July 15, 2022
Live webinar: Accessing IRS online services
Understanding the identity verification process
The IRS is presenting a live webinar offering 1 continuing education credit, discussing:
- Improved access to IRS online services
- What this means for e-Services users
- IRS’s new identity verification and authentication platform
- Registration overview
- Key takeaways
- Plus, a live Q&A
When: Tuesday, July 19, 2022 @ 2 p.m. Eastern
How to register
IRS warns taxpayers of Dirty dozen tax scams for 2022
Compiled annually, the Dirty dozen lists a variety of common scams that taxpayers can encounter anytime. The IRS warns taxpayers, tax professionals and financial institutions to beware of these scams. This year’s Dirty dozen list is divided into five groups.
Potentially abusive arrangements
The 2022 Dirty dozen begins with four abusive transactions that are wrongfully promoted and will likely attract additional IRS compliance efforts in the future.
- charitable remainder annuity trusts,
- Maltese individual retirement arrangements,
- foreign captive insurance, and
- monetized installment sales.
This IRS reminds taxpayers that criminals still use the COVID-19 pandemic to steal people's money and identity with phishing emails, social media posts, phone calls, and text messages. Be on the lookout for
- Economic Impact Payment and tax refund scams,
- unemployment fraud leading to inaccurate taxpayer 1099-Gs,
- fake employment offers on social media, and
- fake charities that steal taxpayers’ money.
Offer in compromise or OIC "mills," make outlandish claims, usually in local advertising, about how they can settle a person's tax debt for pennies on the dollar. Often, the reality is that taxpayers pay the OIC mill a fee to get the same deal they could have gotten on their own by working directly with the IRS.
Every form of suspicious communication is designed to trick, surprise, or scare someone into responding before thinking. Criminals use a variety of communications to trick victims into providing personal information that can be used to file false tax returns and tap into financial accounts. lure potential victims. You should lookout for suspicious communications via email, social media, telephone and text messages.
Spear phishing scams target individuals or groups. Criminals try to steal client data and tax preparers' identities to file fraudulent tax returns for refunds. Spear phishing can be tailored to attack any type of business or organization, so everyone needs to be skeptical of emails requesting financial or personal information.
A recent spear phishing email used the IRS logo and a variety of subject lines such as "Action Required: Your account has now been put on hold” to steal tax professionals’ software preparation credentials.
June 7, 2021
Live TE/GE webinars in June
The IRS Tax Exempt & Government Entities would like to invite you to watch two live webinars we have scheduled this month.
1. Applying for exemption
When: June 23, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET
Learn about:
- Steps to take before applying to the IRS for tax-exempt status
- Types of tax-exempt status available and forms used to request them
- How to apply for tax-exempt status and tips to shorten the application process
Register now for this free webinar
2. Reporting election workers earnings
When: June 24, 2021, at 1 p.m. ET
Learn about:
- Workers who should be treated as election workers
- Taxes that should be withheld from election worker wages
- Amounts to include in earnings
Register now for this free webinar
Questions: Email questions to [email protected] with “Pre-submitted questions for Election Worker webinar (June 24)” in the subject line. We’ll include the answer in the presentation or separately as time permits.
IRS Virtual Nationwide Tax Forum
The 2021 Virtual Nationwide Tax Forum will consist of 30 live-streamed webinars between July 20 and August 19, 2021. by June 15 at 5 p.m. ET to get the $240 early bird rate before the price increases to $289.
It’s a great way to earn up to 28 hours of CE credits while getting the latest information on tax law, cybersecurity and more. And you can visit the IRS booths in the Virtual Exhibit Hall, including the TE/GE booth, where you can find other information and chat with the IRS.
TE/GE is presenting two topics at this year’s virtual Tax Forum:
- Charities & tax-exempt organizations update: Learn about recent law and guidance changes and how those changes may affect your charity. Also, learn about the current electronic filing requirements for returns filed by charities and more.
- Retirement plans - IRS Compliance Initiatives: Learn about the latest IRS compliance initiatives for retirement plans and what to do if your client receives a letter from the IRS about their plan. Use our audit experience to identify and avoid common mistakes in plans.
