Friday, October 14, 2016

FYI: Update on IRS e-Services and Secure Access (Delay of Oct 24th date...)

Hello Everyone,

 

I just received the below message and have been asked to share it:

 

To ensure a smooth transition, the IRS has decided to delay the October 24 date for requiring e-services users to re-register and validate their identities through Secure Access authentication.

 

In the next few weeks, the IRS plans to have discussions with key stakeholders affected by the e-services changes to discuss security protocols and next steps in this process.

 

A new implementation date has not been set. When a new date is set, the IRS will share the information widely with e-Services users.

 

The IRS is strengthening the e-Services registration process as part of a wider effort to ensure the protection of taxpayer data and IRS systems.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, October 6, 2016

FYI re: Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)

Hello Everyone,

Taxpayers affected by recent changes involving the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) program can now begin submitting their ITIN renewal applications to the IRS.

Here are some resources to help get this message to all affected taxpayers. 

Please share this information with your members, staff, colleagues and anyone who may benefit from this information.  Please also let us know how you share this information and any feedback you receive so we can adjust these resource tools to better fit your needs.

Thank you!

FYI:  Western Area Stakeholder Liaison is presenting a webinar on ITINs on October 20, 2016.  See below for additional information. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Understanding Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)

Presented by:

IRS Stakeholder Liaison Western Area

"formerly IRS 101"

 

Thursday, October 20, 2016

11:00 a.m. Pacific

 

This webinar will provide an overview of the following:

·        ITIN Program Changes due to the PATH Act (including ITIN expirations and renewals)

·        Who needs an ITIN and how to get one

·        Certifying Acceptance Agents

·        Dependency exemptions and tax credits for ITIN holders

·        Plus a live Q & A

 

Register and Attend: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1148/17675

 

Earn one Continuing Education (CE) credit Category: Federal Tax

 

To receive a certificate of completion, you must:

·        View the live presentation 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.

 

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-character PTIN, and 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 CE requirements.

 

 

Questions?      Email us SL.WESTERN@IRS.GOV

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Smith Amy M
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2016 12:24 PM
To: Antal Vivienne; Bchtikian Narina; Breece Dan E; Cox Neki M; Deazeley Kristen K; Footit Christine A; Ganter Derek C; Hamilton Lisa A; Henrie-Brown Jennifer A; Kelly-Brenner Geraldine A; Kershner Keith D; Lauridsen Regina M; Malone Terri L; Sanchez Christella A; Vallombroso Michelle M; Williams Katie M; Zine Marc J
Subject: ACTION: ITIN Outreach Assistance
Importance: High

 

Sending this on Derek's behalf…

 

Good afternoon Stakeholder Liaison Field,

 

Our Wage and Investment colleagues are requesting our expedited assistance in getting the word out about the changes to the ITIN program.  This topic is a current Outreach Priority that we will be communicating through the quarter to our Tax professional, Industry, Fed/State and/or Local Government stakeholders.  

 

It is essential each and every Stakeholder Liaison disseminate this information (and attachments) to the intended audience(s) as prescribed:

 

Objective:

·         Get the word out broadly on the ITIN program changes announced this summer

 

Delivery Channels:

·         E-mail

1) other methods that align with the prescribed objective and timeline are possible

                2) crafted e-mail attached with suggested language

Timeline:

·         Actions should be completed related to this effort by close of business today, October 6 2016

 

Actions Needed:

·         Enter Contact in the CSO Calendar for "Information Sharing."

·         Check the box next to "ITIN Outreach" in the SL initiatives block.

·         Follow up with stakeholders/partners as to the method and outcome of their information sharing and enter as a leveraged contact on the CSO Calendar.

·         For more information, please visit:  OID 114

 

Background (provided by W&I):

A news release will go out later today reminding taxpayers of these changes, so you can begin sharing the outreach materials with partners today. Specifically, all ITINs not used on a federal income tax return at least once in the last three consecutive tax years and ITINs with middle digits 78 or 79 will expire at the end of the year based on the 2015 PATH Act. Second, dependents without a date of U.S. entry on their passports from countries other than Mexico or Canada will need to prove residency before an ITIN can be issued.

We met with stakeholders prior to announcing these changes, and they requested outreach materials that could be used electronically as well in print. They suggested having a stuffer-sized product that could be inexpensively reproduced and used in grassroots efforts, as well. We have developed products to meet those needs.

For your convenience, we created Publication 5261, ITIN Outreach Products, to help you in your outreach effort. You simply need to share the link to it with stakeholders and they can choose which products they need for their use. Publication 5261 has links to the following outreach products in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole:

(1)     ITIN Fact Sheet (Pub 5259) - informs ITIN holders what needs to done to renew their expiring ITIN and where they can go to get help if they need it.

(2)    You May Need to Renew Your Expired ITIN (Pub 5256) – a small, informational flyer ready to print and cut (three per page) – no live links on this page as it's intended for printing, but it directs taxpayers to the IRS.gov/ITIN page for more information.

(3)    Renewing Your ITIN (Pub 5257) – A full-page flyer with more information than Pub 5256 – also includes links to additional information.

Attached are several additional documents for your use. The ITIN one-pager is intended for partners, not for taxpayers. It includes links to a variety of resources on ITINs as well as the outreach products. The ITIN Tweets document includes all approved ITIN tweets in English and Spanish for partners to use. The next two attachments (ITINinfoSPtweet and ITINinfoEngTweet) are images that have been formatted to the size specifications on Twitter – one in English, one in Spanish.  The last image is set up for use on Facebook in both languages. 

 

There is additional information on the ITIN program available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole. We've also been tweeting regularly about the ITIN changes from @IRSnews and @IRSenEspanol (see attached) and hope to update you on the availability of YouTube videos in English, Spanish and ASL in the weeks ahead.

 

My apologies for the short turnaround time on this request but I have full confidence that we will meet the challenge.  If you have any questions please feel free to reach to me at your convenience. 

 

Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

 

Derek Ganter

Western Area Manager

Stakeholder Liaison Field Operations

(California, Hawaii & Nevada)

 

Office (626) 927-1416|Cell (213) 514-2623|Fax (877) 477-8628