Latest News

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Grant Recipients Announced
IR-2012-25, Feb. 17, 2012 — The Internal Revenue Service has awarded over $9 million in matching grants to Low Income Taxpayer Clinics for the 2012 grant cycle.

IRS Extends Deadline for Estates to File Estate Tax Return to Make Portability Election Benefiting Surviving Spouses
IR-2012-24, Feb. 18, 2012 — The IRS has issued guidance that allows certain estates of married individuals who died during the first six months of 2011 an extension of the deadline to make the portability election.

IRS Releases the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2012
IR-2012-23, Feb. 16, 2012 –– The Internal Revenue Service today issued its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of tax scams, reminding taxpayers to use caution during tax season to protect themselves against a wide range of schemes ranging from identity theft to return preparer fraud.

Updated Rules Issued for IRS Communications with Appeals Office
IR-2012-22, Feb. 15, 2012 — The Internal Revenue Service updated rules on permissible communications between the Office of Appeals and other parts of the IRS.

Prepared Remarks of Commissioner of Internal Revenue Douglas H. Shulman before the Financial Accounting Foundation
Feb. 13, 2012 — Commissioner Shulman speaks before the Financial Accounting Foundation at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City.

IRS FY 2013 Budget Proposal Summary
FS-2012-10, February 2012 — The Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget request for the IRS is approximately $12.8 billion, a $944.5 million increase (8%) over the FY 2012 enacted level but only a $639.3 million increase (5.3%) from the level enacted for FY 2011.

IRS Issues Rules for Providing K-1s Electronically
IR-2012-21, Feb. 13, 2012 — Partnerships may now provide K-1s to partners electronically.

IRS and Treasury to Hold Town Hall and Consultation Listening Meetings on Possible Approaches to Governmental Plan Guidance
IR-2012-20, Feb. 13, 2012 — Town hall and consultation listening meetings will be held across the country to discuss proposed guidance on possible standards for determining if a retirement plan is a governmental plan under section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.

IRS Extends Comment Period for Guidance on Indian Tribal Government Programs
IR-2012-19, Feb. 13, 2012 — Commenters now have until March 14 to submit to the IRS their written comments regarding the application of the general welfare exclusion to Indian tribal government programs.

Treasury, IRS Issue Proposed Regulations for FATCA Implementation
IR-2012-15, Feb. 8, 2012 — The Treasury Department and the IRS issued proposed regulations for the next major phase of implementing FATCA.

IRS Offshore Programs Produce $4.4 Billion To Date for Nation’s Taxpayers; Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program Reopens
IR-2012-5, Jan. 9, 2012 — The IRS reopened the offshore voluntary disclosure program to help people hiding offshore accounts get current with their taxes and announced the collection of more than $4.4 billion so far from the two previous international programs.

Information for U.S. Citizens or Dual Citizens Residing Outside the U.S.
FS-2011-13, December 2011 – This fact sheet summarizes information about federal income tax return and FBAR filing requirements for duel citizens in Canada, the United Kingdon and other countries.

FAQs on New Payment Card Reporting Requirements
The IRS is providing special transitional relief to banks and other payment settlement entities required to begin reporting payment card and third-party network transactions on new Form 1099-K.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center
Update on the new economic stimulus legislation.

PTIN Requirements for Tax Return Preparers
Regulations require all paid tax return preparers to obtain a PTIN. Preparers must renew their PTIN each year by December 31. Some preparers will also soon need to pass a competency test and take continuing education courses.

The “What Ifs” of an Economic Downturn
Here are some “What if” scenarios and the possible tax impact.

Tax Benefits for Education: Information Center
There is a variety of tax breaks available to assist with the expense of higher education.

Commissioner's Comments, Statements and Remarks
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman discusses a range of tax administration issues.

Compliance & Enforcement News
A collection of recent news releases, statements and other items related to IRS compliance and enforcement efforts.

2011 and Prior Year Filing Season Statistics
Find tax filing season statistics showing cumulative and comparative totals from the current filing season and from 2010.