I hope all is going well with you!
Below is our local IRS Stakeholder Liaison News & Events for April 6, 2012. Also, our Local Taxpayer Advocate has requested we forward information about volunteering for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (information located below IRS Stakeholder Liaison News & Events). Please share this information with your members and colleagues. Thank you!
Have a great day, and weekend!
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Newsroom April 6, 2012
CCE Practitioner Priority Service is a new toll-free resource for tax professionals responding to campus correspondence examination calls and correspondence.
Prepared Remarks Commissioner of Internal Revenue Douglas H. Shulman before the National Press Club
IR-2012-42, April 5, 2012 ― Prepared Remarks Commissioner of Internal Revenue Douglas H. Shulman before the National Press Club
Remarks of Steven T. Miller, IRS Deputy Commissioner, Service and Enforcement, Before the Tax Executives Institute, Mid-Year Conference
Prepared Remarks of Steven T. Miller, IRS Deputy Commissioner Service and Enforcement, Before the Tax Executives Institute, Mid-Year Conference, March 26, 2011
IRS Provides Penalty Relief to Farmers Affected by MF Global Bankruptcy
IR-2012-37, March 23, 2012 — IRS will provide relief to farmers who incur penalties because they didn't timely receive Forms 1099 from MF Global or its court appointed trustee, and were unable to file their 2011 tax return by March 1, 2012.
IRS Releases FY 2011 Data Book
IR-2012-36, March 22, 2012 — Fiscal Year 2011 stats are available in the recently issued IRS Data Book.
IRS Seeks Volunteers for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
IR-2012-35, March 19, 2012 — The IRS seeks volunteers to serve on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), a federal advisory committee that listens to taxpayers, identifies key issues, and makes recommendations for improving IRS service.
IRS Creates Online Search Tool for Easier Check on Information About Exempt Organizations
IR-2012-34, March 14, 2012 — A new online search tool, Exempt Organizations Select Check, has been launched to help users more easily find key information about tax-exempt organizations, such as federal tax status and filings.
IMRS Hot Issues, April 1, 2012
IRS Offers New Penalty Relief under Fresh Start Initiative, Beware of Phony Refund Scheme Abusing Popular College Tax Credit, Return Preparer Update and more . . .
IRS Technical Guidance
Delay for Some Enrolled Agents Awaiting Renewal Cards
Some enrolled agents are still experiencing delays in the processing of renewal applications. For those individuals who timely filed a renewal application and have an enrollment card with an expiration date of March 31, 2012, the card is valid for another 60 days or until receipt of a new card. Enrollment will not expire due to this IRS delay.
Headliner 326 - IRS Updates the Allowable Living Expense Standards for 2012, April 2, 2012
The Internal Revenue Service released the 2012 update to the Collection Financial standards, also known as the Allowable Living Expense standards on April 2.
Headliner 327 - New Practitioner Priority Service for Campus Correspondence Examinations, April 2, 2012
Tax professionals responding to Campus Correspondence Examination telephone calls and/or correspondence can take advantage of a new service beginning April 2. Tax professionals can access the CCE Practitioner Priority Service by calling the PPS toll-free number and selecting the Correspondence Examination option.
Announcement 2012-16 announces the July 27, 2012 filing deadline for Telephone Excise Tax Refund requests and confirms that the IRS will continue to process requests for the refund of the wrongfully collected Telephone Excise Taxes described in Notice 2006-50 and Notice 2007-11.
Which Form? Chart Explains Foreign Asset Reporting
The new Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, does not eliminate a taxpayer’s obligation to file Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). Some taxpayers are required to file both.
IRS Issues Final Regulations on Public Inspection of EO Material
The IRS recently published final regulations on Public Inspection of Material Relating to Tax-Exempt Organizations (TD 9581) that affects organizations that were exempt but are no longer exempt from Federal income tax, and organizations that were denied tax-exempt status.
New COBRA Audit Technique Guide
A new Audit Technique Guide covers tax examinations involving the continuation of employee health care coverage.
IRS2Go is an IRS-developed app designed to help taxpayers
The app lets taxpayers check on the status of their refund, sign up for helpful tax tips or get the most recent IRS Twitter feeds. Download IRS2Go, then connect with the IRS whenever you want, wherever you are.
Recent Developments for Tax Forms, Instructions, and Publications
Corrections to Publication 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities -- 4-APR-2012, Revised 2012 Forms W-2, W-3SS, and 2012 General Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3; Note Regarding 2012 Form W-3 -- 22-MAR-2012, Update to the Instructions for 2011 Forms 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ -- 16-MAR-2012, and more . . .
Events
National/Local Phone Forums and Webinars for Practitioners
Retirement Plans - Phone Forums
Register for Upcoming Workshops for Small and Medium-sized 501(c)(3)s
- San Diego (April 24) hosted by University of San Diego
- San Francisco (April 26) hosted San Francisco State University
IRS Nationwide Tax Forum Information
The IRS Nationwide Tax Forums offer three full days of seminars with the latest word from IRS leadership and experts in the fields of tax law, compliance and ethics.
California Workshops for Small Business Owners
Please share this link 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 our local Stakeholder Liaison e-mails, please e-mail Jennifer.Henrie-Brown@irs.gov and request removal of your name.
Jennifer Henrie-Brown, ID #94-07690
Stakeholder Liaison Specialist
Communications Stakeholder Outreach
510-637-2199/ fax 510-637-2434
