IRS Advises Tax Professionals to Apply Soon for E-Filing

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service advises tax professionals who would like to e-file tax returns for their clients during 2003 to file their applications soon.

The form must be submitted by those new to the e-file program and by those who need to update prior applications.

“Tax professionals know that their clients want e-file because it´s fast, error free, and provides proof that the IRS has received it.” said Terry Lutes, Director, Electronic Tax Administration. “This filing season, more than 99 percent of the forms and schedules related to Form 1040 can be filed electronically.”

Tax professionals should submit Form 8633, “Application to Participate in the IRS e-file Program,” by December 2 if they want to provide e-file services on the first day of the e-filing season – January 10. Although the IRS will accept applications until May 31, the sooner tax professionals apply, the sooner they can offer e-file to their customers.

Form 8633 is available from the IRS web site at www.irs.gov.

The e-file program has grown exponentially since it began as a pilot in 1986 when fewer than 25,000 returns were filed electronically. This year, almost 47 million tax returns were filed electronically – an increase of more than 16 percent over last year.

Of that 47 million, more than 33 million were filed through tax professionals.

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