IRS Launches a New Program
for Business Taxpayers

WASHINGTON - On January 12, the Internal Revenue Service launched a new program for new business taxpayers designed to boost electronic payment of taxes. This development offers some taxpayers new, quicker access to an electronic payment system.

This initiative will be available using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), a service offered free by two bureaus of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS and the Financial Management Service (FMS). In fiscal year 2003, Treasury collected more than $1.5 trillion in electronic tax payments through EFTPS, and the launch of this new initiative will help increase growth in those numbers in tax year 2004. EFTPS enables taxpayers and tax professionals to make federal tax payments electronically online, by phone, or with batch provider software for professionals. EFTPS Express Enrollment for New Businesses will affect all businesses receiving a new Employer Identification Number (EIN). Business taxpayers with a federal tax obligation will be automatically pre-enrolled in EFTPS to make all their Federal Tax Deposits.

In addition to receiving their EIN, taxpayers will also receive a separate mailing containing an EFTPS Personal Identification Number (PIN) and instructions for activating their enrollment. New business taxpayers will activate their enrollment by calling an 800-number, entering their banking information and completing an authorization for EFTPS to transfer funds from their account to Treasury´s account for tax payments per their instructions.

"There are approximately 250,000 new EINs issued every year. With EFTPS Express Enrollment, we are making it even easier for business taxpayers to make their business payments electronically," said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson.

“Paying taxes using EFTPS means 19 times greater accuracy,” said Dick Gregg, FMS Commissioner. “Greater accuracy means fewer penalties. I encourage individuals and businesses to enroll today.”

Taxpayers can enroll in EFTPS by visiting EFTPS-OnLine at www.eftps.gov, or by calling EFTPS Customer Service at 1-800-555-4477 or 1-800-945-8400 to receive an enrollment form by mail.

EFTPS was introduced in 1996 and since that time more than 4.4 million taxpayers have enrolled in the system to make their federal tax payments electronically. In fiscal year 2003, EFTPS processed more that 68.5 million transactions totaling more than $1.5 trillion. Taxpayers can make payments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from home or office; schedule payments up to 120 days in advance (for businesses) or 365 days in advance (for individuals); review the last 16 months of tax payment history online or by calling Customer Service. In addition, taxpayers receive an immediate acknowledgement number for every EFTPS transaction for easy record keeping and as proof of the transaction. EFTPS is ideal for all business taxpayers and for individual taxpayers that make Form 1040 ES quarterly estimated payments.

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