 |
|
|
 |
| |
|
| IRS Information/Workshops |
|
Letter from your Stakeholder Liaison Area Manager, Brian Finn
Dear New Jersey Tax Practitioner,
As the IRS Stakeholder Liaison (SL) Area Manager for New Jersey, I want to thank you for your past support and ask for your continued partnership with me and your local Stakeholder Liaisons. SL is proud to be in our fifth year as the practitioners’ gateway to the IRS. We have had a busy year, holding practitioner events, conducting National Phone Forums and webinars, and establishing Web-based tax centers. Our local SLs have received thousands of phone calls from practitioners with suggestions on how to improve IRS systems. This partnership strengthens our mutual commitment to ensuring taxpayer compliance with federal tax responsibilities.
SL is committed to getting you the information you need. While we do not answer tax law questions or have access to your clients’ tax accounts, we can steer you in the right direction.
How SL can help you navigate the IRS
The best way to stay up to date with what is happening at the IRS is to use our free products and services. Subscribe to e-News for Tax Professionals for weekly news briefs. Check out Tax Hints, and Key Messages for Tax Professionals. We offer practitioner “tax centers” that link from your organization’s Web site to ours, making it easy to find frequently-used Web pages. Join our free, educational National Phone Forums and webinars from the convenience of your office. And be assured that IRS.gov has more than just forms and publications. You will find the latest news, online tools, research services, guidance and contact information. Check out our new Tax Practitioner Video and Audio Presentations page, and visit IRS.gov’s Spanish counterpart IRS en Español for translated information.
How you can help your clients and colleagues
Tell us when you see a problem or have a suggestion to improve our processes. We introduced the Issue Management Resolution System four years ago and have had more than a thousand IMRS issues submitted. Check out some of the successes in our IMRS report on IRS.gov.
Help us find ways to further our partnership. Work with us in reaching more practitioners through joint events or webinars. Include IRS information in your newsletter and Web site. Post a tax center on your Web site. Volunteer to teach a Small Business Tax Workshop in your community. Share what you learn with your colleagues.
And stay in touch with your local SL. If you need assistance in New Jersey, contact one of the Stakeholder Liaison employees below.
You may also contact me, Brian M. Finn, Mid-Atlantic Area Manager for Stakeholder Liaison, at 215-861-1332 or Brian.M.Finn@irs.gov .
Filing season can be a challenging and stressful time. Together, we can make it easier. Use our free tools, products, and services, and raise your issues and concerns through your local Stakeholder Liaison.
Sincerely,
Brian.M.Finn
Stakeholder Liaison Area Manager, Mid-Atlantic Area
Brian.M.Finn@irs.gov
Practitioner IRS Contact List
|
|
New IRS Regulations - Return Preparer Review
Fact Sheet FS-2010-1 - Return Preparer Review
Fact Sheet FS-2010-2 - 2010 Efforts
|
|
Local Taxpayer Advocate - New Jersey
Effective December 7, 2009, Lyle Lauterbach, is no longer the Local Taxpayer Advocate for the State of New Jersey. La Creshia McClendon will be the Acting Local Taxpayer Advocate for the next sixty days until
the position is filled. La Creshia can be reached at (901) 395-1914 or via e-mail at Lacrishea.R.McClendon@irs.gov. As a reminder, when e-mailing the Taxpayer
Advocate, do not send any taxpayer account information such as social security numbers because the e-mail system that you use may not be secure.
|
|
The Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop is Here!
Whether you were eagerly awaiting it or didn't know anything about it, its here! Its available wherever you can access the internet. The Virtual Small Business Tax Workshop is live to all of you on http://www.irs.gov:
Click here to access the site.
|
|
8th Annual Northern New Jersey Working Together Conference
January 12, 2010 at Kean University's Down Hall, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
The "early bird" registration fee is $110 for 8 CPE credits in Taxation or 6 CPE credits in Taxation plus 2 CPE credits in Ethics for Enrolled Agents. The full details are in the flyer.
Click here for registration and more information
|
|
Letter to You (Tax Practitioners) from IRS Stakeholder Liaisons
Brought to you by,
Willie Lau, Member
NJ-NATP Government Relations Committee
|
|
|
'Expired' E-Services Password (Issue 07-0000418 Update) – No need to wait for snail mail.
|
|
If a tax practitioner's password has expired, they should
1. Logon to the system
2. Respond to the prompt and enter their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for the current or previous year
3. When asked, enter the PIN they created during their initial Registration process.
These last two steps are needed for compliance with our security requirements. Once the AGI and PIN have been validated, the tax practitioner will be required to change their password. Once the password has been changed, they are able to access the system. There is no longer a need to wait for a confirmation code letter via postal mail. However, if the practitioner has forgotten their password, the old process has to be followed. They will have to go through the "Forgotten Password" function and wait for a confirmation code via postal mail. This process became effective July 9, 2007.
