Tuesday, November 17, 2015

FYI: Data Thefts and Protecting Client Tax Information Webinar is Available On IRS Video Portal

Hello Everyone,

 

FYI:  The “Data Thefts and Protecting Client Tax Information” IRS webinar is available for viewing in the IRS Video Portal:

Aired:     Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015
View:      IRS Video Portal

Note the Power Point presentation is posted for downloading.

 

Fact Sheet:

Tax Return Preparers: Data Thefts and Protecting Client Tax Information

 

The IRS offers programs for small businesses and tax practitioners, please visit Internal Revenue Service website and type webinars in the search box.


To view other archived webinars, please visit IRS Video Portal and click the All Webinars link at the bottom of the page.

 

Please feel free to share this with others who may benefit from this information.

 

 

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #1000247447

Stakeholder Liaison Specialist

Communications Stakeholder Outreach

Work cell phone:  510-926-0175

Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

IRS Video Portal
Follow us on Twitter, YouTube

 

 

Friday, November 13, 2015

FYI: IRS News & Events from Stakeholder Liaison

Hello Everyone,

 

Hope all is going well with you!

 

Below is the IRS News and Events from Stakeholder Liaison.  Please share this information with your members and colleagues.  Select the blue links to see the full article.


Newsroom

 

2016 PTIN Renewal Period Underway for Tax Professionals; More than 136,000 PTINs Have Already Been Renewed
IR-2015-125 — IRS reminds federal tax return preparers that they must renew their Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) for 2016.
                                                                                      

 

IRS Reminds Tax Return Preparers of Limited Practice Changes and Announces Revised PTIN Fee

IR-2015-123, Oct. 29, 2015 — The IRS today reminded non-credentialed tax return preparers of major upcoming changes regarding which tax return preparers can represent clients in matters before the IRS beginning in 2016, and to take action by Dec. 31, 2015, to avoid being affected.

 

Annual Enrollment Renewal Application Period for EAs

You must renew your status as an enrolled agent every three years in order to remain eligible to practice before the IRS. If your Social Security number ends in 0, 1, 2 or 3, you must renew by Jan. 31, 2016.

 

Tax Preparedness Series: Most Retirees Need to Take Required Retirement Plan Distributions by Dec. 31

IR-2015-122, Oct. 29, 2015 — The IRS today reminded taxpayers born before July 1, 1945, that they generally must receive payments from their individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) and workplace retirement plans by Dec. 31.

 

IRPAC Issues Annual Report for 2015

IR-2015-121, Oct. 28, 2015 — The Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee today issued its annual report for 2015, including numerous recommendations to the IRS Commissioner on new and continuing issues in tax administration.

 

IRS Grants Tax Relief to Drought-Stricken Farmers and Ranchers in 48 States and Puerto Rico

Special Edition Tax Tip 2015-19, October 26, 2015

 

IRS Urges Public to Stay Alert for Scam Phone Calls

Special Edition Tax Tip 2015-18, October 21, 2015

 

The Affordable Care Act: What’s Trending

When it comes to the health care law – also known as the Affordable Care Act or ACA – and how it may affect your taxes, there are many questions you might have. This page offers news on trending topics and answers to questions we are hearing.

 

Fall Edition of the SSA/IRS Reporter

The Fall edition of the SSA/IRS Reporter is now online with information on retirement plans, year-end reminders and more

 

Scheduled Modernized e-File (MeF) Maintenance

  • 1040 MeF Production Shutdown/Cutover Schedule – Shutdown begins on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11:59 a.m. in order to prepare the system for the upcoming 2016 Filing Season. Anything not retrieved in MeF by 11:59 a.m., November 21st, cannot be accessed again until MeF reopens for 1040 MeF Production for Filing Season 2016.
  • Business MeF Production Shutdown/Cutover Schedule – Shutdown is scheduled to begin on Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 11:59 a.m.

 


IRS Technical Guidance

 

RIN 1545–BM10 This document contains proposed regulations that reflect the holdings of Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. __, 135 S. Ct. 2584 (2015), Windsor v. United States, 570 U.S. __, 133 S. Ct 2675 (2013), and Revenue Ruling 2013– 17 (2013–38 IRB 201), and that define terms in the Internal Revenue Code (Code) describing the marital status of taxpayers. The proposed regulations primarily affect married couples, employers, sponsors and administrators of employee benefit plans, and executors. This document invites comments from the public regarding these proposed regulations.  Written or electronic comments and requests for a public hearing must be received by December 7, 2015.

