| IR-99-105 |
Dec. 29, 1999 |
| IRS Simplifies Offer-In-Compromise Program, Provides Fixed Monthly Payment Option |
| In another step to improve the way the collection process works while respecting taxpayer rights, the Internal Revenue Service announced Wednesday a new, simplified method of settling taxpayer debts under the Offer-in-Compromise program. |
| IR-99-104 |
Dec. 22, 1999 |
| IRS Provides Penalty Relief for Y2K-Related Problems |
| The Internal Revenue Service has taken steps to provide penalty and interest relief to taxpayers and businesses who might be unable to comply with the tax laws because of year 2000 problems beyond their control. |
| IR-99-103 |
Dec. 22, 1999 |
| IRS Rounds Out Top Management Team |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced the selections of Joseph Kehoe as Commissioner of the Small Business and Self-Employed Division and John M. Dalrymple as Commissioner of the Wage and Investment Division. |
| IR-99-101 |
Dec. 12, 1999 |
| IRS Announces New Operating Division |
| This week the Internal Revenue Service reached a major milestone in its restructuring of the agency with the official establishment of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) Division on December 5. |
| IR-99-100 |
Dec. 8, 1999 |
| IRS Web Site Helps Check Eligibility for Spousal Tax Relief |
| The Internal Revenue Service s Web site now has interactive prompts to help taxpayers see if they might qualify for relief from a joint tax liability with their current or former spouse. By answering a short series of yes/no questions, a user finds out if he or she can use either innocent spouse or injured spouse relief provisions. |
| IR-99-99 |
Dec. 7, 1999 |
| IRS Charts New Course at Modernization Conference, Summers, Rossotti Among Speakers Jan. 1 -14 |
| The Internal Revenue Service will provide the most extensive public look yet into the agency's modernization effort during a special January conference. |
| IR-99-98 |
Dec. 7, 1999 |
| IRS Postcards Open Doors to Paperless Tax Filing |
| The Internal Revenue Service is sending about 11 million postcards to taxpayers this month, inviting them to join the world of paperless tax return filing. The postcards contain e-file customer numbers (ECNs) that the recipients can use as "signatures" on returns they file electronically, eliminating the need to mail paper signature documents. |
| IR-99-97 |
Nov. 30, 1999 |
| Matthews to Head IRS Criminal Investigation |
| The Internal Revenue Service today named Mark E. Matthews as the first Chief of the reorganized Criminal Investigation function IRS's Criminal Investigation function has sole responsibility for investigating criminal violations of the tax code and also investigates money laundering and narcotics-related financial crimes. |
| IR-99-96 |
Nov. 30, 1999 |
| IRS Announces Quarterly Interest Rates |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2000, will remain at eight (8) percent for overpayments (seven (7) percent in the case of a corporation), eight (8) percent for underpayments, and ten (10) percent for large corporate underpayments. The overpayment rate for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000 will remain at five and one-half (55) percent. |
| IR-99-95 |
Nov. 29, 1999 |
| IRS Tests Secure E-Mail System for Tax Account Matters |
| The Internal Revenue Service plans to start testing a system for handling taxpayer account questions through a secure Internet Web system. The test, which starts Wednesday, is the outcome of a proposal made by the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) and will involve tax preparers acting for their clients. |
| IR-99-94 |
Nov. 17, 1999 |
| IRS and Private Sector Enhance Fraud Detection Efforts |
| The Internal Revenue Service is signing agreements with various electronic filing providers in the private sector to test improved methods of detecting fraudulent tax returns. Preparers will use enhanced tax software to facilitate their screening process and report potentially abusive returns to the IRS. |
| IR-99-93 |
Nov. 15, 1999 |
| IRS Names Unit Heads for Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division |
| Evelyn Petschek, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service's new Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) Division, today announced the directors for the division's Employee Plans, Exempt Organizations and Government Entities functions. |
| IR-99-92 |
Nov. 9, 1999 |
| IRS, Labor Dept. Extend Filing Time for Annual Pension Plan Reports Due to Hurricanes Floyd and Irene |
| The Internal Revenue Service and the US Department of Labor’s Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration have granted extensions to pension and other employee benefit plans (Form 5500 filers) in the federal disaster areas due to Hurricane Floyd and Hurricane Irene. Plan administrators will have until November 30, 1999, to file required returns/reports. |
| IR-99-91 |
Nov. 9, 1999 |
| IRS Has Undelivered Refunds for Thousands of Taxpayers |