|
|
|
Check the Box Authorization – IRS is looking into the possibility of extending the 12 months to two years.
|
|
|
During a National Phone Forum on July 18, 2007, the Subject Matter Expert (SME) stated they will be looking at the feasibility with possibility of extending the check box authorization from 12 to 24 months. At this time, this issue is in the discussion phase with the Office of Disclosure and the Office of Chief Counsel. Watch e-News for Tax Professionals for updates.
|
|
|
Unnecessary Estimated Payment Vouchers (Issue 07-0000581) – We're trying to stop – honest.
|
|
We're working as fast as we can to eliminate unnecessary mail-outs of ES vouchers. Unfortunately, we won't know if we caught them all until February of '08. If all goes well, there will only be one mailing to ES filers (no more quarterly mailings). Also, the following ES filers should not receive vouchers:
1. Returns with Paid Preparers
2. Software Prepared Returns
3. E-filed Returns
4. E-Pay returns
Let us know next spring how we did.
|
|
|
What's the difference between Form 2678, Employer/Payer Appointment of Agent to request authorization by the IRS and Form 8655, Reporting Agent Authorization?
|
|
|
Just writing the question is difficult. We hope to get an FAQ or matrix on IRS.gov or at least e-News for Tax Professionals to help. Generally, a Form 8655 agent acts for an employer, using the employer's – or client's – EIN to file separate returns for each client and pay the client's taxes. A Form 2678 agent acts as the employer, assuming joint liability with the employer for the employer's employment tax responsibilities and files aggregate returns using the agent's EIN.
|
|
|
NOTICE TO ALL NJ-NATP MEMBERS
|
|
The New Jersey Chapter of NATP is a member of the "Internal Revenue Service Practitioner Liaison Committee of New Jersey". The committee is a joint partnership between the Internal Revenue Service and the tax practitioners to deal with "systemic issues" to implement the tax laws and to improve procedures. This is an opportunity for any member with a "systemic issue" that needs to be addressed. Please clearly state your issue and submit it to the attention of Willie Lau, 66 Old Bridge Drive, Howell, NJ 07731. It will be presented to the committee at the next meeting for review. If it is systemic in nature, the Internal Revenue Service will attempt to resolve the issue.
Use the IRS website www.irs.gov for your Federal tax needs.
Willie Lau
IRS Practitioner Liaison Committee Member
|
|
Employer Cash Incentives for Hybrids are Taxable
To encourage their employees to purchase environmentally-friendly hybrid cars, several companies reportedly are offering "rebates" or cash incentives to their employees in select areas to offset the purchase price of these vehicles. Just like other forms of compensation, these cash incentives are taxable compensation.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=160030,00.html
|
|
National Taxpayer Advocate Releases Report to Congress; Identifies Priority Issues for Upcoming Year
National Taxpayer Advocate delivered a report to Congress that identifies the priority issues the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate will address in the coming fiscal year.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=159945,00.html
|
|
New Law Revamps IRS Offer in Compromise Program
Under a new federal law, taxpayers submitting new offers in compromise must make a 20 percent nonrefundable, up-front payment in many cases.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=159954,00.html
|
|
Temporary Procedures for Certain Expedited Ruling Requests
Because of the flooding and temporary closure of the main Internal Revenue Service headquarters building in Washington, D.C., a special procedure for processing requests for certain expedited letter rulings for reorganizations and section 355 distributions has been established.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=159941,00.html
|
|
IRS Renews E-mail Alert Following New Scams
Following a recent increase in scam e-mails, IRS reminds taxpayers to be on the lookout for bogus e-mails claiming to be from the tax agency.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=159925,00.html
|
|
Headliner #171, What Employers Should Know About Withholding Lock-in Letters from the IRS
Under the new Withholding Compliance Program, the IRS no longer needs Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, before issuing a "lock-in letter". The Service is using information reported on Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, to more effectively identify employees with withholding compliance problems. When serious underreporting is identified, the Service may issue a lock-in letter to the employer specifying the maximum number of withholding allowances permitted for the employee.
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=159856,00.html
|
|
Temporary Change of Address for Certain Hand-Delivered Documents
Because of the temporary closure of the main IRS Headquarters Building, there is a temporary change of address for the delivery of taxpayer requests for rulings, requests for determination letters, Applications for Change in Accounting Method (Form 3115), and similar requests that are permitted to be hand-delivered to the main IRS Headquarters Building.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=159855,00.html
|
|
|
|
|
|
