Friday, February 22, 2013

FYI: IRS Stakeholder Liaisons' News & Events including ITIN Program Webinar (on 2-26-2013)


 

Hello Everyone,

 

I hope all is going well with you!

Below is news and events information for practitioners including a new ITIN Acceptance Agents On-Demand Webinar scheduled for February 26, 2013.  Please share the below information with your colleagues.  Select the blue links to see full articles.  Thank you! 

 


Newsroom                                                                                                         

 

IRS Seeks Applications for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee
IR-2013-20, Feb. 15, 2013 — The IRS is accepting nominations for membership on the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee through April 1.

 

IMRS Hot Issues

Due to late tax law changes, stockpiling rule does not apply; Loving vs. IRS court case regarding registered tax return preparers; Additional Medicare Tax and Net Investment Income Tax and more . . .


 

IRS Technical Guidance

 

IRS Statement on "Where's My Refund?" Tool - Feb. 14, 2013

The IRS alerted taxpayers and the tax community it is experiencing high traffic on “Where's My Refund?” as more tax returns come in. The heavy volume of refund inquiries means that the IRS anticipates both "Where's My Refund?" on IRS.gov and the refund feature on the IRS2go phone app will have limited availability during busier periods.

·         You don't need to check “Where's My Refund?” more than once a day as your information will not change. 

·         To avoid system delays, the best time to check on refunds is evening and weekends.

·         There is no need to call the IRS about your refund; the telephone service has the same information that is available on “Where’s My Refund?”

 

List of IRS forms that 1040 filers can begin filing in March 2013

The following tax forms will be accepted by the IRS during the first week of March after updating forms and completing programming and testing of its processing systems. A specific date will be announced in the near future.

 

Considering an offer in compromise?

Before starting the paperwork, use the new OIC pre-qualifier tool to:

        Determine eligibility

        Calculate a preliminary offer amount

Related link: Offer in Compromise

 

Tax Practice: Proposed Revisions to IRS Circular 230 Set New Standards for ‘Reasonable’ Practices   -   BNA Daily Tax Report, February 14, 2013 - By Florence Olsen

Under proposed “reasonableness” standards for Circular 230, employee benefit attorneys who provide written tax advice may not rely on information from benefit plan sponsors if the attorneys know or should know that the information is incorrect or incomplete, an Internal Revenue Service official said Feb. 13 during an agency-sponsored phone forum.

 

Rev. Rul. 2013-7 - This revenue ruling provides various prescribed rates for federal income tax purposes for March 2013 (the current month).

 

Notice 2013-16 - Per Capita Payments from Proceeds of Settlements of Indian Tribal Trust Cases

Notice 2013-1, 2013-3 IRB 281, provides guidance on the federal tax treatment of per capita payments that members of Indian tribes receive from proceeds of certain settlements of tribal trust cases between the United States and those Indian tribes.  Additional tribes have settled tribal trust cases against the United States since publication of Notice 2013-1. This notice provides an updated Appendix that reflects the additional settlement agreements.

 

Rev. Proc. 2013-20 - This revenue procedure modifies Revenue Procedure 2011-14, 2011-4 I.R.B. 330, to provide procedures for a taxpayer to obtain the automatic consent of the Commissioner under § 446(e) of the Internal Revenue Code to change its method of accounting under § 263A for the production of one or more plants removed from the list of plants grown in commercial quantities in the United States having a pre-productive period in excess of two years based on the nationwide weighted average pre-productive period for such plant.

 

Rev. Rul. 2012-32 - Section 6621.--Determination of Rate of Interest - 26 CFR 301.6621-1: Interest rate.

Section 6621 of the Internal Revenue Code establishes the interest rates on overpayments and underpayments of tax.

 

IRS Provides Details on Forensic Training for Certified Acceptance Agents; Deadline Extended to Dec. 31

Based on comments and feedback from the Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) community, the IRS is extending the deadline for CAAs and responsible parties to complete the forensic training requirement to Dec. 31, 2013.  The Internal Revenue Service currently does not endorse any particular vendor.


Events

 

Phone Forum - Retirement Plans:

Overview of the 2012 Cumulative List of Plan Qualification Changes Webinar - February 28, 2013

 

IRS Nationwide Tax Forums 2013 Locations and Dates

For dates and more, go to the website.

 

California Workshops for Small Business Owners:  Please share this link with your small business clients.  The workshops cover their tax filing, paying and operating requirements and responsibilities.

 

 



Attention Acceptance Agents
 
Important Information for all ITIN Acceptance Agents
 
Posted February 26, 2013 
 
The Internal Revenue Service announces a new ITIN Acceptance Agents On-Demand Webinar - to provide Acceptance Agents with information regarding the Changes to the ITIN Program effective January 1, 2013
 
 
IRS On-Demand Webinar for ITIN Acceptance Agents
 
The Internal Revenue Service announces the release of a new on-demand webinar with information specifically for Acceptance Agents.  All authorized representatives are required to view this free webinar presentation that will take approximately 25 minutes of your time.  This webinar will provide you with information for the 2013 ITIN Program Changes effective January 1, 2013.
 
The pre-recorded webinar will air on February 26, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time (1:00 p.m Central, Noon Mountain Time, and 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time).  Participation in the ITIN on-demand webinar is easy. Just click the link:  http://www.visualwebcaster.com/IRS/92207/reg.asp?id=92207 to register and access the webinar video and accompanying Power Point presentation, which is downloadable for future reference.
 
Once selected, the link will take you to the registration pages.  Click the link above to "Sign up now," register and submit.  If you are not able to view the entire video on February 26 you will be able to access the video again beginning March 5 through May 5, 2013.  Click on the link on the registration page for Download Outlook Calendar Reminder to place a reminder on your calendar. 
 
Note:  Since this video requires registration, we will be able to monitor participation.  
 
Email your questions or comments t ITINProgramOffice@irs.gov.  
 

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  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

 

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