IRS Resource to Help You Understand IRS Notices and Letters

The IRS website contains a helpful page called Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter. This page gives the taxpayer and/or tax preparer valuable information about the different notices and letters that the IRS may send to the taxpayer regarding a federal return that they filed with the IRS.

Here is what you will find:

• Listing and link to some of the more common IRS notices with information on:
• What the taxpayer needs to do
• What the taxpayer may want to do
• Answers to common questions
• Tips for next year
• Example of what the letter looks like
• Listing and link for some of the letters a taxpayer may receive which provides information on:
• What the letter is telling the taxpayer
• What the taxpayer needs to do
• What happens if the taxpayer takes no action
• Who the taxpayer should contact if they have questions
• A list of eight things every taxpayer should know if they receive a notice
• How to identify where the number of the notice is located on the notice
• Link to a list of other individual filer notices that the IRS may send regarding their tax return
• Link to a list of other business filer notices that the IRS may send a business regarding their tax return

Reminder: Last days to file Tax Year 2012 returns

REMINDER: The final days to file your 2012 individual and business returns are:

Individual – November 23, 2013
Business – December 26, 2013

Also, remember that if any rejects are not resolved by the above dates you will have to file the return on paper.

Reminder to Renew Your PTIN for 2014

Last week the IRS began accepting renewals and new applications for PTINs for calendar year 2014.

All paid preparers of federal tax returns must renew their PTINs for 2014. This must be done before preparing 
2013 returns.

Although the US District Court enjoined the IRS from enforcing the oversight of return preparers who are not EAs, CPAs, or attorneys, they did not strike down the requirement that all paid federal tax return preparers register with the IRS and obtain a PTIN.

To renew your PTIN, go to the IRS Tax Professional PTIN System page on the IRS website, log onto your IRS PTIN account, fill out the information requested, and pay the $63 renewal fee.

For new paid preparers, the fee is $64.25.

Failure to renew or obtain a PTIN could result in being penalized under IRS Code § 6695.

Return preparers do not have to take a competency test or take continuing education for 2014. This is because the IRS is still in the process of appealing the US District Court's decision enjoining the IRS from oversight of return preparers.