Jan 08

IRS Opening Day 2024

The IRS seems to get later and later in announcing the opening day of tax season. With that being said, they announced the date today to be Jan 29th. 

The Internal Revenue Service today announced Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, as the official start date of the nation’s 2024 tax season when the agency will begin accepting and processing 2023 tax returns.

The IRS expects more than 128.7 million individual tax returns to be filed by the April 15, 2024, tax deadline.

Although the IRS will not officially begin accepting and processing tax returns until Jan. 29, people do not need to wait until then to work on their taxes if they’re using software companies or tax professionals. For example, most software companies accept electronic submissions and then hold them until the IRS is ready to begin processing later this month. IRS Free File will also be available on IRS.gov starting Jan. 12 in advance of the filing season opening

 

As a Zip Refund tax preparer you have access to start doing returns on Jan 2nd and through our partnership with the largest tax bank available, SBPTG, preparers can offer their clients advances on their refunds as well. 

We are looking forward to another great tax season. 

 

 

 

 

Dec 12

IRS Free Webinar Dec 14

Announcement from the IRS regarding a free webinar on the 1099K delay for third- party reporting and the rollout for 2024 is below:

 

The Internal Revenue Service will hold a free webinar, designed primarily for tax professionals whose clients receive income typically reported to them on Form 1099-K, including those who often use popular payment apps and online marketplaces.

The webinar will take place on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. ET. It will reflect last month’s announcement that in general, prior-law reporting requirements for Form 1099-K will remain in effect for 2023 and that the IRS is planning for a $5,000-reporting threshold in 2024.

Among other things, the webinar will also cover:

  • friends and family transactions
  • how to report 1099-K amounts on a 2023 return
  • what to do if a 1099-K is incorrect
  • recordkeeping
  • IRS resources

The webinar will include a live question and answer session. Though primarily aimed at tax professionals, anyone is welcome to attend.

To register for the webinar, visit Form 1099-K Third party payment network transactions (card and electronic payments)

Nov 27

1099 K Reporting Threshold For Third Part Platforms Delayed

In more good news, the IRS announced the delay of the 1099k threshold amount for third-party platforms. This is good news for preparers as it was about to cause some confusion among the tax industry.  For more details on what the roll-out of this new reg, the IRS will host a webinar sometime next month.

Here is an excerpt from the announcement:

 

Given the complexity of the new provision, the large number of individual taxpayers affected and the need for stakeholders to have certainty with enough lead time, the IRS is planning for a threshold of $5,000 for tax year 2024 as part of a phase-in to implement the $600 reporting threshold enacted under the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

Following feedback from the tax community, the IRS is also looking to make updates to the Form 1040 and related schedules for 2024 that would make the reporting process easier for taxpayers. Changes to the Form 1040 series – the core tax form for more than 150 million taxpayers – are complex and take time; delaying changes to tax year 2024 allows for additional feedback.

“We spent many months gathering feedback from third party groups and others, and it became increasingly clear we need additional time to effectively implement the new reporting requirements,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “Taking this phased-in approach is the right thing to do for the purposes of tax administration, and it prevents unnecessary confusion as we continue to look at changes to the Form 1040. It’s clear that an additional delay for tax year 2023 will avoid problems for taxpayers, tax professionals and others in this area.”

 

You can read the complete announcement here.

 

Oct 30

IRS drops PTIN Registration Fees

GOOD news comes early for tax preparers as the IRS has dropped the PTIN fee to $19.75.  

Currently, PTINs are required to file taxes professionally. Although they are not free as they were a few years back, they have been way more expensive the last two years. 


Below are some details as to how to renew or file for a PTIN from the IRS.

 

Paid tax return preparers with a PTIN expiring on Dec. 31, 2023, should use the online renewal process, which takes about 15 minutes to complete. A paper option, Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) Application and Renewal, along with the instructions, are also available for PTIN applications and renewals. However, the paper form can take approximately six weeks to process.

To renew a PTIN online:

  • Start at IRS.gov/taxpros.

