etrent17/irs-articles huggingface dataset:
IR-2015-38, March 4, 2015
WASHINGTON — With almost 59 million tax returns filed so far, the Internal Revenue Service estimates that three out of five taxpayers have yet to file their tax returns, according to statistics released today.
For taxpayers still working on their taxes, the Internal Revenue Service added three revised publications to IRS.gov just this week. These publications will help businesses and individuals understand how to figure depreciation as well as pension options.
Publication 946, How to Depreciate PropertyPDF explains how you can recover the cost of business or income-producing property through deductions for depreciation. The publication was updated to reflect the extension of expiring tax provisions in legislation signed into law on Dec. 19.
Publication 4587, Payroll Deduction IRAs for Small BusinessesPDF explains that individuals saving in a traditional IRA may be able to receive some tax advantages on the money they contribute, and the investments can grow tax-deferred.
Publication 4334, SIMPLE IRA Plans for Small BusinessesPDF explains how a SIMPLE (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers) IRA plan offers great advantages for businesses that have 100 or fewer employees (who earned $5,000 or more during the preceding calendar year) and that do not have another retirement plan.
The IRS constantly adds revised tax forms, publications, instructions and tax information to IRS.gov. The IRS encourages taxpayers to frequently visit IRS.gov, including the forms and pubs page for all current forms and publications, updates and changes, and additional information.
 

2015 FILING SEASON STATISTICS


Cumulative statistics comparing 2/28/14 and 2/27/15


Individual Income Tax Returns:


2014


2015


% change

Total Receipts

58,883,000


58,528,000


-0.6

Total Processed

57,410,000


56,857,000


-1.0

 

 


 


 


E-filing Receipts:


 


 


 

TOTAL           

54,942,000


55,104,000


0.3

Tax Professionals

30,053,000


28,733,000


-4.4

Self-prepared

24,889,000


26,371,000


6.0

 

 


 


 


Web Usage:


 


 


 

Visits to IRS.gov

163,397,540


179,918,451


10.1

 

 


 


 


Total Refunds:


 


 


 

Number

48,429,000


47,547,000


-1.8

Amount

$146.918

Billion

$144.903

Billion

-1.4

Average refund

$3,034


$3,048


0.5

 

 


 


 


Direct Deposit Refunds:


 


 


 

