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It’s TaxQuips time from TaxMama.com^® .
Today TaxMama® wants to let you know what kind of support you can expect from the IRS this year – if any.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Family,

As you understand so well, since COVID19, it’s gotten harder than ever to reach a live person at the IRS. And especially someone who has enough training and experience to give you useful information.

(Those of you like to enjoy pain and who appreciate statistics, read Erin Collins’ Taxpayer Advocate’s Report to Congress.)

As I told you last time, the IS working to use that new influx of funds to do more than just increase audits and collections. They are adding more self-service tools – and opening more in-person opportunities.

So What’s New and Improved?

Last week, the IRS announced that people who file their amended returns (Form 1040X) electronically can now receive  their refunds via direct deposit to their bank accounts. Yippee!

What they don’t tell you is – that this is likely to apply to “superseded returns” (for those that know how to take advantage of them) that are filed before the filing deadline, including the extension.

The IRS is opening their in-person Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TAC) (otherwise known as IRS offices) to the public on several Saturdays, once a month from February through May.   You can locate one near you in most (or all) states and Puerto Rico at this URL – https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help  . Read the instructions to know what to bring. The staff will be able to help with balances due, audit questions and other issues. The Taxpayer Advocate Service staff will be available. And language interpretation services will also be available.

Self-Service Tools

In addition to being able to check on your refund status, the IRS has several online tools you can use on your own to access your taxpayer account (– or that tax your tax professional can use  on your behalf). You can pull your own transcripts, set up your own payment plans…and more.

• Taxpayer Account – https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account
• Status of Tax Return and Refund – https://www.irs.gov/refunds
• Status of Amended Tax Return – https://www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return
• Get my own transcript – https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
• IRS App – IRS2GO – https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs2goapp
• IRS Free-File – https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free
• Get or Replace your Identity-Protection PIN – https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin

Incidentally, in case you didn’t know, the IRS has an Interactive Assistant that might be able to answer some questions for you https://www.irs.gov/help/tax-law-questions

 

The Scary Meetings

Audits and Appeals meetings can potentially be held online. The online submission of documents isn’t as easy as we would hope yet (for security reasons) – but we’re getting there.

A Hidden Treasure

Although this site isn’t really a secret, I have discovered that most people are not aware of this IRS “Treasure Chest” of resources. (That’s what I call it.) For anyone who wants to do tax research about anything, this is a great place to start.  https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/foia-library

And More…

There are new capabilities being released all the time. The IRS understands how much less it can cost them if taxpayers can do things on their own, vs paying staff to handle routine tasks. See what’s happening here:
https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/modernizing-tax-processing-systems

Tax Education

 

 

 

As usual, I will be teaching a session at this year’s CSTC 2023 Tax Symposium in June.

Please come and meet me in Las Vegas. If you tell me you’re coming, you’re invited to TaxMama’s® annual dinner on Monday night.

 

 

 

 

It’s time for Everything!

People are still asking so many questions about the 2023-2024 EA exam. So we will hold our first annual (complimentary) webinar – please clear some time on your calendar if you are interested in taking the IRS Exams this year.

If you are not currently a tax preparer but think this might be a worthwhile career to explore – DO come and join us. You would be so welcome, too.

Everything You Wanted to Know About the EA Exam,
but didn’t know who to ask:

Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Time: 10:00 am Pacific
For more information and no-charge sign-up:
https://iTaxMama.com/KickStart-TM

Incidentally, we are bribing you to join us. Anyone who stays for the entire presentation will get a $100 coupon off the price of the Premium class.

(If you have already signed up for the Premium class in 2023 – AND you sit through the entire presentation – we will send you a $100 refund.)

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And remember, you can find answers to all kinds of questions about taxes and business issues, and EA Education, free. Where? Where else? At http://iTaxMama.com/AskQuestion

To make comments, please drop into the TaxQuips Forum.