  • Select the “Renew or Register” button.

  • Select “Log in” and enter the user ID and password to access the online PTIN system.

  • Select the “Renew my PTIN” button from the main menu.

Once completed, users will receive confirmation of their PTIN renewal.

The online system not only allows PTIN renewal, but tax return preparers can:

  • Check their continuing education.

  • View a summary of the number of filed returns on which their PTIN has appeared in the current year.

  • Receive communications through a secure mailbox from the IRS Return Preparer Office.

  • Track their progress for participation in the IRS Annual Filing Season Program.

First-time PTIN applicants can also apply for a PTIN online.

 

 

Feb 03

2022 tax filing season begins Jan. 24; IRS outlines refund timing and what to expect in advance of April 18 tax deadline

IR-2022-08, January 10, 2022

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation’s tax season will start on Monday, January 24, 2022, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2021 tax year returns.

The January 24 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to perform programming and testing that is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. Updated programming helps ensure that eligible people can claim the proper amount of the Child Tax Credit after comparing their 2021 advance credits and claim any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.

“Planning for the nation’s filing season process is a massive undertaking, and IRS teams have been working non-stop these past several months to prepare,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The pandemic continues to create challenges, but the IRS reminds people there are important steps they can take to help ensure their tax return and refund don’t face processing delays. Filing electronically with direct deposit and avoiding a paper tax return is more important than ever this year. And we urge extra attention to those who received an Economic Impact Payment or an advance Child Tax Credit last year. People should make sure they report the correct amount on their tax return to avoid delays.”

The IRS encourages everyone to have all the information they need in hand to make sure they file a complete and accurate return. Having an accurate tax return can avoid processing delays, refund delays and later IRS notices. This is especially important for people who received advance Child Tax Credit payments or Economic Impact Payments (American Rescue Plan stimulus payments) in 2021; they will need the amounts of these payments when preparing their tax return. The IRS is mailing special letters to recipients, and they can also check amounts received on IRS.gov.

Like last year, there will be individuals filing tax returns who, even though they are not required to file, need to file a 2021 return to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit to receive the tax credit from the 2021 stimulus payments or reconcile advance payments of the Child Tax Credit. People who don’t normally file also could receive other credits.

April 18 tax filing deadline for most

The filing deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and pay tax owed is Monday, April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. By law, Washington, D.C., holidays impact tax deadlines for everyone in the same way federal holidays do. The due date is April 18, instead of April 15, because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia for everyone except taxpayers who live in Maine or Massachusetts. Taxpayers in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their returns due to the Patriots’ Day holiday in those states. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Monday, October 17, 2022, to file.

Awaiting processing of previous tax returns? People can still file 2021 returns

Rettig noted that IRS employees continue to work hard on critical areas affected by the pandemic, including processing of tax returns from last year and record levels of phone calls coming in.

“In many areas, we are unable to deliver the amount of service and enforcement that our taxpayers and tax system deserves and needs. This is frustrating for taxpayers, for IRS employees and for me,” Rettig said. “IRS employees want to do more, and we will continue in 2022 to do everything possible with the resources available to us. And we will continue to look for ways to improve. We want to deliver as much as possible while also protecting the health and safety of our employees and taxpayers. Additional resources are essential to helping our employees do more in 2022 – and beyond.”

The IRS continues to reduce the inventory of prior-year individual tax returns that have not been fully processed. As of December 3, 2021, the IRS has processed nearly 169 million tax returns. All paper and electronic individual 2020 refund returns received prior to April 2021 have been processed if the return had no errors or did not require further review.

Taxpayers generally will not need to wait for their 2020 return to be fully processed to file their 2021 tax returns and can file when they are ready.

Key information to help taxpayers

The IRS encourages people to use online resources before calling. Last filing season, as a result of COVID-era tax changes and broader pandemic challenges, the IRS phone systems received more than 145 million calls from January 1 – May 17, more than four times more calls than in an average year. In addition to IRS.gov, the IRS has a variety of other free options available to help taxpayers, ranging from free assistance at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly locations across the country to the availability of the IRS Free File program.