Number

42,380,000


43,228,000


2.0

Amount

$131.203

Billion

$136.571

Billion

4.1

Average refund

$3,096


$3,159


2.0

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IR-2015-73, April 30,2015
WASHINGTON —The Internal Revenue Service is marking National Small Business Week, May 4 to 8, by featuring some of its most popular educational products for small business owners and self-employed individuals. 
The products include webinars and videos on the IRS video portal at www.irsvideos.gov. Check out the special tab for Small Business Week to find a selection of webinars on topics viewed by thousands including:
Business Use of Your Home. Find out what kinds of deductions are allowable for a home office and what’s not. Learn about a simplified method for figuring the home office deduction.
Avoiding the Biggest Tax Mistakes. Learn about available tax benefits and how best to avoid common mistakes small business owners make.
Depreciation Basics. Depreciation is a deduction that allows a taxpayer to recover the cost or other basis of certain business property. This video will help Individual taxpayers and small business owners properly claim this deduction.
Child and Daycare Provider Tax Compliance. Learn how to report correctly common tax items associated with owning a child or day care business.
Navigating the Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center. Everything a business owner needs to know about accessing the Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center is in this video containing screen shots and helpful navigational tools and tips.
This complete online resource features links to a variety of useful tools, including Small Business Taxes: The Virtual Workshop, common forms and their instructions and help on everything from how to get an Employer Identification Number online to how to engage with the IRS in the event of an audit. Also, link to a list of free local workshops and events.
In addition, check out these pages on IRS.gov 24/7:
The Self-Employed Individuals Tax Center is for sole proprietors and others who are in business for themselves. This site has many useful tips and references to the tax rules that a self-employed person may need to know.
The Online Learning and Educational Products page has tools to help taxpayers learn about taxes on their own time, and at their own pace. For example, the IRS Tax Calendar for Businesses and Self-Employed has important tax dates for businesses. Download the CalendarConnector tool to  get the dates even when offline.
e-News for Small Businesses is a free electronic mail service providing tax information for small business owners and self-employed individuals. 
SSA/IRS ReporterPDF is a quarterly, online-only publication for businesses, payroll professionals and others who deal with payroll taxes and employee issues.
The IRS YouTube video channel also offers videos for small businesses including:
IRS Online Tax Calendar
Simplified Home Office Deduction
Employer Identification Number
IR-2015-72, April 21, 2015
WASHINGTON — Businesses and tax-exempt organizations planning to claim the  work opportunity tax credit (WOTC) for eligible workers hired during 2014 have until April 30 to request the certification required for these workers, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Newly revised Form 8850, now available on IRS.gov, is used by employers to request certification from their state workforce agency. The Tax Increase Prevention Act, enacted Dec. 19, 2014, retroactively extended this credit for one year through the end of 2014.
The work opportunity tax credit offers tax savings to businesses that hired workers who meet various eligibility criteria including certain veterans, people ages 18 to 39 living in designated communities in various parts of the country, recipients of various types of public assistance and certain summer youth workers and ex-felons. The credit is also available to tax-exempt organizations who hired qualifying veterans during 2014. The instructions to Form 8850 detail the requirements that apply to eligible new hires.
Normally, an employer must file Form 8850 with the state workforce agency within 28 days after the eligible worker begins work. But due to the late enactment of the legislation extending the WOTC, the IRS is giving employers extra time, until April 30, 2015, to make this request. Details are in Notice 2015-13PDF available on IRS.gov.
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IR-2015-69, April 9, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that it will begin accepting applications for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee on April13 and continue accepting them through May 22, 2015.
ETAAC was established as required by the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. The purpose of the ETAAC is to provide continued input into the development and implementation of the agency’s strategy for electronic tax administration as well as to provide an organized public forum for the discussion of issues in electronic tax administration.
There are nine ETAAC members; each member is appointed to a three-year term by the Commissioner, and the IRS is planning to make four appointments that will begin in late 2015.
Nominations of qualified individuals may come from individuals or organizations. ETAAC members are drawn from substantially diverse backgrounds.
Nominations of qualified individuals may be made by letter and received from individuals or professional associations. Applicants should complete the ETAAC applicationPDF  and include a short statement of interest and a resume. Applicants should describe and document their qualifications, past and current affiliations, and dealings in electronic tax administration. A notice published in the Federal Register contains more details about the ETAAC and the application process.
Applicants shall be in good standing regarding their own tax obligations and shall represent professional and ethical ideals. All applicants must complete and submit a tax check waiver form. For the best qualified applicants, FBI checks using fingerprints are required.
More information, including the application form, is available on the Tax Professional’s Page of IRS.gov —  the official IRS website — at /Tax-Professionals. Questions about the application process can be e-mailed to etaac@irs.gov.
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IR 2015-63, April 2, 2015
Washington — The Internal Revenue Service is requesting membership nominations for the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC), a federal advisory committee that advises the IRS on various tax administration issues.
The IRPAC presents a report to the IRS Commissioner at a public meeting each fall. Members are appointed to three-year terms, but terms are staggered so that approximately one-third of the committee membership changes each year. Nominations are currently being accepted for up to six appointments that will begin in January 2016.
The deadline for submitting applications is May 29, 2015.
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 software and payroll industries.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of IRPAC may self-nominate or be nominated by a professional organization. All nominees must complete an application.