| As the holidays approach, thousands of taxpayers may soon be extra thankful. The Internal Revenue Service is trying to locate them and send them their 1998 federal tax refunds. |
| IR-99-90 |
Nov. 8, 1999 |
| New Members Selected for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee |
| The Internal Revenue Service announced Monday the selection of five new members for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC). The group serves as a public forum for discussion of Electronic Tax Administration issues, supporting the goal of encouraging taxpayers to transact and communicate electronically with the IRS. |
| IR-99-89 |
Nov. 8, 1999 |
| IRS Will Give Penalty Relief for Y2K-Related Glitches |
| The Internal Revenue Service announced that it expects to provide guidance next month on penalty relief for taxpayers who took necessary steps to prepare for the date change to the year 2000 (Y2K), but were unable to comply with the tax laws due to Y2K problems beyond their control. |
| IR-99-88 |
Nov. 5, 1999 |
| IRS Advisory Council to Meet November 10 |
| The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) will hold its semi-annual public meeting on Wednesday, November 10, at the IRS Headquarters The Council provides a public forum for raising, studying and making recommendations on tax administration issues, as well as on IRS restructuring and modernization. |
| IR-99-87 |
Nov. 3, 1999 |
| IRS Expands Credit Card Payments for Next Year |
| After a successful test of accepting credit card payments this year, the Internal Revenue Service will expand their availability to individuals seeking automatic extensions of time to file returns and those making estimated tax payments for tax year 2000. There will also be new opportunities to file and pay taxes electronically. |
| IR-99-86 |
Nov. 2, 1999 |
| IRS Issues Summer Statistics of Income Bulletin |
| Pre-tax profits reported on the 46 million corporation income tax returns for Tax Year 1996 reached $8065 billion, according to statistics released by the Internal Revenue Service. This was 13 percent more than for 1995 Net income without regard to losses increased to $9868 billion, while net losses increased to $1803 billion. Profits of the 8,200 returns of corporations with total assets of $250 million or more accounted for 80 percent of the total Income tax before credits grew 13 percent to $2237 billion, while tax after credits, the amount payable to the US Government, grew nine percent to $1706 billion. These data are included in the Summer 1999 issue of the quarterly Statistics of Income Bulletin, just published. |
| IR-99-85 |
Nov. 1, 1999 |
| Photos of Missing Children to Appear in IRS Tax Products |
| The Internal Revenue Service’s ability to reach tens of millions of American households each year is being put to an unprecedented use—the search for missing children. |
| IR-99-84 |
Oct. 29, 1999 |
| IRS Simplifies Tip Reporting Agreement to Ease Burdens on Restaurant Industry, Improve Tax Compliance |
| The Internal Revenue Service has taken steps to reduce administrative burdens on the restaurant industry by changing the Tip Reporting Alternative Commitment (TRAC) agreement. |
| IR-99-83 |
Oct. 26, 1999 |
| IRS Declares Nov. 6 as National Problem Solving Day -- Agency to Help Taxpayers from Coast to Coast |
| The Internal Revenue Service will reach out across the nation Nov 6 in a special Saturday effort to help taxpayers fix problems. |
| IR-99-82 |
Oct. 21, 1999 |
| Grant Applications Ready for Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics, IRS Looks to Expand Legal-Assistance Program |
| In a step to expand legal assistance for taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday that up to $6 million in grants will be available to help low-income taxpayer clinics. |
| IR-99-81 |
Oct. 20, 1999 |
| Berthod Named Deputy Commissioner for IRS Tax Exempt & Government Entities Division |
| Commissioner of Internal Revenue Charles O Rossotti has named Darlene Berthod deputy commissioner of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) Division. |
| IR-99-80 |
Oct. 19, 1999 |
| Pension Plan Limitations for Tax Year 2000 |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced cost-of-living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations for pension plans and other items for Tax Year 2000. |
| IR-99-79 |
Oct. 19, 1999 |
| IRS Requests Comments on Cash Balance Plans |
| The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department invite comments from employees, employers and their representatives on issues relating to retirement plans known as cash balance plans. The agencies will use the comments in their analysis of tax law issues raised by these plans. |
| IR-99-78 |
Oct. 14, 1999 |
| IRS Extends Time for Roth IRA Changes |
| The Internal Revenue Service is giving taxpayers until the end of the year to change their Roth IRA contributions or conversions for 1998 back to traditional IRAs. This will be especially important for those who converted a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA but later found that they were not eligible to do so. |
| IR-99-77 |