“Our phone volumes continue to remain at record-setting levels,” Rettig said. “We urge people to check IRS.gov and establish an online account to help them access information more quickly. We have invested in developing new online capacities to make this a quick and easy way for taxpayers to get the information they need.”

Last year’s average tax refund was more than $2,800. More than 160 million individual tax returns for the 2021 tax year are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the traditional April tax deadline.

Overall, the IRS anticipates most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically if they choose direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax return. The IRS urges taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically. To avoid delays in processing, people should avoid filing paper returns wherever possible.

By law, the IRS cannot issue a refund involving the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit before mid-February, though eligible people may file their returns beginning on January 24. The law provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds from being issued.

Some returns, filed electronically or on paper, may need manual review, which delays the processing, if our systems detect a possible error or missing information, or there is suspected identity theft or fraud. Some of these situations require us to correspond with taxpayers, but some do not. This work does require special handling by an IRS employee so, in these instances, it may take the IRS more than the normal 21 days to issue any related refund. In those cases where IRS is able to correct the return without corresponding, the IRS will send an explanation to the taxpayer.

File electronically and choose direct deposit

To speed refunds, the IRS urges taxpayers to file electronically with direct deposit information as soon as they have everything they need to file an accurate return. If the return includes errors or is incomplete, it may require further review that may slow the tax refund. Having all information available when preparing the 2021 tax return can reduce errors and avoid delays in processing.

Most individual taxpayers file IRS Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR once they receive Forms W-2 and other earnings information from their employers, issuers like state agencies and payers. The IRS has incorporated recent changes to the tax laws into the forms and instructions and shared the updates with its partners who develop the software used by individuals and tax professionals to prepare and file their returns. Forms 1040 and 1040-SR and the associated instructions are available now on IRS.gov. For the latest IRS forms and instructions, visit the IRS website at IRS.gov/forms.

Free File available January 14

IRS Free File will open January 14 when participating providers will accept completed returns and hold them until they can be filed electronically with the IRS. Many commercial tax preparation software companies and tax professionals will also be accepting and preparing tax returns before January 24 to submit the returns when the IRS systems open.

The IRS strongly encourages people to file their tax returns electronically to minimize errors and for faster refunds – as well having all the information they need to file an accurate return to avoid delays. The IRS’s Free File program allows taxpayers who made $73,000 or less in 2021 to file their taxes electronically for free using software provided by commercial tax filing companies. More information will be available on Free File later this week.

In addition to IRS Free File, the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. 

Watch for IRS letters about advance Child Tax Credit payments and third Economic Impact Payments

The IRS started sending Letter 6419, 2021 advance Child Tax Credit, in late December 2021 and continues to do so into January. The letter contains important information that can help ensure the return is accurate. People who received the advance CTC payments can also check the amount of the payments they received by using the CTC Update Portal available on IRS.gov.

Eligible taxpayers who received advance Child Tax Credit payments should file a 2021 tax return to receive the second half of the credit. Eligible taxpayers who did not receive advance Child Tax Credit payments can claim the full credit by filing a tax return.

The IRS will begin issuing Letter 6475, Your Third Economic Impact Payment, to individuals who received a third payment in 2021 in late January. While most eligible people already received their stimulus payments, this letter will help individuals determine if they are eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for missing stimulus payments. If so, they must file a 2021 tax return to claim their remaining stimulus amount. People can also use IRS online account to view their Economic Impact Payment amounts.

Both letters include important information that can help people file an accurate 2021 tax return. If the return includes errors or is incomplete, it may require further review while the IRS corrects the error, which may slow the tax refund. Using this information when preparing a tax return electronically can reduce errors and avoid delays in processing.

The fastest way for eligible individuals to get their 2021 tax refund that will include their allowable Child Tax Credit and Recovery Rebate Credit is by filing electronically and choosing direct deposit.