More information including the application form is available on IRS.gov at /Tax-Professionals. Questions about the nomination process may be sent to publicliaison@irs.gov.
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IR-2015-81 May 22, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded businesses in U.S. territories that they must file Form 8300, Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business, when they engage in cash transactions in excess of $10,000. The form must be filed within 15 days of the transaction. 
Businesses, including individuals who are sole proprietors that receive more than $10,000 cash in a transaction or in two or more related transactions in any U.S. possession or territory must file Form 8300 with the IRS. Possessions and territories include American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  This requirement is in addition to any filing obligation the business may also have with U.S. territory tax authorities under similar territory rules, including under a U.S. territorial mirror income tax code. 
Examples of businesses that may have to file Form 8300 include those that sell jewelry, furniture, boats, aircraft, or automobiles, as well as those that are pawnbrokers, attorneys, real estate brokers, insurance companies and travel agencies.
Cash includes the coins and currency of the United States as well as foreign currency, cashier’s checks, bank drafts, traveler’s checks and money orders. The law also requires that businesses report related transactions occurring within a 24-hour period. If the same payer makes two or more transactions totaling more than $10,000 in a 24-hour period, the business must treat the transactions as one transaction and report the payments. 
The IRS provides additional information on the filing of Form 8300 in a reference guide.
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IR-2015-80, May 15, 2015
WASHINGTON — May is National Military Appreciation Month, and the Internal Revenue Service wants members of the military and their families to know about the many tax benefits available to them.
Each year, the IRS publishes Publication 3, Armed Forces Tax Guide, a free booklet packed with valuable information and tips designed to help service members and their families take advantage of all tax benefits allowed by law. This year’s edition, geared to the 2014 return, is posted on IRS.gov. Available tax benefits include:
Combat pay is partly or fully tax-free.
Reservists whose reserve-related duties take them more than 100 miles from home can deduct their unreimbursed travel expenses on Form 2106 or Form 2106-EZ, even if they don’t itemize their deductions.
Eligible unreimbursed moving expenses are deductible on Form 3903.
Low-and moderate-income service members often qualify for such family-friendly tax benefits as the Earned Income Tax Credit, and a special computation method is available for those who receive combat pay.
Low-and moderate-income service members who contribute to an IRA or 401(k)-type retirement plan, such as the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan, can often claim the saver's credit, also known as the retirement savings contributions credit, on Form 8880.
Service members stationed abroad have extra time, until June 15, to file a federal income tax return. Those serving in a combat zone have even longer, typically until 180 days after they leave the combat zone.
Service members may qualify to delay payment of income tax due before or during their period of service. See Publication 3 for details including how to request relief.
Service members who prepare their own return qualify to electronically file their federal return for free using IRS Free File. In addition, the IRS partners with the military through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to provide free tax preparation to service members and their families at bases in the United States and around the world.
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IRS YouTube VideoVolunteer Income Tax Assistance Recruitment: English | Spanish | ASL
IR-2015-77, May 4, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced it is accepting applications for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) grant programs.
Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by June 1. Previous grant recipients may apply for up to three years of annual funding, which reduces the amount of paperwork that must be completed annually and helps recipients with budget planning.
Applicants can find TCE and VITA application packages on Grants.gov. Electronic versions of the grant application package instructions, Publication 1101PDF for TCE and Publication 4671PDF for VITA, can be found on IRS.gov. 
The TCE program was established in 1978 to provide tax counseling and return preparation to persons who are 60 or older. Volunteers who provide free federal income tax help to seniors nationwide receive free training and technical assistance.
The VITA program, created in 1969, provides free federal income tax filing assistance to underserved communities. Congress first appropriated funds in 2007 to establish a matching grant program specifically for community volunteer income tax assistance and continues to fund this grant through its annual IRS appropriation.
The grant program helps extend VITA services to underserved populations in hard-to-reach urban and non-urban areas. It increases the ability of taxpayers to electronically file returns, and enhances volunteer training to improve the accuracy rate of returns prepared at VITA sites.
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IR-2015-76, May 01, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced it is accepting applications for the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC). ApplicationsPDF will be accepted May 1 – June 26, 2015.
IRSAC’s purpose is to provide an organized public forum for IRS officials and representatives of the public to discuss relevant federal tax administration issues. IRSAC members submit a report to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue annually at a public meeting in the fall.
IRSAC is comprised of up to 35 members who are appointed to three-year terms by the Commissioner. Applications are currently being accepted for approximately five appointments that will begin in January 2016.
Nominations of qualified individuals may come from individuals or organizations. IRSAC members are drawn from substantially diverse backgrounds. Membership is balanced to include representation from the tax professional community, including, but not limited to: tax attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, academia and the business community. 
Applications should describe and document the proposed member’s qualifications for IRSAC membership, including the applicant’s knowledge of Circular 230 regulations and the applicant’s past or current affiliations. It should also include the proposed member’s dealings with the particular tax segment(s) of the community that the applicant wishes to represent on the council.
Applicants shall be in good standing regarding their own tax obligations and shall represent professional and ethical ideals. All applicants must complete and submit an application, a tax check waiver form and a resume. For those applicants deemed “best qualified,” FBI checks using fingerprints are also required.
