Issue Number: 2017-20
Inside This Issue
1. e-Services, Transcript Delivery System Unavailable Memorial Day Weekend
2. Opportunity Coming to Participate in New Correspondence Examination Digital Pilot Program
3. Deadline for the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC) is May 21
4. Tax Pros Can Earn 18 CPE Credits at the 2017 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums
5. IRS Announces Three New Members for Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities
6. Military Tax Tips
7. Technical Guidance
1. e-Services, Transcript Delivery System Unavailable Memorial Day Weekend
The IRS will conduct systems maintenance beginning Friday, May 26, 2017 at 6 p.m. EDT and ending on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 5 a.m. EDT. During this time, e-Services Transcript Delivery System, TIN Matching, e-file and ACA applications will not be available.
Mark your calendars for June: E-Services also will be unavailable from Thursday, June 15 at 6 p.m. through Monday, June 19 at 6 a.m. as it moves to a different platform as part of a technology upgrade. All applications – including the Transcript Delivery System and TIN Matching – will be offline during this timeframe.
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2. Opportunity Coming to Participate in New Correspondence Examination Digital Pilot Program
The IRS Taxpayer Digital Communications (TDC) Secure Messaging pilot program has started with correspondence examinations involving Schedule A and has expanded to include some other issues. During the pilot the IRS will invite approximately 8,000 taxpayers under correspondence examinations to communicate with the Service using secure messaging through digital communication channels.
The pilot program is by invitation only. Taxpayers and their tax professionals with valid powers of attorney (POA) can participate only if the client receives a marketing insert or letter saying they are eligible.
If your client is invited, encourage him or her to volunteer for this pilot program. Your POA must already be on file and showing on the Centralized Authorization File (CAF) system before you as a tax professional can participate.
After your client receives an invitation and registers via IRS Secure Access, you must also authenticate via IRS Secure Access under your own SSN and complete the “Request Access” verification process. After IRS verifies the POA is authorized, you will have access to your own secure message mailbox in TDC to receive copies of messages and communicate with IRS.
The tax professional community is an important part of our process for improving customer service. We appreciate and value your input.
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3. Deadline for the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC) is May 21
The Internal Revenue Service is accepting applications for the IRPAC through May 21, 2017. IRPAC provides recommendations to the IRS on various tax administration issues. All applicants must complete and submit an application, tax check waiver form, and resume.
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4. Tax Pros Can Earn 18 CPE Credits at the 2017 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums
The IRS encourages tax professionals to register for the 2017 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums for an opportunity to earn up to 18 continuing professional education credits at any of the five forums held throughout the country beginning this July. Tax professionals who register by May 31 qualify for an early-bird rate of $235.
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5. IRS Announces Three New Members for Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities
The Internal Revenue Service announced the appointment of three new members to the Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT). The ACT will present its annual report and recommendations to IRS leadership at a public meeting on June 7.
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6. Military Tax Tips
Learn about the special tax benefits that apply to members of the Armed Forces by watching this new YouTube video.
Watch this and other videos on the IRS YouTube Channel.
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7. Technical Guidance
Revenue Ruling 2017-12 provides various prescribed rates for federal income tax purposes including the applicable federal interest rates, the adjusted applicable federal interest rates, the adjusted federal long-term rate, the adjusted federal long-term tax-exempt rate. These rates are determined as prescribed by Sec. 1274.
Revenue Ruling 2017-12 will be in IRB 2017-23, dated June 5.
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