Tips to make filing easier

To avoid processing delays and speed refunds, the IRS urges people to follow these steps:

Organize and gather 2021 tax records including Social Security numbers, Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers, Adoption Taxpayer Identification Numbers, and this year’s Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers valid for calendar year 2022.

Check IRS.gov for the latest tax information, including the latest on reconciling advance payments of the Child Tax Credit or claiming a Recovery Rebate Credit for missing stimulus payments. There is no need to call.

Set up or log in securely at IRS.gov/account to access personal tax account information including balance, payments, and tax records including adjusted gross income.

Make final estimated tax payments for 2021 by Tuesday, January 18, 2022, to help avoid a tax-time bill and possible penalties.

Individuals can use a bank account, prepaid debit card or mobile app to use direct deposit and will need to provide routing and account numbers. Learn how to open an account at an FDIC-Insured bank or through the National Credit Union Locator Tool.

File a complete and accurate return electronically when ready and choose direct deposit for the quickest refund.

Key filing season dates

There are several important dates taxpayers should keep in mind for this year’s filing season:

  • January 14: IRS Free File opens. Taxpayers can begin filing returns through IRS Free File partners; tax returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting January 24. Tax software companies also are accepting tax filings in advance.
     
  • January 18: Due date for tax year 2021 fourth quarter estimated tax payment.
     
  • January 24: IRS begins 2022 tax season. Individual 2021 tax returns begin being accepted and processing begins
     
  • January 28: Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day to raise awareness of valuable tax credits available to many people – including the option to use prior-year income to qualify.
     
  • April 18: Due date to file 2021 tax return or request extension and pay tax owed due to Emancipation Day holiday in Washington, D.C., even for those who live outside the area.
     
  • April 19: Due date to file 2021 tax return or request extension and pay tax owed for those who live in MA or ME due to Patriots’ Day holiday
     
  • October 17: Due date to file for those requesting an extension on their 2021 tax returns

Planning ahead

It’s never too early to get ready for the tax-filing season ahead. For more tips and resources, check out the Get Ready page on IRS.gov.

Aug 26

2021- PTIN FEES ARE BACK

IRS announces 2021 PTIN fees for tax return preparers

IR-2020-159, July 15, 2020

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today the annual fee for 2021 that tax return preparers must pay to apply for or renew their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).

In final regulations issued today, the IRS set a $21 fee per PTIN application or renewal (plus a $14.95 fee payable to a contractor).

Anyone who prepares or substantially helps prepare any federal tax return or claim for refund for compensation must have a valid PTIN from the IRS. The PTIN must be used as the identifying number on returns prepared. Failure to have and use a valid PTIN may result in penalties. The IRS estimates that more than 800,000 tax return preparers will apply for or renew a PTIN this year.

The annual renewal of PTINs ensures the IRS has up-to-date identifying information about each return preparer, which is essential for timely communication of important information. The program helps protect both return preparers and taxpayers and prevent the unauthorized use of PTINs.

The IRS is required (PDF) to conduct a biennial review of the PTIN user fee. The agency determined that the full cost to administer the PTIN program going forward is $21 per application or renewal. This amount includes costs relating to PTIN misuse and maintaining the integrity of PTINs. The third-party contractor fee, $14.95, pays for several functions including processing applications, renewals and operating a call center.

PTINs expire on December 31 of the year for which they are issued. PTINs generally can be renewed beginning in mid-October and are valid for the following calendar year. A tax return preparer can renew online at www.irs.gov/ptin by logging into the preparer’s PTIN account or by submitting a paper Form W-12 with the “Renewal” box checked.

Jan 06

2019 Tax Season Opening Day- Jan 27th 2020

Zip Refund is open for yet another tax season and as of today, the IRS announced when they will be, too.

IRS opening date 2020

The Internal Revenue Service confirmed that the nation’s tax season will start for individual tax return filers on Monday, January 27, 2020, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2019 tax year returns.

The deadline to file 2019 tax returns and pay any tax owed is Wednesday, April 15, 2020. More than 150 million individual tax returns for the 2019 tax year are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the traditional April tax deadline.