More information, including the application form, is available on the Tax Professional’s Page of IRS.gov — the official IRS website — at /Tax-Professionals. Questions about the application process can be e-mailed to publicliaison@irs.gov.
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IR-2015-74, May 1, 2015
WASHINGTON — With Small Business Week (May 4 to 8) just around the corner, the Internal Revenue Service today reminded small businesses that have failed to timely file certain required retirement plan returns that they have until Tuesday, June 2 to take advantage of a special penalty relief program.
Launched June 2, 2014, the one-year temporary pilot program is designed to help small businesses with retirement plans that may have been unaware of the reporting requirements that apply to these plans. Normally, the plan administrators and sponsors of these plans who fail to file required annual returns, usually Form 5500-EZ, can face stiff penalties – up to $15,000 per return.
By filing late returns by June 2, eligible filers can avoid these penalties.  So far, about 6,000 delinquent returns have been filed under this program.
This program is generally open to certain small business (owner-spouse) plans and plans of business partnerships (together, “one-participant plans”) and certain foreign plans. Those who have already been assessed a penalty for late filings are not eligible for this program.
Applicants under the program may include multiple late returns in a single submission. There is no filing fee or other payment required.
Details on how to participate are available in a special YouTube video, as well as in Revenue Procedure 2014-32PDF, posted on IRS.gov.
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IR-2015-93, June 25, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) held its annual public meeting today and released its annual report to Congress. The report features recommendations on a wide range of electronic tax administration issues.
“We appreciate the hard work these dedicated volunteers bring to electronic tax administration,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “The members provide both practical and creative advice to the IRS as we study ways to improve our delivery of electronic services to taxpayers.”
ETAAC is an advisory committee to the entire IRS. ETAAC’s primary purpose is to provide an organized public forum of relevant electronic tax administration issues for Congress to discuss relevant electronic issues.
ETAAC members convey the public’s perception of professional standards and best practices for tax professionals and IRS activities; offer constructive observations regarding current or proposed IRS policies, programs and procedures; and suggest improvements to electronic tax operations.
Based on its findings and discussions, ETAAC has made several recommendations on a broad range of issues and concerns including IRS funding, as well as accelerating a digital-first taxpayer service strategy to improve levels of service.
The Online Services Office within the IRS administers ETAAC. ETAAC draws its members from the electronic and digital community. The 2015 Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee Report is available on IRS.gov.
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IR-2015-92, June 23, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded everyone who has one or more bank or financial accounts located outside the United States, or signature authority over such accounts, that they may need to file an FBAR by next Tuesday, June 30.
FBAR refers to Report 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, which must be filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the Treasury Department. It is not a tax form and cannot be filed with the IRS. The form must be filed electronically and is only available online through the BSA E-Filing System website.
In general, the filing requirement applies to anyone who had an interest in, or signature or other authority over foreign financial accounts whose aggregate value exceeded $10,000 at any time during 2014. Because of this threshold, the IRS encourages taxpayers with foreign assets, even relatively small ones, to check if this filing requirement applies to them.
FBAR filings have surged in recent years, topping the one-million mark for the first time during calendar-year 2014. The FBAR requirement is separate from the requirement to report specified foreign financial assets on a U.S. income tax return using Form 8938. A brief comparison of the two filing requirements is available on IRS.gov.
For more on filing requirements for the FBAR, see Current FBAR Guidance on IRS.gov. The IRS has also produced a free one-hour webinar explaining the FBAR requirement.
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IR-2015-89, June 16, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that Jeffrey Tribiano, a top official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service and a commissioned officer in the Navy Reserve, has been named the next IRS Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support.
“Jeffrey brings a strong, well-rounded perspective to the IRS from his work inside government, in the private sector and with the Navy,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “His diverse background and broad experience provide a strong foundation to run the wide range of activities in the IRS Operations Support organization.”
Tribiano will begin his new role as Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support on June 29. He will be in charge of IRS’s key support and management functions, including the Chief Financial Officer; Human Capital Office; Information Technology; the Office of Planning, Programming and Audit Coordination; Privacy, Governmental Liaison and Disclosure, which oversees protecting sensitive taxpayer information; and Agency-Wide Shared Services, which comprises procurement, real estate, physical security and employee assistance.
Tribiano currently serves as the Associate Administrator and Chief Operating Officer at USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, a position he has held since 2010. In this role, he directed the overall planning, formulation and direction of the programs and activities related to administration, finance, information technology, civil rights, program management and program operations.
Before joining USDA, Tribiano worked in the private sector with multiple high-growth organizations. He has held senior positions in Fortune 500 companies and possesses a comprehensive understanding of business operations.
Tribiano holds a long record in military leadership positions, serving three tours on active duty. In the Navy Reserves, his work included serving as a Commanding Officer, Executive Officer and Operations Officer. He received his commission into the United States Navy in 1992.
In 1990 he graduated from Fordham University in New York City where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and in 1994 he earned a Master's Certification in Executive Leadership from Bristol University.
The IRS Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support, a career civil service position, and the Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement, are the top two positions at the agency under the IRS Commissioner.
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IR-2015-88, June 15, 2015
                                