Oct. 8, 1999 |
| IRS Unifies Management of Customer Service, Submission Processing Sites Nationwide Washington |
| To improve service to taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service will unify customer service operations at 25 telephone and correspondence sites across the nation into one management structure. The new organization B covering customer service operations at existing IRS Service Center and District sites nationwide B will create a clearer line of management authority designed to improve taxpayer service. The change is effective immediately. |
| IR-99-76 |
Oct. 4, 1999 |
| New Offer In Compromise Applications Being Accepted for Taxpayers Facing Economic Hardships |
| The Internal Revenue Service started accepting applications Monday for a new type of Offer in Compromise plan designed to help some taxpayers facing severe or unusual economic hardships. For the first time, the IRS will be able to consider economic hardship factors in cases where taxpayers try to settle unpaid tax debts through the Offer in Compromise program and where settlement would promote effective tax administration. |
| IR-99-75 |
Sept. 29, 1999 |
| IRS Grants Additional Tax Relief to Hurricane Victims (amended) |
| The Internal Revenue Service, which earlier this month gave additional time for filing and paying taxes to those affected by Hurricane Floyd, today granted further relief to the storm’s victims Affected taxpayers will generally have until October 15, 1999, to file returns or make payments originally due on or after September 14, when evacuations began. |
| IR-99-74 |
Sept. 15, 1999 |
| IRS Grants Tax Relief for those Affected by Hurricane Floyd |
| The Internal Revenue Service is granting some relief to taxpayers who may be unable to meet their federal tax obligations because of Hurricane Floyd. This includes people who evacuated coastal areas in anticipation of the storm. |
| IR-99-73 |
Sept. 7, 1999 |
| Change of Address for IRS Website |
| The Internal Revenue Service's award-winning Web site has a shorter, easier to remember address - wwwirsgov. As a convenience, those who may have bookmarked the previous address (wwwirsustreasgov) will continue to be linked to the site. |
| IR-99-72 |
Aug. 24, 1999 |
| IRS to Issue Alternative Identification Numbers for Tax Preparers |
| A new Internal Revenue Service form will allow paid tax preparers to request an alternative identification number for use on the returns and refund claims they prepare after 1999. |
| IR-99-71 |
Aug. 23, 1999 |
| IRS to Share Disciplinary Information with NTEU |
| The Internal Revenue Service and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) have agreed on procedures for the agency to give the union information about disciplinary actions imposed on employees. The IRS will also make this information available to the public. |
| IR-99-70 |
Aug. 16, 1999 |
| IRS Announces Quarterly Interest Rates |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 1999, will remain at eight (8) percent for overpayments (seven (7) percent in the case of a corporation), eight (8) percent for underpayments, and ten (10) percent for large corporate underpayments. The overpayment rate for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000 will remain at five and one-half (55) percent. |
| IR-99-69 |
Aug. 16, 1999 |
| New Installment Agreement Aid on IRS Web Site |
| The Internal Revenue Service has a new aid for those interested in paying their taxes on an installment plan Its Web site now has an interactive calculator that helps a person figure the monthly payment amount, and then prints out an installment agreement form for the taxpayer to file. |
| IR-99-68 |
July 29, 1999 |
| Prepared Remarks of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Charles O. Rossotti Before the National Press Club |
| Thank you for that kind introduction, and thank you for inviting me back to the National Press Club for a second visit. |
| IR-99-67 |
July 22, 1999 |
| Boswell and Rothwell to Head IRS Agency-Wide Shared Services Function |
| The Internal Revenue Service today named William E Boswell Chief of Agencywide Shared Services and selected Gregory D Rothwell as deputy for the organization. |
| IR-99-66 |
July 22, 1999 |
| IRS to Establish Tax Exempt Advisory Committee |
| In an effort to enhance communications with the public, the Internal Revenue Service announced today that it intends to create a Tax Exempt Advisory Committee (TEAC). IRS is also soliciting nominations of individuals to be considered for selection as TEAC members. |
| IR-99-65 |
July 21, 1999 |
| IRS Names National Director for ETA Account Management |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced the selection of Mark E Pursley to be National Director of the Electronic Tax Administration’s (ETA) newly created Account Management Division. |
| IR-99-64 |
July 19, 1999 |
| IRS to Help Taxpayers Facing Economic Hardships Settle Tax Debts With New Offer in Compromise Plan |
| Some taxpayers facing severe or unusual economic hardships will have a new way of settling their tax debts under an Internal Revenue Service plan announced Monday. |