“As we enter the filing season, taxpayers should know that the dedicated workforce of the IRS stands ready to help,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “We encourage taxpayers to plan ahead and use the tools and information available on IRS.gov. The IRS and the nation’s tax community are committed to making this another smooth filing season.”

The IRS set the January 27 opening date to ensure the security and readiness of key tax processing systems and to address the potential impact of recent tax legislation on 2019 tax returns.

We are looking forward to another successful year as continue to prepare for opening day. HUB tetsting will be here before you know it,  so we are more than ready. 

 

Sep 02

IRS Changes The 1040 Again – Wait, WHAT?

irs changes 1040 again

Guess the first time they tried this, they did not succeed and it did not go so well so they are trying again.  Last year a postcard- this year…

The IRS revealed that the 1040 will have several changes for the coming tax season. First, the 1040 is being enlarged to allow more information to be entered vs. being entered on a supporting schedule. The 1040 will be approximately 25% larger. Also, three of the six schedules have been eliminated by combining certain items or moving them back to the 1040.

The first page of the 1040 will now have space for the taxpayer to enter a foreign address, as opposed to it being located on Schedule 6. Certain income items have been relocated to the first page of the 1040, including a line to report Capital gain or (loss). The signature lines for the Primary Filer, Spouse and Paid Preparer are now located at the bottom of the second page of the 1040. Also, Third Party Designee information has been added back to the second page of the 1040.

The layout of the new 1040 and the three remaining schedules are different than last year’s forms. The Standard Deduction section has been expanded, making it easier to identify when a taxpayer is eligible for the additional standard deduction due age or blindness. There is now a spot the taxpayers E‐mail address and phone number in the signature section. The remaining schedules have appropriately been re‐numbered, beginning with 1. Previously, the numbering was confusing and despite their intent, was of little help.

(Schedule 1) ‐ Additional Income and Adjustments to Income have been renumbered but basically remains the same. The only real difference is, alimony now requires the taxpayer to enter the date of the divorce.

(Schedule 2) Is now Additional Taxes. It combines last year’s Schedule 2 – Tax and Schedule 4 – Other Taxes into a single schedule.

(Schedule 3) Is now called Additional Credits and Payments. Schedule 3 now combines— Nonrefundable Credits and Schedule 5—Other Payments and Refundable Credits.

The latest version of the re‐designed Form 1040 and Schedules 1‐3 are posted in the draft forms section on IRS.gov.

Dec 17

2019 Tax Refunds Will Be 26% Higher, Morgan Stanley Says

Odds are you’re paying too high a tax bill today. The good news, though, is that means you could see a notably higher refund next year.

A research note from Morgan Stanley estimates 2019 refunds will top this year’s by 26%, working out to an extra $62 billion given back by the Internal Revenue Service.

Payroll taxes are where people have been overpaying, says the investment firm, as most haven’t changed their withholding. Combine that with the GOP’s tax bill, which was passed last December and it increases the odds of a nice refund.

The bulk of the refunds,says Morgan Stanley, will be sent in February. And that could have some positive effects for the economy.

“We expect this boost in tax refunds to result in a sharply higher savings rate and elevated sales of big-ticket items in February and March 2019,” the firm wrote.

The bulk of people getting refunds—some 65%—tucked them into savings this year, according to a Morgan Stanley survey.Meanwhile, 35% paid down debt and 12% splurged on a vacation, while 8% made a major purchase, such as a car or TV, with the refund.

The average refund as ofthe end of April 2018, according to the IRS, was $2,771, which was just 0.2% bigger than the 2017 totals. (The good news was they were sent out to people quicker this year.)

Better news? Your chances of an IRS tax audit in 2018 are the lowest in 15 years, as the branch has lost close to one-third of its enforcement staff since 2010. That’s not expected to change next year.