 

Notice 2015-76 requests comments about issues that should be addressed in guidance relating to the rules to exclude from the air transportation excise tax amounts attributable to mileage awards (sometimes referred to as frequent flyer miles) that are redeemed other than for taxable transportation, such as for the purchase by the consumer for hotel rooms, restaurant gift cards and items from the airline shopping catalog.

 

Notice 2015-75 provides the Tax Year 2016 dollar limitations for qualified retirement plans.

 

Amended Notice 2015-73: On October 21, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2015-73, I.R.B. 2015-46, dated November 16, 2015, which identifies certain contracts denominated as options (“basket option contracts”) as listed transactions.

 

Revenue Procedure 2015-54 sets forth for purposes of section 832 of the Internal Revenue Code the salvage discount factors and payment patterns for each property and casualty line of business for the 2015 accident year.  These factors are to be used by property and casualty insurance companies to discount estimated salvage recoverable.

 

Revenue Procedure 2015-52 sets forth for purposes of section 846 of the Internal Revenue Code the loss payment patterns and discount factors for each property and casualty line of business for the 2015 accident year.  These factors are to be used by property and casualty insurance companies in discounting unpaid losses.

 


Events

Webinars for Tax Practitioners

 

California Practitioner Liaison Meetings and Seminars

  • California Society of Enrolled Agents Federal Representation Workshop – (Virtual), November 23, 2015

 

California Workshops for Small Business Owners

Please share these links with your small business clients. The workshops provide detailed instructional lessons that cover their tax filing, paying and operating requirements and responsibilities.

 


I hope you find this information useful. If you would like additional information, you can subscribe to an IRS e-Subscription by going to the Subscription page on IRS.gov.

 

If you would like to discontinue receiving my local Stakeholder Liaison e-mails, please e-mail at Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov and request removal of your name.

 

 

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #1000247447

Stakeholder Liaison Specialist

Communications Stakeholder Outreach

Work cell phone:  510-926-0175

Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

IRS Video Portal
Follow us on Twitter, YouTube

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

FYI: ACA Webinar-November 17, 2015

 

 

Small Business/Self Employed

Communications and Stakeholder Outreach

                                          StakeholderLiaison

 

Internal Revenue Service Webinar

Understanding the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions and Information Returns

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time

This free webinar will include the following topics:

¨ Determining Applicable Large Employer (ALE) Status

¨ Defining a Full-Time Employee

¨ Employer Shared Responsibility Payment

¨ Information Reporting Requirements

Earn 1 Continuing Education (CE) credit: Category – Federal Tax Update

To receive a certificate of completion, you must:

¨ View the live presentation on November 17, 2015 for at least 50 minutes from the start of the program for one CE credit.

¨ View the presentation while signed in using the same email address that you used to register (you will not receive credit by watching on someone else’s computer). This will confirm your attendance and generate your certificate of completion.

¨ Groups cannot register with one e-mail address and then receive separate certificates.

¨ If certificates are needed, each person must register separately.

¨ Look for your Certificate of Completion by e-mail approximately two weeks after the broadcast. If you have met all requirements, you will receive your certificate automatically.

If you are an Enrolled Agent or an Other Tax Return Preparer, attending for education on a voluntary basis, you must register with your 8-number PTIN, First Name and Last Name as shown on your PTIN card or letter. If you don’t have a PTIN, you will receive a certificate; however, your credit will not be reported to the IRS. Other tax professionals will be sent a certificate and may receive credit if the broadcast meets their organization’s or state’s CPE requirements.

To register, click here

 

Thursday, October 29, 2015

FYI: IRS News Release: "IRS Reminds Tax Return Preparers of Limited Practice Changes and Announces Revised PTIN Fee

Hello Everyone,

 

Hope all is well with you! 

 

Attached is the IRS news release (IR-2015-123, Oct. 29, 2015, IRS Reminds Tax Return Preparers of Limited Practice Changes and Announces Revised PTIN Fee.  The news release announces a decrease to the PTIN fee and reminds tax professionals about pending changes to limited practice rules:

IRS Reminds Tax Return Preparers of Limited Practice Changes and Announces Revised PTIN Fee

 

IR-2015-123, Oct. 29, 2015

 

WASHINGTON— The Internal Revenue Service today reminded non-credentialed tax return preparers of major upcoming changes regarding which tax return preparers can represent clients in matters before the IRS beginning in 2016, and take action by Dec. 31, 2015, to avoid being affected.

 

The IRS also announced that federal tax return preparers will soon pay less for a preparer tax identification number (PTIN).