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that all empowerment zone designations remained in effect through the end of 2014. Empowerment Zones are certain urban and rural areas where employers and other taxpayers qualify for special tax incentives.
Today’s announcement primarily affects businesses that would benefit from claiming the tax incentives for empowerment zones on their 2014 returns, either original or amended.
The IRS issued Notice 2015-26PDF in March to address the relevant provision of the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014.  The notice  provided that any nomination for an empowerment zone in effect on Dec. 31, 2013, will have a new termination date of Dec. 31, 2014, unless the governing state or municipality declined the extension in a notification to the IRS. 
The deadline for notification was May 11, 2015, and no state or municipality contacted the IRS to decline the extension. Therefore, all empowerment zone designations in effect on Dec. 31, 2013, remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2014.
Congress created Empowerment Zones in 1993. Most zones had an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2009. This is the third extension of the expiration date.
The designation for the District of Columbia enterprise zone ended on Dec. 31, 2011. 
For more information and complete lists of empowerment zone locations, see Form 8844, Empowerment Zone Employment Credit.
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IR-2015-84, June 4, 2015 
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2015.  The rates will be: 
three (3) percent for overpayments [two (2) percent in the case of a corporation];
one-half (0.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000
three (3) percent for underpayments; and
five (5) 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 April 2015 to take effect May 1, 2015, based on daily compounding.
Revenue Ruling 2015-12PDF announcing the rates of interest is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2015-26, dated June 29, 2015.
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IR-2015-83, June 1, 2015
WASHINGTON – Hurricane season starts today and the Internal Revenue Service advises individuals and businesses to safeguard their records against natural disasters by taking a few simple steps.
Create an Electronic Additional Set of Records
Taxpayers should keep a duplicate set of records including bank statements, tax returns, identifications and insurance policies in a safe place such as a waterproof container, and away from the original set.
Keeping an additional set of records is easier now that many financial institutions provide statements and documents electronically, and much financial information is available on the Internet. Even if the original records are only provided on paper, these can be scanned into an electronic format. This way, taxpayers can save them to the cloud, download them to a storage device such as an external hard drive or USB flash drive, or burn them to a CD or DVD.
Document Valuables
Another step a taxpayer can take to prepare for a disaster is to photograph or videotape the contents of his or her home, especially items of higher value. The IRS has a disaster loss workbook, Publication 584PDF, which can help taxpayers compile a room-by-room list of belongings.
A photographic record can help an individual prove the fair market value of items for insurance and casualty loss claims. Ideally, photos should be stored with a friend or family member who lives outside the area.
Update Emergency Plans
Emergency plans should be reviewed annually. Personal and business situations change over time as do preparedness needs. When employers hire new employees or when a company or organization changes functions, plans should be updated accordingly and employees should be informed of the changes. Make your plans ahead of time and practice them.
Check on Fiduciary Bonds
Employers who use payroll service providers should ask the provider if it has a fiduciary bond in place. The bond could protect the employer in the event of default by the payroll service provider.
IRS Ready to Help
If disaster strikes, an affected taxpayer can call 1-866-562-5227 to speak with an IRS specialist trained to handle disaster-related issues.
Back copies of previously-filed tax returns and all attachments, including Forms W-2, can be requested by filing Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return.PDF  Alternatively, transcripts showing most line items on these returns can be ordered by calling 1-800-908-9946 or by using Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return TranscriptPDF  or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax ReturnPDF.     
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IR-2015-96, July 14, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged eligible small businesses that did not file certain retirement plan returns to take advantage of a low-cost penalty relief program enabling them to quickly come back into compliance.
The program is designed to help small businesses that may have been unaware of the reporting requirements that apply to their retirement plans.
Small businesses that fail to file required annual retirement plan returns, usually Form 5500-EZ, can face stiff penalties — up to $15,000 per return. However, by filing late returns under this program, eligible filers can avoid these penalties by paying only $500 for each return submitted, up to a maximum of $1,500 per plan. For that reason, program applicants are encouraged to include multiple late returns in a single submission. Find the details on how to participate in Revenue Procedure 2015-32 on IRS.gov.