| IR-99-63 |
July 14, 1999 |
| IRS Encourages Growth of Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics with $1.5 Million in Grants |
| To help expand the availability of legal assistance for taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service has awarded nearly $15 million in Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic grants to 34 groups across the nation. |
| IR-99-62 |
July 14, 1999 |
| Langdon and Nolan to Head IRS Large & Mid-Size Business Division |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced the selection of Larry R Langdon as Commissioner, Large and Mid-Size Business Division and named Deborah M Nolan as Deputy Commissioner for the Division. |
| IR-99-61 |
July 8, 1999 |
| Rossotti to Speak July 29 at National Press Club |
| IRS Commissioner Charles O' Rossotti will mark the one-year anniversary of the landmark legislation reorganizing the nation’s tax agency with a July 29 speech before the National Press Club. |
| IR-99-60 |
June 30, 1999 |
| Money Released for Computer Modernization, IRS Strategy Wins Support |
| Congress on Wednesday approved releasing $351 million as the first installment for modernizing the Internal Revenue Service's massive computer system. The move follows a rigorous review process, which included a new General Accounting Office report praising the IRS's initial effort on computer modernization. |
| IR-99-59 |
June 29, 1999 |
| IRS Issues Spring Statistics of Income Bulletin |
| According to the first statistics covering all of Tax Year 1997, the Internal Revenue Service reports that adjusted gross income (AGI) shown on the nation’s 1225 million individual income tax returns for that year increased 9 percent over 1996 to a record $4,9736 billion. |
| IR-99-58 |
June 28, 1999 |
| Employers May Qualify for Penalty Reduction |
| Some businesses penalized for failing to make timely employment tax deposits during the first quarter of 1999 may be able to lower their penalties because of tax law changes that apply to federal tax deposits due after January 18, 1999. |
| IR-99-57 |
June 16, 1999 |
| IRS Recruits for Two Key Executive Positions |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced that it is recruiting for the newly-created, top executive positions of Division Commissioner, Wage and Investment Operating Division, and Division Commissioner, Small Business and Self-Employed Operating Division. These are four-year appointments with special pay rates, as outlined in the Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. |
| IR-99-56 |
June 14, 1999 |
| IRS Advisory Council to Meet June 30 |
| The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council will meet with top IRS officials on Wednesday, June 30, 1999, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm to provide input into critical issues facing the agency. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held in Room 3313 of the main IRS building. |
| IR-99-55 |
June 10, 1999 |
| Programs to Stop Smoking Now Tax-Deductible |
| The Internal Revenue Service today added another benefit to the value of programs to help people stop smoking: the cost of these programs counts as a medical expense for taxpayers who itemize deductions. |
| IR-99-54 |
June 9, 1999 |
| Watson to Head IRS Customer Service Field Operations |
| The Internal Revenue Service has selected John R (Ron) Watson to lead the executive team responsible for its field customer service programs. The team will manage the workforce, new technology and other resources the IRS is applying to assure that taxpayers receive prompt, courteous, consistent and fair treatment. |
| IR-99-53 |
June 8, 1999 |
| New Disclosure Rules Take Effect for Tax-Exempt Organizations |
| The Internal Revenue Service reminded tax-exempt organizations that, beginning today, they must generally provide requesters with copies of their approved exemption applications and their three most recent annual information returns. Previously, the organizations had to have these documents available. |
| IR-99-52 |
June 2, 1999 |
| Name Change for New IRS Operating Division |
| The Internal Revenue Service has changed the name of one of its new, customer-focused business units to the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Operating Division to emphasize service to state, local, and Indian tribal governments. The IRS had previously announced the division as the Tax Exempt Operating Division. |
| IR-99-51 |
June 2, 1999 |
| IRS Announces Quarterly Interest Rates |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 1999, will remain at eight (8) percent for overpayments (seven (7) percent in the case of a corporation), eight (8) percent for underpayments, and ten (10) percent for large corporate underpayments. The overpayment rate for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000 will remain at five and one-half (55) percent. |
| IR-99-50 |
June 1, 1999 |
| IRS Offers to Settle Tax Issues With Employers |