From: fortune.com

Sep 30

10 tips for tax pros to avoid phishing scams

10 tips for tax pros to avoid phishing scams

By Jeff Stimpson

Published September 17 2017, 5∶09pm EDT

The inbox seems to have become tax preparers’ worst enemy in this age of phishing e-mails designed to trick preparers into volunteering critical information. Crooks convert stolen data into phony refunds faster than ever, and it’s easy to think that time-tested protections aren’t enough anymore.

The IRS shared its top 10 tips and practical examples for tax pros to protect themselves – and their clients – from taking the bait. (A slideshow version of this article is available.)

 

  1. Spear itself. Nine out of 10 cyber-attacks and data leaks begin with spear phishing e-mail, often tailored to individual practitioners. Spear-phishing crooks pose as familiar entities, and have usually done extensive research to target a specific audience – tax pros are favorites – to gain passwords or install malware.

Red flags: The supposedly familiar source of the e-mail; conversational but ungrammatical and oddly constructed language; calls to action urging opening of a link (often a “tiny” URL to mask the true destination).

 

  1. Hostile takeovers. In these mushrooming schemes, a thief manages to steal or guess the username and password of a tax pro, resulting in the imaginable and horrific havoc with EFINs, prep software accounts and more. Again, these hardworking thieves do their homework to pose as a familiar organization, potential client, another tax pro, a bank or a cloud-based storage provider. Links or attachments may also load malware on computers to capture keystrokes.

Red flags: Urgent and threatening calls to action; pages that looks like the login pages for IRS e-Services or a prep-software providers.

 

  1. Day at the breach. In the first five months of this year, about 107,000 taxpayers reported being victims of ID theft — a total actually down from previous years — but the IRS also saw an jump in ID theft involving business-related tax returns, including 1120s and 1120Ss, 1041s and Schedule K-1 filings. The IRS will soon ask tax pros to gather more information on their business clients to help authenticate returns, including Social Security numbers, payment history and parent company information.

Red flag: Potential business clients claiming they don’t currently have an EIN.

 

  1. Ransom devil. Ransomware attacks are on the rise worldwide, locking computer systems and holding sensitive data hostage until users pay crooks to release the data (though often scammers won’t provide the decryption key even after a ransom is paid). Users generally are unaware that malware has infected their systems until they receive the ransom request.

Red flag: Phishing e-mails.

 

  1. Remote control. A tax pro’s entire digital network could be at risk for remote takeover by cybercriminals who exploit security weaknesses to access the devices to access client returns, complete and e-file those returns, and then secretly direct refunds to their own accounts. Especially vulnerable are wireless networks, including mobile phones, modems and router devices, printers (clients’ returns might still in the device’s memory), fax machines and televisions that retain their factory issued password settings.

Red flags: Phishing e-mails with attachments.

 

  1. BEC to the wall. A burgeoning W-2 scam — a.k.a., a business email compromise, or “BEC”– is one of the most dangerous phishing e-mail schemes trending nationwide. A cybercriminal impersonates a company or organization exec’s e-mail address to target a payroll, financial or HR employee with a request for a transfer or funds or a request a list of all employees and their W-2s. This allows crooks to file fraudulent returns that mirror the employees’ actual income, making the fraud harder to detect.

Red flags: Slight variations in familiar URLs (for example, legitimate abc_company.com e-mail domain reads as “abccompany. com”); “reply” e-mail address is different from the “from” e-mail address.

 

  1. EFIN headache. Criminal syndicates routinely attempt to steal tax pros’ usernames and passwords to access e-Services to obtain the EFIN. Savvy cybercriminals even swipe CAF numbers and may know how to file fraudulent power-of-attorney documents. (Password thefts are one reason the IRS moved to a two-factor authentication process for online tools.)

Red flags: Spear-phishing e-mails impersonating IRS e-services.

 

  1. Protect clients. Tax pros must take proactive responsibility for safeguarding client data. Proper plans assess risks to taxpayer information in offices, list locations where taxpayer information is kept, and formally document how to safeguard information.

Red flags: Service providers lacking an adequate level of information protection.

 

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