 

Last year the IRS announced pending changes to limited practice authorities for non-credentialed tax return preparers. (Rev. Proc. 2014-42)

 

Effective for tax returns and claims for refunds prepared and signed after Dec. 31, 2015, the limited right to represent clients before the IRS held by non-credentialed preparers will be accorded to only those preparers participating in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program, a voluntary continuing education (CE) program.   The changes in the limited representation rules have no impact on returns prepared and signed by non-credentialed preparers on or before Dec. 31, 2015. 

 

Non-credentialed tax return preparers who participate in the Annual Filing Season Program will continue to have limited rights to represent clients. This enables them to represent taxpayers whose returns they prepared and signed, but only before revenue agents, customer service representatives, and similar IRS employees, including the Taxpayer Advocate Service. The tax return preparer must participate in the Annual Filing Season Program for both the year of return preparation and the year of representation to represent their client.

 

There are no changes to representation rules for enrolled agents, certified public accountants, and attorneys. These tax professionals continue to have unlimited practice rights and can represent any taxpayer before any IRS office, including collection and appeals, regardless of whether they prepared the tax return in question.   

 

To participate in the Annual Filing Season Program, non-credentialed tax return preparers must complete either 15 or 18 hours of continuing education from IRS-approved CE providers. The CE must be completed by Dec. 31, 2015, in order to receive a 2016 Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion.

 

More information about Annual Filing Season Program requirements is available on IRS.gov.

 

PTIN Fee Revised


Effective Nov. 1, 2015, the annual fee for 2016 PTINs will be $50 for both new applications and renewals. The IRS will collect $33 as a user fee to support program costs and a third-party vendor will receive $17 to operate the online system and provide customer support.

 

In preparation for the fee change, PTIN open season, which normally begins in mid-October, will begin in early November. PTIN open season is when the IRS begins accepting renewals and new registrations for the upcoming year.

 

Federal agencies are required to review user fees every other year and make adjustments as appropriate. The current PTIN fee is $64.25 for a new registration and $63 for renewal.

 

More information about the updated user fee is available in TD 9742 and REG-121496-15.

 

—30—

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Internal Revenue Service today reminded non-credentialed tax return preparers of major upcoming changes regarding which tax return preparers can represent clients in matters before the IRS beginning in 2016, and take action by Dec. 31, 2015, to avoid being affected.

 

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

FYI: Federal Representation Workshop

Hello Everyone,

 

The Federal Representation Workshop promotional flyer is attached above and below for your information. 

 

Note:  The November 23, 2015 workshop is delivered via a Live Webcast.

 

Please share this information with your colleagues, etc.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #1000247447

Stakeholder Liaison Specialist

Communications Stakeholder Outreach

510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434

Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

IRS Video Portal
Follow us on Twitter, YouTube

 

 

 

Friday, September 18, 2015

FYI: New IRS ACA Resource for Applicable Large Employers

To help you access important information about the Affordable Care Act quickly and efficiently, the IRS created the ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers on IRS.gov/aca at this URL: http://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act/Employers/ACA-Information-Center-for-Applicable-Large-Employers-ALEs.

 

There are several provisions of the health care law that apply only to applicable large employers. The new ALE information Center on the IRS website is your first stop to find resources that will help you determine if these regulations apply to you and how to follow the new law.

 

For the first time, applicable large employers have requirements for reporting information to their employees and the IRS about the health care coverage that they offer. We know there is a lot of information available to employers about the health care law and these new reporting requirements. The new ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers is where you can go to get official guidance straight from the IRS.  We encourage you to check out this new resource and to return frequently for the latest news and updates.

 

While the first reporting deadlines are not until next year, employers that are affected by these information reporting requirements should be actively planning and putting processes in place. Acting now will help you meet the requirements fully and completely by the deadlines.

 

FYI:  A sample article, “New IRS Resource helps Employers Understand the Health Care Law” is attached above that organizations can use to inform their customers of the new ACA resource for

Applicable Large Employers.

 

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #1000247447

Stakeholder Liaison Specialist

Communications Stakeholder Outreach

510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434

Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

IRS Video Portal
Follow us on Twitter, YouTube

 

 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

FYI: 21st Annual Tax Practitioner and IRS Seminar - Early Bird Special extended through 8/17!

Free CE credit harder to find? Where’s the best value for your Education dollars?

  

It’s the 21st Annual Tax Practitioner/IRS Fall Seminar:  

 

Update:  Early Bird Special extended through August 17, 2015!