| The Internal Revenue Service is offering employers a chance to resolve disputed tax issues relating to certain accelerated deductions claimed for accrued employee benefits. Under this settlement initiative, employers generally will be able to deduct half the expenses in the tax year they originally claimed them and the remaining half in the year the benefits were paid or were includible in the employees incomes. |
| IR-99-49 |
May 25, 1999 |
| IRS Acts to Correct Credit Card Payment Errors |
| The Internal Revenue Service has recently learned that US Audiotex, a company that processes credit card payments for federal taxes, mistakenly coded some payments as estimated taxes for 1999, rather than as payments for 1998. Some taxpayers contacted the IRS after receiving bills for the 1998 taxes they had already charged. |
| IR-99-48 |
May 24, 1999 |
| IRS Uses Technology to Improve the Power of Attorney Process |
| The Internal Revenue Service is using technology to make it easier for taxpayers and their designated representatives to receive more timely service. As part of its continuing effort to improve customer service and move to a modernized way of doing business, the IRS is now storing data relating to the Power of Attorney in a universally accessible electronic data base. |
| IR-99-47 |
May 7, 1999 |
| National Problem Solving Day Set for May 15, Special Outreach for the Small Business Community |
| In its continuing effort to help taxpayers understand and meet their tax responsibilities, the Internal Revenue Service, has set Saturday, May 15 as the next National Problem Solving Day At 37 locations across the country, taxpayers will have an opportunity to work directly with IRS experts to solve their long-standing tax problems. |
| IR-99-46 |
May 6, 1999 |
| IRS Moves to Correct EITC Rejections for Dairy Farmers, Business Owners |
| The Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday that it is taking steps to correct instances where the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has been improperly denied to some taxpayers with investment income exceeding $2,300 for tax year 1998. |
| IR-99-45 |
May 5, 1999 |
| IRS and NTEU Reach Important Modernization Milestone |
| The Internal Revenue Service and the National Treasury Employees Union today announced an agreement that will establish guiding principles to further the reorganization efforts of the IRS. |
| IR-99-44 |
April 29, 1999 |
| Electronic Options A Hit With Taxpayers |
| This tax season, the Internal Revenue Service offered a full range of electronic options, from filing and signing the returns to getting refunds or making payments. And taxpayers have done so in record numbers. |
| IR-99-43 |
April 26, 1999 |
| Tax Relief for Combat Zone Troops |
| The President’s April 13 declaration of a combat zone in th Yugoslavia, Albania and adjacent waters gave American military personnel in that area extra time to file and pay their taxes and made all or most of their combat pay free from income tax. Subsequent legislation extended this extra time for filing and paying taxes to personnel supporting Operation Allied Force who are away from their permanent duty stations but are not within the designated combat zone. |
| IR-99-42 |
April 20, 1999 |
| Petschek to Head IRS Tax Exempt Operating Division |
| Commissioner of Internal Revenue Charles O Rossotti today named Evelyn Petschek to the top spot of one of the IRS’s four new operating units. As Commissioner of the Tax Exempt Operating Division, Petschek will oversee the administration of complex provisions of law that affect more than three million customers. |
| IR-99-41 |
April 14, 1999 |
| Tax Tips for Last-Minute Filers |
| With Thursday’s tax filing deadline at hand, the Internal Revenue Service offered some tips for those still working on their tax forms. |
| IR-99-40 |
April 14, 1999 |
| National Taxpayer Advocate’s Office Reorganizes to Provide More Help |
| In the first stage of the Internal Revenue Service's reorganization, the National Taxpayer Advocate’s office will be realigned and strengthened to provide taxpayers a greater voice inside the IRS. |
| IR-99-39 |
April 13, 1999 |
| IRS Improves Complaint Analysis Process |
| Commissioner of Internal Revenue Charles O Rossotti announced today that he has established the Commissioner’s Complaint Processing Analysis Group |
| IR-99-38 |
April 9, 1999 |
| Grant Applications Available for Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics |
| In a move to expand the availability of legal assistance for taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service announced Friday that low- income taxpayer clinics can apply for grants worth up to $100,000. |
| IR-99-37 |
April 8, 1999 |
| IRS, SBA Join Forces to Help Small Businesses |
| The Internal Revenue Service and Small Business Administration have teamed up on several new programs designed to help small businesses handle tax issues. |
| IR-99-36 |
April 7, 1999 |
| New Tax Payment Options & Easier Installment Agreements |
| Taxpayers who face a different type of “pay” day on April 15 have some new electronic options this year, and those seeking installment plans will benefit from the Internal Revenue Service’s streamlined approval process. |