Information sessions on IRS hiring
Did you know the IRS is hiring? We’re hosting virtual information sessions where you can learn more about working for the IRS.
Hear from employees currently working in these positions and learn about the day-to-day work we do at the IRS. A representative from HR will also discuss the application process and some of the requirements for the positions.
Participate in the following IRS virtual information sessions for current and future announcements for Tax Law Specialist positions:
June 10, 3 - 4:30 p.m. ET
Join ZoomGov meeting
- Meeting ID: 161 480 2207
- Passcode: YmB9=pX#
For audio only:
- 669-254-5252 U.S. (West Coast)
- 646-828-7666 U.S. (East Coast)
June 17, 4-5:30 p.m. ET
Join ZoomGov meeting
- Meeting ID: 161 871 6566
- Passcode: sfZw2f@W
For audio only:
- 669-254-5252 U.S. (West Coast)
- 646-828-7666 U.S. (East Coast)
April 5, 2021
TE/GE has updated its Compliance program and priorities webpage. This page provides information about initiatives under each of our compliance program’s six components that work together to promote compliance by tax-exempt and government entities:
- Compliance Strategies
- Data-Driven Approaches
- Referrals, Claims and Other Casework
- Compliance Contacts
- Determinations
- Voluntary Compliance and Other Technical Programs
We’ve updated this webpage to announce eight new initiatives:
- Compliance strategies
- Employee Plans: Small Exempt Organizations that Sponsor Retirement Plans
- Employee Plans: One-Participant 401(k) Plans
- Employee Plans: Worker Classification
- Exempt Organizations: Officers Treating EO as Schedule C Business
- Exempt Organizations: Form 990-N ob体育rs/Gross Receipts Model
- Tax Exempt Bonds: Student Loan Bonds Market Segment
- Tax Exempt Bonds: Form 8038-G Yield Restriction
- Compliance contacts
- Employee Plans: Plan Liabilities and Unrelated Business Income
January 5, 2021
TE/GE has updated its Compliance program and priorities webpage. This page provides information about initiatives under each of our compliance program’s six components that work together to promote compliance by tax-exempt and government entities:
- Compliance Strategies
- Data-Driven Approaches
- Referrals, Claims and Other Casework
- Compliance Contacts
- Determinations
- Voluntary Compliance and Other Technical Programs
We’ll update this page at the beginning of each fiscal year quarter with information about new initiatives. Visit the page today to learn more about each of these six components and the initiatives supporting each component, including our new initiatives under:
- Compliance Strategies
- TE/GE: Worker Classification
- Employee Plans: Required Minimum Distributions in Large Defined Benefit Plans
- Employee Plans: Earned Income for Self-Employed Plans
- Compliance Contacts
- Employee Plans: Inflated assets
- Employee Plans: Partial Termination/Partial Vesting
- Exempt Organizations: IRC 509(a)(3) Organizations Misfiling Form 990-N
December 11, 2020
Special tax deduction for cash donations to charities in 2020
In the latest post on A Closer Look, Tax Exempt and Government Entities Commissioner Edward Killen reminds taxpayers there’s a special deduction for cash donations of up to $300 to a qualified charity in 2020. This $300 deduction is designed for taxpayers who take the standard deduction and aren’t normally able to deduct their donations.
Before making a donation, use the Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) tool on IRS.gov/teos to make sure the charitable organization is eligible for tax-deductible donations.
The post also includes several other important reminders for taxpayers and charities, along with information and links to other temporary provisions of the relief provided in the CARES Act.
IRS accepting digital signatures and emailed documents
The IRS issued a memorandum PDF that extends (through June 30, 2021) IRS employees’ ability to accept:
- Images of signatures (scanned or photographed) and digital signatures on documents related to the determination or collection of tax liability.
- Documents via email and to transmit documents to taxpayers using some secured messaging systems.
National Tax Security Awareness Week 2020
The IRS, state tax agencies, and the nation's tax industry recently used the National Tax Security Awareness Week to urge increased security measures as fraudsters attempt to exploit COVID-19 concerns.