The program is generally open to small businesses with plans covering a 100 percent owner or the partners in a business partnership, and the owner’s or partner’s spouse (but no other participants), and certain foreign plans. Those who have already been assessed a penalty for late filings are not eligible.
The Department of Labor offers a similar relief program for businesses with retirement plans that include employees known as the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program.
Started as a one-year pilot, the IRS program was made permanent in May 2015. The IRS has received about 12,000 late returns since the pilot program began in June 2014.
The IRS reminds retirement plan sponsors and administrators that in most cases, a return must be filed each year for the plan by the end of the seventh month following the close of the plan year. For plans that operate on a calendar-year basis, as most do, this means the 2014 return is due on July 31, 2015. For details, visit the Form 5500 Corner on IRS.gov.
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IR-2015-95, July 7, 2015
WASHINGTON – Taxpayers interested in receiving helpful consumer tips this summer to get a jump start on this year’s taxes should consider joining the more than 660,000 subscribers who already receive IRS Tax Tips.
Starting July 1, the IRS began offering its Summertime Tax Tip series which include useful information in English and Spanish. Tax Tip subscribers receive a new Tip via email three times a week during July and August. They also get a Tax Tip each weekday during the tax filing season. The IRS also issues Special Edition Tax Tips on important tax topics throughout the year.
IRS Tax Tips are plain language messages that are easy to understand and cover a wide range of topics. They often include links to helpful IRS.gov references, IRS YouTube videos and podcasts.
Summertime Tax Tip topics include:
Ten things to know about identity theft and your taxes
Visit IRS.gov this Summer
Don't fall for phone scams from IRS posers
Tax Tips about hobbies that earn income
Tips on the tax effects of divorce or separation
Back-to-school tips for students and parents paying college expenses
Taxpayers can sign up to IRS Tax Tips automatically each day via email through a free service on www.irs.gov. From the Subscriptions link on the top right of the IRS website, choose “IRS Tax Tips” on the drop-down menu, and then click on “Subscribe.” Click on “more” to subscribe to the IRS Tax Tips in Spanish.
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IR-2015-94, July 1, 2015
WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers that a wide range of publications and online resources are available in six languages on IRS.gov, the agency’s popular web site.
IRS.gov features online resources in Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese, as well as English and Spanish. These multilingual resources are available throughout the year, not just during tax season.
Available resources include the agency’s cornerstone Taxpayer Bill of Rights document, Publication 1, titled “Your Rights as a Taxpayer.” The publication outlines the 10 key provisions that make up the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, including the right to: be informed, quality service, pay no more than the correct amount of tax, challenge the IRS’s position and be heard, appeal an IRS decision in an independent forum, finality, privacy, confidentiality, retain representation and a fair and just tax system.
Also available in English and Spanish is Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax. This comprehensive tax guide for individuals can be a worthwhile year-round reference for anyone still working on their 2014 return, as well as those planning for the years ahead. Other online resources are designed to help taxpayers understand the audit process, the collection process, the special rules that apply to taxpayers abroad and how to respond to IRS bills and notices. There is also information on tax fraud, including tips on spotting a phone scam, currently the most widespread tax-related scam.
To access these multilingual online resources, open the “Language” option in the top right-hand corner of IRS.gov or look for the “Other Languages” section at the bottom of each page of the website.
Related Items:
El IRS en Español (Spanish)
中文 (Chinese)
한국어 (Korean)
Pусский (Russian)
TiếngViệt (Vietnamese)
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IR-2015-105, Aug. 26, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that the summer 2015 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin is available on IRS.gov. The Statistics of Income (SOI) Division produces this online Bulletin quarterly. Articles provide the most recent data available from various tax and information returns filed by U.S. taxpayers. This issue features articles on the following topics:
High-Income Tax Returns for 2012. For 2012, there were more than 5 million individual income tax returns with an income of $200,000 or more, accounting for almost 4 percent of all returns for the year. The total number of returns with incomes of $200,000 or more increased by almost 12 percent compared to the total number of returns at that income level for 2011.
SOI Migration Data: A New Approach. This article discusses improvements to SOI migration data including the switch from partial- to full-year data, improved year-to-year return matching, and new tabulations that show migration flows at the State level, by size of adjusted gross income and age of the primary taxpayer.
Foreign-Controlled Domestic Corporations, 2012. Although foreign-controlled domestic corporations made up just over one percent of all corporate Federal income tax returns filed for tax year 2012, they accounted for about 16 percent of all corporate receipts — $4.7 trillion and held more than 14 percent of corporate assets — about $12.3 trillion.