| IR-99-35 |
April 7, 1999 |
| Taxpayers May Still Correct Improper Roth IRA Conversions |
| Some tax returns this year have reported the conversion of a traditional individual retirement arrangement (IRA) into a Roth IRA despite the taxpayer’s income being above the $100,000 limit for making such conversions. The Internal Revenue Service says that taxpayers who do not qualify for Roth IRA conversions have until the filing deadline to correct their mistake and avoid possible penalties. |
| IR-99-34 |
April 5, 1999 |
| Filing Season Heralds More Changes at IRS |
| The Internal Revenue Service has taken a number of important steps during this year’s filing season to improve taxpayer service, but more work remains in the years ahead to finish the agency’s transformation into a customer-oriented organization, IRS Commissioner Charles O Rossotti said Monday. |
| IR-99-33 |
March 31, 1999 |
| Tax Deadline Nears -- Extensions Easily Available |
| Although the Internal Revenue Service has already received half the 126 million tax returns expected this year, it said that those who need more time can easily extend the upcoming filing deadline -- they don’t even need an excuse. |
| IR-99-32 |
March 30, 1999 |
| IRS Issues Winter Statistics of Income Bulletin |
| The Internal Revenue Service estimates that the number of tax returns to be filed this year will reach 2282 million, increasing to 2452 million six years from now About 23 percent of the 1261 million individual income tax returns expected in 1999 should be filed electronically, increasing to 33 percent of the 1352 million expected in 2005. These data are published in the Winter 1998-1999 issue of the quarterly Statistics of Income Bulletin, just released. |
| IR-99-31 |
March 29, 1999 |
| IRS and Montana Department of Revenue Join Forces to Streamline Employment Tax Filing |
| IRS Commissioner Charles O. Rossotti and Montana Governor Marc Racicot today announced the successful testing of a joint pilot project under the Simplified Tax and Wage Reporting System (STAWRS). |
| IR-99-30 |
March 29, 1999 |
| IRS Breaks Down Barriers for New Offer in Compromise Program, Expands Access for Taxpayers |
| The Internal Revenue Service is ushering in a new era for struggling taxpayers unable to pay their tax bills by expanding the Offer in Compromise program. |
| IR-99-29 |
March 25, 1999 |
| IRS Web Site Sets Record 500 Million Hits |
| Taxpayers are using the Internal Revenue Service Web site more than ever this year, surpassing the number of Internet hits for all of last year’s filing season. |
| IR-99-28 |
March 1, 1999 |
| IRS Cuts Number of Third-Party Notices to Taxpayers |
| The Internal Revenue Service announced a major policy change Tuesday that will sharply reduce the need for sending out third-party contact letters to taxpayers. |
| IR-99-27 |
March 22, 1999 |
| Small Businesses Given a Choice for Paying Taxes |
| The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have announced that proposed regulations issued today would raise the threshold requiring the use of the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) to $200,000 beginning January 1, 2000. This means that 91 per cent of all businesses would have a choice of how to pay their taxes. |
| IR-99-26 |
March 18, 1999 |
| Time Running Short to Get Tax Forms |
| Taxpayers who need tax forms or publications should act soon to request them, the Internal Revenue Service advised today -- the April 15 filing deadline is only about four weeks away. The IRS has forms available by computer, fax, or mail, as well as at its local offices. |
| IR-99-25 |
March 15, 1999 |
| IRS Announces Quarterly Interest Rates |
| The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 1999, will be eight (8) percent for overpayments (seven (7) percent in the case of a corporation), eight (8) percent for underpayments, and ten (10) percent for large corporate underpayments. The overpayment rate for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000 will be five and one-half (5.5) percent. |
| IR-99-24 |
March 15, 1999 |
| IRS Receives a Golden Heart Award |
| The Internal Revenue Service has received a 1999 Golden Heart Award from the Association for Children for Enforcement of Support (ACES) ACES is a non-profit, child support advocacy organization. |
| IR-99-23 |
March 11, 1999 |
| Taxpayers Get Double-Duty from E-Filing |
| More than 6 million taxpayers have found that if filing one tax return electronically is good, e-filing two is better -- especially when they can send both together According to the Internal Revenue Service, such federal/state e-filings have increased by 335 percent over this time last year. |
| IR-99-22 |
March 8, 1999 |
| IRS Helps With Child Tax Credit Claims |
| Some taxpayers are getting a larger refund than they expected from the Internal Revenue Service. The extra money is for the amount of the child tax credit, which they did not enter on the return, but for which the IRS found them to be eligible. |
