls per hour. Also, taxpayers are reminded that they need an appointment to visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center.
Whether calling about refunds due, taxes owed, a tax law question, requesting a tax form or inquiring about 2015 adjusted gross income, answers can be found at IRS.gov.
Where’s My Refund? has been updated for those refunds containing the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit that had been held by law. Barring other issues, taxpayers should see those refunds in their financial accounts beginning the week of Feb. 27.
Just a reminder that “Where’s My Refund?” is updated once daily so checking it multiple times per day will not produce new or different results. To use “Where’s My Refund?”, taxpayers need their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, filing status (single, married filing jointly, etc.) and the exact amount of the refund claimed.
To review online options, visit IRS.gov/avoidtherush where there’s a list of frequent questions and links to other services.
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IR-2017-39, February 17, 2017
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry today warned tax professionals to be alert to a new phishing email scam impersonating software providers.
The scam email comes with the subject line, “Access Locked.” It tells recipients that access to their tax prep software accounts has been “suspended due to errors in your security details.” The scam email asks the tax professional to address the issue by using an “unlock” link provided in the email.
However, the link will take the tax professional to a fake web page, where they are asked to enter their user name and password. Instead of unlocking accounts, the tax professionals actually are inadvertently providing their information to cybercriminals who use the stolen credentials to access the preparers’ accounts and to steal client information.
The Security Summit partners, which includes the IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax community, remind tax professionals and taxpayers to never open a link or an attachment from a suspicious email. These scams can increase during the tax season.
Tax professionals can review additional tips to protect clients and themselves at the Security Summit’s awareness campaign, Protect Your Clients, Protect Yourself, on IRS.gov.
For tax professionals who receive emails purportedly from their tax software providers suggesting their accounts have been suspended, they should send those scam emails to their tax software provider.  For Windows users, please follow this process to help the investigation of these scam emails:
Use “Save As” to save the scam. Under “save as type” in the drop down menu, select “plain text” and save to your desk top. Do not click on any links.
Open a new email and attach this saved email as a file
Send your new email containing the attachment your tax software provider, as well as copy phishing@irs.gov.
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IR-2017-36, Feb. 16, 2017    
WASHINGTON — As the IRS begins releasing refunds for taxpayers who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit, the tax agency reminded taxpayers that they should not expect refunds to be available in bank accounts or on debit cards until the week of Feb. 27. The additional time is due to several factors, including weekends, the Presidents Day holiday and the time banks often need to process direct deposits.
Many of these refunds had been held since the filing season started in late January due to new requirements the 2015 Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that the most common question taxpayers have about the status of their refund can easily be answered on IRS.gov by visiting the “Where’s My Refund?” tool.  “Where’s My Refund?” will be updated Feb. 18 for the vast majority of early filers who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. Before Feb. 18, some taxpayers may see a projected date or a message that the IRS is processing their return. The IRS added that “Where’s My Refund?” is only updated once daily, usually overnight, so there’s no need to check it multiple times per day.
Here are a few important things to know about tax refunds:
Nine out of 10 refunds are issued in less than 21 days.
IRS customer service representatives cannot provide individual refund information before the 21 days has elapsed.
The filing season started later this year, on Jan. 23. Although taxpayers could submit returns with a software provider or tax preparer in early January, the return was not filed with the IRS until the filing season opened.
“Where’s my Refund?” can also be accessed through the mobile app, IRS2Go. 
“Where’s My Refund?” is updated once daily. Checking the tool multiple times each day will not produce new information or different results.
The Get Transcript tool will not reveal a tax refund status, despite the social media myth to the contrary.
This tip is part of the IRS Avoid the Rush news release series designed to provide taxpayers with the information they need, when they need it. More details on this series, including information on additional online resources, are available on IRS.gov.
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IR-2017-34, Feb. 15, 2017
WASHINGTON — February is not only a peak time for calls to the Internal Revenue Service’s call center; it’s also the peak time for visits to IRS offices for face-to-face tax help.
The IRS is reminding taxpayers that all IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers now provide service by appointment.
Most taxpayers requesting appointments with the IRS can easily find answers to their questions on IRS.gov. Many people come to Taxpayer Assistance Centers looking for tax forms when they are available on IRS.gov. Some libraries and other locations also may carry the most commonly used tax forms and schedules.
Other self-service options – and reasons people visit IRS offices – include refunds, transcripts and tax payments. Taxpayers who visit regularly to make routine tax payments should consider online payment alternatives. Taxpayers can pay online, by phone or via their mobile device and get instant confirmation that their payment has been sent.
The appointment service and toll-free phone options help the IRS serve more taxpayers who have no other option but to visit or call for assistance. If you need your prior-year adjusted gross income to complete the electronic filing process, please use Get Transcript Online or Get Transcript by Mail or review other options. Taxpayers should note that ordering a tax transcript will not reveal their refund delivery date. Use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool for the most up-to-date information.
The IRS will staff its toll-free telephone service Saturday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., callers’ local time, and Monday, Feb. 20, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., callers’ local time. All IRS taxpayer Assistance offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, for Presidents Day.
This tip is part of the IRS Avoid the Rush news release series designed to provide taxpayers with the information they need, when they need it. More details on this series, including information on additional online resources, are available on IRS.gov.
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IR-2017-33, Feb. 15, 2017
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today continued rolling out its 2017 “Dirty Dozen” tax scams list by warning taxpayers against using frivolous tax arguments to avoid paying taxes.
Promoters of frivolous schemes encourage taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish legal claims to avoid paying their taxes. Time and again these arguments have been thrown out of court.
"Taxpayers should steer clear of tax-avoidance arguments and the unscrupulous promoters of such schemes," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "Taxpayers tangled up in these scams end up paying back taxes and often stiff penalties as well."
In its “The Truth about Frivolous Tax Arguments” document, the IRS outlines some of the more common frivolous tax arguments. Examples include contentions that taxpayers can refuse to pay taxes on religious or moral grounds by invoking the First Amendment. The cases cited in the document demonstrate how frivolous arguments are treated by the IRS and the courts. Other examples of frivolous arguments include those that the only “employees” subject to federal income tax are employees of the federal government, and that only foreign-source income is taxable.
The “Dirty Dozen” is an annual list compiled by the IRS. It describes a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter. Many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their returns or hire others to help with their taxes.
Perpetrators of illegal scams may be subject to significant penalties and interest as well as possible criminal prosecution. IRS Criminal Investigation works closely with the Department of Justice to shut down scams and prosecute the criminals behind them.
Don’t Get Talked into Using a Frivolous Argument
Taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities in court, but they must obey the law and pay their fair share of federal taxes.
The penalty for filing a frivolous tax return is $5,000. The penalty applies to anyone who submits a purported tax return or other specified submission, if any portion of the submission is based on a position the IRS identified as frivolous in Notice 2010-33, 2010-17 I.R.B. 609, or reflects a desire to delay or impede administration of the tax laws. The list is not all inclusive and the courts may add to it at any time.
Those who promote or adopt frivolous positions also risk a variety of other penalties. For example, taxpayers can face an accuracy-related penalty, a civil fraud penalty, an erroneous refund claim penalty, a failure to file penalty or a failure to pay penalty. Tax Courts may also impose a penalty against taxpayers who make frivolous arguments in court.   
Taxpayers who rely on frivolous arguments and schemes may also face criminal prosecution for attempting to evade or defeat tax. Taxpayers may also be convicted of a felony for filing a false return. Those who promote frivolous arguments and those who help taxpayers to claim tax benefits based on frivolous arguments may be prosecuted for a felony.
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