The SOI Bulletin is available for download at IRS.gov/taxstats. For more information about these data, write to the Director, Statistics of Income (SOI) Division, RAS:S, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, (K-Room 4112), Washington, DC 20224.
Related Items:         
SOI Bulletin: Summer 2015
Historical Tables and Appendix
Tax Statistics
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IR-2015-104, Aug. 26, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the availability of Statistics of Income–2013 Individual Income Tax Returns Complete Report (Publication 1304). U.S. taxpayers filed almost 147.4 million individual income tax returns for tax year 2013, up 1.7 percent from 2012. The adjusted gross income less deficit reported on these returns fell $6.5 billion, which is a 0.1-percent decrease from the prior year.
The report is based on a sample drawn from the 147.4 million individual income tax returns filed for tax year 2013 and provides estimates on sources of income, adjusted gross income, exemptions, deductions, taxable income, income tax, modified income tax, tax credits, self-employment tax and tax payments.
Classifications include tax status, size of adjusted gross income, marital status, age and type of tax computation. A brief text reviews the requirements for filing tax returns, explains the changes in tax law and describes the sample used to produce the report. Publication 1304 is currently available for download at irs.gov/taxstats.
For more information about these data, please write to the Director, Statistics of Income Division, RAS:S, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue, K-Room 4122, Washington, DC 20224.
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IR-2015-103, Aug. 24, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service will hold a free webinar this week designed to provide basic tax information to new entrepreneurs as well as owners of existing small businesses.
The webinar, titled Business Taxes for the Self-Employed: The Basics, will take place Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time.  Topics include reporting profit or loss from a small business or profession on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ, businesses owned by married couples, deducting business expenses and self-employment and quarterly estimated tax payments.
To register or access archived versions of past webinars, visit the Webinars for Small Businesses page on IRS.gov. Topics of popular recent webinars have included tip income reporting, the home office deduction and how to work effectively with a paid tax preparer.
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IR-2015-101, August 18, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded truckers and other owners of heavy highway vehicles that in most cases their next federal highway use tax return is due Monday, Aug. 31, 2015.
The deadline generally applies to Form 2290 and the accompanying tax payment for the tax year that begins July 1, 2015, and ends June 30, 2016. Returns must be filed and tax payments made by Aug. 31 for vehicles used on the road during July. For vehicles first used after July, the deadline is the last day of the month following the month of first use. 
Though some taxpayers have the option of filing Form 2290 on paper, the IRS encourages all taxpayers to take advantage of the speed and convenience of filing this form electronically and paying any tax due electronically. Taxpayers reporting 25 or more vehicles must e-file. A list of IRS-approved e-file providers can be found on IRS.gov.
The highway use tax applies to highway motor vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. This generally includes trucks, truck tractors and buses. Ordinarily, vans, pick-ups and panel trucks are not taxable because they fall below the 55,000-pound threshold. The tax of up to $550 per vehicle is based on weight, and a variety of special rules apply, explained in the instructions to Form 2290.
For more information, visit the Trucking Tax Center.
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IR-2015-100, Aug. 10, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service seeks applicants for vacancies on the Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT). The committee provides advice and public input on the various areas of tax administration served by the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division (TE/GE).
Vacancies exist in the following customer segments:
Employee Plans – two vacancies
Exempt Organizations – two vacancies
Federal, State and Local Governments – one vacancy
Indian Tribal Governments – one vacancy
There are no vacancies this year in Tax Exempt Bonds
Members are appointed by the Department of the Treasury and serve three-year terms, beginning in June 2016. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 4, 2015.
The ACT is an organized public forum for the IRS and representatives who deal with employee plans, exempt organizations, tax-exempt bonds, and federal, state, local and Indian tribal governments. The ACT allows the IRS to receive regular input on administrative policies and procedures of TE/GE.
Applicants must complete ACT Membership Application Form 12339-CPDF. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Applications should reflect the proposed member’s qualifications. A notice was published in today’s Federal Register that contains more details about the ACT and the application process.
Applications should be sent by:
Fax at (888) 269-7419 (secure), or
Email to tege.advisory.comm@irs.gov.
If you need help applying, please call (202) 317-8798.
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IR-2015-110, Sept. 29, 2015