| IR-99-21 |
March 3, 1999 |
| IRS Warns of Social Security Refund Hoax |
| The Internal Revenue Service warned taxpayers not to fall victim to a scam offering them refunds of the Social Security taxes they have paid during their lifetimes. The victim pays a "paperwork" fee of $100, plus a percentage of any refund received, to file a refund claim with the IRS. |
| IR-99-20 |
March 3, 1999 |
| Home Computer Filings Top Last Year's Total |
| Taxpayers have already filed more tax returns from their home computers this year than they did during all of 1998, according to the Internal Revenue Service Both e-filing and the average tax refund continue their upward trends. |
| IR-99-19 |
March 2, 1999 |
| IRS Moves to Clarify Third-Party Notices to Reflect New Taxpayer Rights |
| In a move to emphasize taxpayer rights, the Internal Revenue Service will revise a letter for taxpayers to more clearly spell out the circumstances surrounding third-party contacts about tax liability. |
| IR-99-18 |
Feb. 25, 1999 |
| E-Filing & Tax Refunds Continue Upwards Trends |
| The latest tax season statistics from the Internal Revenue Service show a continuation of upward trends in electronic returns and average refund amounts. The 162 million electronic returns represent a 12 percent increase over this time last year The average refund -- $1784 -- is 15 percent higher. |
| IR-99-17 |
Feb. 18, 1999 |
| Early Returns: E-Filing & Tax Refunds Both Up |
| The Internal Revenue Service notes two trends in the early filing season numbers: more electronic returns and bigger refunds. The 133 million electronic returns represent an 11 percent increase over this time last year The average refund -- $1823 -- is 14 percent higher. |
| IR-99-16 |
Feb. 10, 1999 |
| Private Sector Partners Help Expand E-File Options |
| The Internal Revenue Service has announced new partnerships with private sector companies to increase the opportunities for taxpayers to use electronic filing services this year. These partnerships broaden the electronic services accessible through the IRS Web site this year. |
| IR-99-15 |
Feb. 5, 1999 |
| Taxpayers Can Use W-2 Forms With Box 15 Error |
| The Internal Revenue Service announced today that some employees may have received a Form W-2 with an incorrect marking in Box 15. This contains checkboxes to indicate a statutory employee, a deceased person, pension plan coverage, a legal representative, or deferred compensation. Such taxpayers may use this incorrect W-2 when filing their tax returns. They will not have to correct the form themselves or get corrected forms from their employers. |
| IR-99-14 |
Jan. 1, 1999 |
| IRS Announces Its New Headquarters Locations |
| The Internal Revenue Service today reached another milestone in its major restructuring of the agency by announcing the headquarters locations for its four new operating divisions. |
| IR-99-13 |
Jan. 21, 1999 |
| IRS Helps 3,600 Taxpayers at Saturday Service |
| Ice and snow in the Northeast and wet weather in the Northwest did not keep taxpayers from turning out in impressive numbers for the January 16 kick-off of the Internal Revenue Service Saturday walk-in hours More than 3,600 taxpayers were assisted nationwide. |
| IR-99-12 |
Jan. 20, 1999 |
| New Taxpayer Rights Kick In This Week |
| Starting this week, taxpayers have a new set of rights when the Internal Revenue Service seeks to collect past-due taxes. |
| IR-99-11 |
Jan. 15, 1999 |
| Income Taxes Payable by Credit Card |
| A new payment option for federal income taxes starts today -- put the balance due on a credit card. The Internal Revenue Service is piloting two different ways for taxpayers to charge their taxes owed -- by phone and by computer. Once they have determined the amount owed, taxpayers may make a toll-free call to 1-888-2PAY-TAX and arrange payment of their 1998 taxes with a MasterCard, Discover, or American Express card. |
| IR-99-10 |
Jan. 14, 1999 |
| Electronic Tax Filing Starts Today |
| The Internal Revenue Service announced that the electronic filing season for 1998 income tax returns started today TeleFile, the file-by-phone system, opened its lines this morning Filing by computer starts tomorrow. |
| IR-99-09 |
Jan. 13, 1999 |
| IRS to Offer Saturday Walk-In Service at Nearly 250 Locations |
| Delivering on its promise to supply even more reliable and helpful taxpayer assistance, the Internal Revenue Service will provide Saturday walk-in service during the 1999 filing season at nearly 250 locations nationwide Assistance with tax law questions and tax return preparation is free. |
| IR-99-08 |
Jan. 12, 1999 |
| Taxpayer Advocate Releases Annual Report |
| The IRS Problem Resolution Program (PRP) resolved more than 270,000 requests for taxpayer assistance in fiscal 1998, according to the National Taxpayer Advocate's Annual Report to Congress Efforts to address taxpayers' problems and make the nation's tax system more responsive and less burdensome will intensify in 1999, said National Taxpayer Advocate Val Oveson. |
| IR-99-07 |
Jan. 12, 1999 |
| IRS Issues Fall Statistics of Income Bulletin |
