Problem Resolution and Focus Groups

Problem Resolution had a facility at the Tax Forum. One of my friends brought a case file with her (and power of attorney forms, etc.). When picking up her registration packet on Monday, she was given a form to fill out with the specifics of her case (and a copy of the power of attorney – Form 2848). By the time she arrived at her appointment on Tuesday or Wednesday, the staff had pulled up relevant information about her case and researched the stumbling blocks. She sat down with them and resolved all the problems in no time at all. This is a case that has been a source of frustration for many, many months. Her clients have a refund coming soon.

Last week, all my tax staff and I took our annual trip to the IRS Tax Forum.

When these forums first started out many years ago, the fee was $25 for three days of education provided by IRS staff and a variety of tax professionals from sponsor associations. It was an amazing value – especially since you could fulfill your entire annual continuing education requirement in one shot – for $25. Wow! OK, so the material was a little basic, with IRS devoting time to propagandize about their service…but still, the contacts you made were excellent. And you did get some insight into the way IRS operates.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced availability of the summer 2010 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin, which features sole proprietorship data for tax year 2008.

About 23 million individual income tax returns reported at least one nonfarm sole proprietorship in tax year 2008, a 2 percent decrease since the prior year. Reported profits for those sole proprietorships decreased by 6 percent to $265 billion.

Proposed Regulations Expand the Use of Electronic Payment System and Discontinue Paper Coupons Next Year

WASHINGTON — Consistent with a Financial Management Service initiative announced in April of this year, the IRS today issued proposed regulations to significantly increase the number of electronic transactions between taxpayers and the federal government.

The proposed regulations (REG 153340-09) would eliminate the rules for making federal tax deposits by paper coupon because the paper coupon system will no longer be maintained by the Treasury Department after Dec. 31, 2010. The proposed regulations generally maintain existing rules for depositing federal taxes through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

Using EFTPS to make federal tax deposits provides substantial benefits to both taxpayers and the government. EFTPS users can make tax payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week from home or the office.

Deposits can be made online with a computer or by telephone. EFTPS also significantly reduces payment-related errors that could result in a penalty. The system helps taxpayers schedule dates to make payments even when they are out of town or on vacation when a payment is due. EFTPS business users can schedule payments up to 120 days in advance of the desired payment date.

Information on EFTPS, including how to enroll, can be found at www.eftps.gov or by calling EFTPS Customer Service at 1-800-555-4477.

Some businesses paying a minimal amount of tax may make their payments with the related tax return, instead of using EFTPS. More details regarding taxes required to be deposited using EFTPS, dollar thresholds and other specific requirements are in the proposed regulations.

[TaxMama Note” Be sure to take a look at this last-minute payment option if you have not yet set up our EFTPS account.

Additional Information:

• Publication 4132, which explains the process of enrolling and paying via the Internet
• Publication 966, The Secure Way to Pay Your Federal Taxes for Businesses and Individuals
• Publication 4169, Tax Professional Guide to Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
• Publication 4320, EFTPS Toolkit, which contains PDF(s) and descriptions of EFTPS educational materials and their intended target audience, and is for use by tax professionals and financial institutions to assist in educating their clients on the benefits of EFTPS.
• Publication 4275, Express Enrollment for New Businesses
• Electronic Payment Options Home Page

Did you end up owing taxes this year? The vast majority of Americans get a tax refund from the IRS each spring, but those who receive a bill may not know that the IRS has a number of ways for people to pay. Here are nine tips for taxpayers who owe money to the IRS.

TaxMama Note: For tax professionals who want to learn to resolve these kinds of problems, The IRS Practice Series classes are starting at CPE Link in September.

This morning TaxMama received a press release from Harry W. Buckley, president and chief executive officer of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. in response to IRS’s announcement yesterday about removing the debt indicator from the electronically filed tax returns at the time of filing.

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that starting with next year’s tax filing season it will no longer provide tax preparers and associated financial institutions with the “debt indicator,” which is used to facilitate refund anticipation loans (RALs).

[TaxMama note: please see the related story.]

Taxpayers need to be careful to protect their personal information. Identity thieves use many methods to steal personal information and then they use the information to file a tax return and get a refund. Here are 10 things the IRS wants you to know about identity theft so you can avoid becoming the victim of an identity thief.

As you know, TaxMama is the author of Small Business Taxes Made Easy, which some people use as their business bible. Each of IRS’s tips is expanded, in detail, in Small Business Taxes Made Easy, – I’ll add the chapter references to IRS’s tips for you.

A new edition of the book is due out this winter. But, if you’re starting a business now, don’t wait for the new book. Use the current version – and these IRS tips. Note: These tips can be useful even if you’re already in business. Many people who’ve been in business for a dozen years or more have told me how helpful and eye-opening the information has been for them.

Are you opening a new business this summer? The IRS has many resources available for individuals that are opening a new business. Here are six tax tips the IRS wants new business owners to know – and one from TaxMama.

Did you know that you may be able to deduct some of your job search expenses on your tax return?

Many taxpayers spend time during the summer months updating their résumé and attending career fairs. If you are searching for a job this summer, you may be able to deduct some of your expenses on your tax return. Here are six things the IRS wants you to know about deducting costs related to your job search.