WASHINGTON — Farmers and ranchers who previously were forced to sell livestock due to drought, like the drought currently affecting much of the nation, have an extended period of time in which to replace the livestock and defer tax on any gains from the forced sales, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.
Farmers and ranchers who due to drought sell more livestock than they normally would may defer tax on the extra gains from those sales. To qualify, the livestock generally must be replaced within a four-year period. The IRS is authorized to extend this period if the drought continues.
The one-year extension of the replacement period announced today generally applies to capital gains realized by eligible farmers and ranchers on sales of livestock held for draft, dairy or breeding purposes due to drought. Sales of other livestock, such as those raised for slaughter or held for sporting purposes, and poultry are not eligible.
The IRS is providing this relief to any farm located in a county, parish, city, borough, census area or district, listed as suffering exceptional, extreme or severe drought conditions by the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), during any weekly period between Sept. 1, 2014, and Aug. 31, 2015. All or part of 48 states and Puerto Rico are listed. Any county contiguous to a county listed by the NDMC also qualifies for this relief.
As a result, farmers and ranchers in these areas whose drought sale replacement period was scheduled to expire at the end of this tax year, Dec. 31, 2015, in most cases, will now have until the end of their next tax year. Because the normal drought sale replacement period is four years, this extension immediately impacts drought sales that occurred during 2011. But because of previous drought-related extensions affecting some of these localities, the replacement periods for some drought sales before 2011 are also affected. Additional extensions will be granted if severe drought conditions persist.
Details on this relief, including a list of NDMC-designated counties, are available in Notice 2015-69PDF, posted today on IRS.gov. Details on reporting drought sales and other farm-related tax issues can be found in Publication 225, Farmer’s Tax Guide, also available on the IRS web site.
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IR-2015-108, Sept. 24, 2015
WASHINGTON — The Competent Authority of the United States has signed Competent Authority Arrangements (CAA) with two jurisdictions with which it has entered into intergovernmental agreements (IGAs).  The CAAs were signed with the Competent Authorities of Australia and the United Kingdom in accordance with the “Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia to Improve International Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA” and the “Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Improve International Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA”, respectively, IRS officials announced today.
Today’s CAAs with Australia and the United Kingdom are the first such arrangements to be signed. The U.S. Competent Authority expects that numerous other CAAs with additional competent authorities in IGA jurisdictions will be signed in the near future.
“The signing of these Competent Authority Arrangements marks another significant milestone in the international effort to gain proper reporting of offshore accounts and income,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Together in partnership with other tax authorities, we are demonstrating how far we have come in the fight against offshore tax evasion.”
Click herePDF for more information on the CAA with Australia and herePDF on the CAA with the United Kingdom. A list of all the intergovernmental agreements that are in effect can be found here. Financial institutions and host country tax authorities will use the International Data Exchange Service (IDES) as the secure electronic data transmission system to transmit and exchange FATCA data with the United States. Further information on IDES, including customer resources and support, can be found here.
Individual taxpayers with foreign financial assets can find more information here.
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WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded corporations and partnerships that took extensions to file their income tax returns by the Sept. 15 deadline, which applies to any business whose fiscal year is also the calendar year.
The IRS continues to see strong growth in corporations and partnerships shifting from paper returns to e-file. As of Aug. 30, more than 6 million corporations and partnerships have electronically filed their returns this year, representing a nearly 8 percent overall increase from the prior year.
Most large corporations and partnerships are already required to e-file. Corporations with $10 million or more in total assets are generally required to e-file Forms 1120 and 1120S. Partnerships with more than 100 partners as defined by their Schedules K-1 filings are also generally required to e-file their returns.
The use of e-file has also shown strong growth this year among businesses not required to use it.
Information on the benefits of e-file and details about the Modernized e-File (MeF) program are available at IRS.gov. The IRS expects to receive millions more e-filed returns by the deadline.
Tax Returns e-filed by Corporations and Partnerships

Category of e-filers


Aug. 31, 2014


Aug. 30, 2015


% Change

Large Corporation Tax Returns

51,295


53,343


4.0%

Other Corporate Returns

3,394,652


3,634,705


7.1%

Total Corporate Returns

3,445,947


3,688,048


7.0%

Large Partnership Tax Returns

70,872


78,762


11.1%

Other Partnership Returns

2,120,548


2,301,964


8.6%

Total Partnerships

2,191,420


2,380,726


8.6%

Total Returns

5,637,367


6,068,774


7.7%

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