| Final data for 1996 show that adjusted gross income (AGI) reported on the nation's 1204 million individual income tax returns for that year reached $45 trillion. This was 83 percent more than for 1995. |
| IR-99-06 |
Jan. 12, 1999 |
| IRS Has New Form and Publication for Innocent Spouse Relief |
| The Internal Revenue Service has new versions of its form and publication for innocent spouse relief, each revised to incorporate the changes made by last summer's IRS Restructuring and Reform Act. |
| FS-99-06 |
Feb. 1, 1999 |
| FY 2000 IRS Budget Request |
| The FY 2000 resource request of $8105 billion supports the mandates contained in the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA98), which includes the Concept for Modernizing the IRS proposed by Commissioner Charles O Rossotti. This Modernization Concept calls for serving taxpayers better through service to each taxpayer, service to all taxpayers, and productivity through a quality work environment. The concept will shift the focus of the IRS from its own internal operations to service from the taxpayer’s perspective by establishing four operating divisions based on clearly identifiable customer segments. |
| IR-99-05 |
Jan. 11, 1999 |
| IRS to Make Advance Pricing Agreements Public |
| The Internal Revenue Service plans to make public copies of Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs), but only after removing certain details such as the taxpayer's identity, trade secrets, and confidential commercial or financial information. In the case of bilateral and multilateral APAs, information protected by the non-disclosure provisions of the relevant tax treaty would also be removed. |
| FS-99-05 |
Jan. 1, 1999 |
| Locations for New IRS Operating Division HQs |
| The Internal Revenue Service has announced the locations of the headquarters for its four proposed operating divisions: |
| IR-99-04 |
Jan. 11, 1999 |
| More Small Businesses Will Pay a Smaller Fee for Tax Rulings |
| Many more small businesses will now pay less when they request a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS announced today that beginning January 11, 1999, businesses with less than $1 million in gross income will qualify for a special $500 user fee. |
| FS-99-04 |
Jan. 1, 1999 |
| 1999 Brings More Taxpayer Rights |
| The 1999 filing season brings dramatic expansions in the rights of taxpayers. From new rules protecting innocent spouses to greater power for the National Taxpayer Advocate, people will find an array of new options available to assist them. |
| IR-99-03 |
Jan. 11, 1999 |
| IRS Pursues Legal Help for Low-Income Taxpayers |
| The Internal Revenue Service is moving forward with plans to expand the availability of legal assistance to low-income taxpayers across the nation. |
| FS-99-03 |
Jan. 1, 1999 |
| E-File -- A Proven Alternative |
| Filing a federal tax return electronically has never been simpler or more convenient. Twenty-five million taxpayers took advantage of IRS's e-file options last year. They learned that filing through an authorized practitioner, over the telephone or on-line is fast, safe and virtually error-proof. |
| IR-99-02 |
Jan. 11, 1999 |
| IRS Creates New Web Page for Special Alerts to Taxpayers |
| The Internal Revenue Service today unveiled a new page on its Web site to alert taxpayers about problems that occur during the tax filing season. The new page, called Special Taxpayer Alerts, will describe the problem, its scope the number of people likely to be affected, where they're located, etc - what the IRS is doing to fix the problem, and what, if anything the taxpayer needs to do about it in the meantime. |
| FS-99-02 |
Jan. 1, 1999 |
| Free Tax Assistance |
| Fast and reliable assistance for the 1999 tax filing season is as close as your personal computer, your telephone or your fax machine. A user-friendly web site and toll-free help lines will make it easier than ever to access the 5,000-plus tax products and services offered by the Internal Revenue Service. For those taxpayers with Internet access, the IRS home page has forms, publications and lots of helpful information. Beginning in January, telephone assistance will be available 24 hours a day/seven days a week If you prefer to drop by an IRS office, Saturday hours have been expanded at 250 sites. |
| IR-99-01 |
Jan. 4, 1999 |
| Taxpayer Help Expanded for 1999 Filing Season |
| From new 24-hour telephone service to expanded electronic services, taxpayers can count on more help from the Internal Revenue. Service during this year's tax filing season, Internal Revenue Commissioner Charles Rossotti said Monday. |
| FS-99-01 |
Jan. 1, 1999 |
| Tax Time 1999 |
| The Internal Revenue Service will send about 59 million income tax packages this year. The mailout costs about $97 million for printing and $109 million for postage, for an average cost of just under 35 cents per package. Most people will get their tax packages in early January The IRS expects to receive around 126 million tax returns in 1999, with continued growth in filing by telephone and by computer. |