 

 

Date and Location:   

 

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Holiday Inn – San Jose Airport                                           

1350 North 1st Street                        

San Jose, CA

  

Time

  • Registration:  7:30 a.m.
  • Seminar:  8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 

What's Covered:

  • S-Corporations Overview*
  • Identity Theft Overview
  • IRS Criminal Investigation Updates
  • Estate and Gift Tax
  • Taxpayer Advocate Service Updates
  • Navigating IRS.gov for Tax Professionals

*Topic may be subject to change and substituted with “Offers in Compromise” and “Exam Updates”.

CPE

  • Certificate of Completion
  • Up to 7 hours Federal CPE

 

 

Event Flyer – attached above. 

Register online:  http://www.missioneas.org/education.html

For more information: Contact Mission Society of Enrolled Agents:  office@missioneas.org or 800-832-6732

 

 

Please share this information with your tax professional members and colleagues.

 

 

Western Area Stakeholder Liaison

Small Business/Self-Employed

 

Thursday, July 30, 2015

FYI: 21st Annual Tax Practitioner and IRS Seminar - Early Bird Special Ends TOMORROW (through 7/31)!

Have you registered yet?  Don’t delay…the Early Bird Special ends TOMORROW (through 7/31)!

 

Get IMPORTANT INFORMATION from the SOURCE

 

21st Annual Tax Practitioner and IRS Seminar

 

 

Get what you need…to Solve Problems and Protect Your Clients… 

 

Get up to 7 hours of Federal CPE Credit!

 

See flyer attached above and pictured below for additional information.

 

 

Please share this information with your tax professional members and colleagues.  Thank you!

 

If you would like to discontinue receiving my local Stakeholder Liaison e-mails, please e-mail SLWestern@irs.gov and request removal of your name.

 

 

Western Area IRS Stakeholder Liaison

Small Business/Self-Employed

Communications and Stakeholder Outreach

 

 

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

FYI: 21st Annual Tax Practitioner and IRS Seminar

 

21st Annual Tax Practitioner and IRS Seminar

 

 

Get what you need…to Solve Problems and Protect Your Clients… 

 

Get up to 7 hours of Federal CPE Credit!

 

See flyer attached above and pictured below for additional information.

 

 

Please share this information with your tax professional members and colleagues.  Thank you!

 

 

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #1000247447

Stakeholder Liaison Specialist

Communications Stakeholder Outreach

510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434

Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

IRS Video Portal
Follow us on Twitter, YouTube

 

 

 

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

FYI: Joint Federal & State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar

FYI:  Please forward this information to your clients who are small business owners/employers located in the San Jose area so they can take advantage of this free seminar.  Thank you!

 

 

 

Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #1000247447

Stakeholder Liaison Specialist

Communications Stakeholder Outreach

510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434

Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov

IRS Video Portal
Follow us on Twitter, YouTube

 

 

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

FW: IRS-SJSU Small Business Tax Institute - Early Bird Ends June 10th

 

 

From: Henrie-Brown Jennifer A
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2015 3:10 PM
Subject: FYI: IRS-SJSU Small Business Tax Institute - Early Bird Ends June 10th

 

FYI: 

 

Want something to tweet about?

   

Hear Karen Hawkins in her last presentation before leaving her position as IRS Director of OPR!!!

 

and the Early Bird Special ENDS June 10th – don't miss out ...

 

IRS/SJSU Small Business Tax Institute

“Tax Strategies for Small Business Success”

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Biltmore Hotel, Santa Clara

CA CPE, MCLE, IRS CE and CTEC CE available

http://www.tax-institute.com

 

Topics

v Optimizing Business Deductions

v  Retirement Plans for Small Business Owners and Employees

v Due Diligence in Serving Small Business Clients

v Sales Tax – Avoiding California and Multistate Problems

v Hiring Correctly To Avoid Tax and Other Legal Problems

v Accounting Method Requirements and Options for Small Businesses

 

Speakers

***Joel Busch***Angie Dang (IRS)***Wesley A. Fachner***Claudia Hill***Roger Jung (EDD)***

***Monika Miles***Annette Nellen***Eric Petersen***Karen Reinhold***

and special guest speaker ***Karen Hawkins*** who will be joining us from Washington, D.C.

This will be her last presentation as IRS Director of Office of Professional Responsibilities.

 

Registration

Fee (includes continental breakfast, refreshments, lunch, materials, parking, CE credit):

v  $190 – General   

v  $  95 – Gov't and non-profit  

[Fee $25 higher AFTER June 10]

NOTE: Fees benefit the sponsoring organizations, not the IRS.

 

Register and pay online: http://www.tax-institute.com

       

Questions?Contact Annette Nellen: annette.nellen@sjsu.edu or (408) 924-3508.

 

Sponsors

THE STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA
The Taxation Section,
Young Tax Lawyers Committee

 

 

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