- Protect personal and financial information online
- Use multi-factor authentication
- Get an Identity Protection PIN
- Businesses urged to tighten security
- Tax professionals alerted to potential telework scams
November 8, 2019
401(k) contribution limit increases to $19,500 for 2020; catch-up limit rises to $6,500
The Internal Revenue Service announced cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2019. See our chart for all the dollar limitations for 2020.
IRS provides tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2020
Tax year 2020 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes.
April 1, 2019
IRS revises EIN application process; seeks to enhance security (IR-2019-58)
As part of its ongoing security review, the IRS announced starting May 13, 2019, only individuals with tax identification numbers may request an Employer Identification Number (EIN) as the “responsible party” on the application.
November 2, 2018
IRSAC expands to cover more areas of the IRS; IRPAC and ACT to join centralized advisory committee in 2019
The IRS announced that the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Committee’s (IRSAC) role will expand in 2019 to have a wider portfolio and will incorporate the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC) and the Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt and Government Entities (ACT). Although ACT will no longer exist, the IRS emphasizes that TE/GE issues will remain a priority area in the expanded IRSAC.
401(k) contribution limit increases to $19,000 for 2019; IRA limit increases to $6,000
The Internal Revenue Service announced cost of living adjustments affecting dollar limitations for pension plans and other retirement-related items for tax year 2019.
October 25, 2018
The IRS has launched an easy-to-use webpage, IRS.gov/taxreform, with information about how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affects your taxes, with a special section focused on tax exempt entities.
The tax reform page features three areas designed specifically for:
- Individuals – For example, standard deduction increase, child tax credit, withholding. Use the Tax Withholding Estimator to make sure you’re withholding enough tax from your paycheck.
- Businesses – For example, depreciation, expenses and qualified business income deductions.
- Tax-exempt entities – For example, tax reform affecting retirement plans, tax-exempt organizations and governments.
Under the Tax-Exempt Entities tab, you’ll find highlights of how tax reform affects retirement plans, tax-exempt organizations and tax-advantaged bonds.
Retirement plans
- Rollovers of retirement plan loan offsets – If your plan offsets an outstanding loan balance when you leave employment, you have until the due date of your individual tax return, plus extensions, to rollover those amounts to another plan or IRA.
- Roth recharacterizations – You can no longer recharacterize amounts rolled over to a Roth IRA from other retirement plans, such as 401(k) or 403(b) plans, or a conversion from a traditional IRA, SEP or SIMPLE to a Roth IRA.
Tax-exempt organizations
- Tax reform imposes a 1.4 percent excise tax on the investment income of certain educational institutions.
- An exempt organization with more than one unrelated trade or business must calculate unrelated business taxable income separately for each trade or business.
Tax-advantaged bonds
- Tax reform repealed the authority to issue tax-credit bonds and direct-pay bonds.
- The IRS will not process applications for, or issue allocations of, the remaining unused authority to issue new clean renewable energy bonds.
Visit IRS.gov/taxreform often for the latest updates, guidance and FAQs issued for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
June 1, 2018
May 18, 2018
Upcoming web conferences:
Understanding Payment Options - Thursday, May 24 (Two Sessions)
Register for one of these sessions.
- Session 1 (60 minutes) 11 a.m. Eastern
- Session 2 (60 minutes) 2 p.m. Eastern - Closed captioning offered for Session 2 web conference ONLY.
The Office of Professional Responsibility: What You Need to Know about Practicing before the IRS (rebroadcast) – Wednesday, June 13
Register for this session.
Time: 11 a.m. Eastern
May 7, 2018
IRS Advisory Committee to submit recommendations at June meeting
November 27, 2017
The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers looking to maximize their tax savings before the end of the year to consider charitable giving. Many taxpayers may already be planning to do so for Giving Tuesday on November 28. Giving money or goods to a tax-exempt charity before December 31 can usually be deducted on that year’s federal income tax return.
This #GivingTuesday, IRS has tips to find tax-deductible options.