Last Day to Transmit 2015 Individual Federal and State Returns this Year

The IRS will be shutting down their 1040 Modernized E-file system on the morning of November 30, 2016. This shutdown will last until the 2017 filing season opens in January 2017.

If you have any 2015 federal or state tax returns that you wish to file as a current year return, you should transmit them by November 29, 2016 in order ensure that you are able to get acknowledgements back before the IRS system is shutdown on November 30, 2016.

IRS Warns of New Wave of Cyber Attacks that Aim to Take Over Tax Preparers Computers

The IRS has posted a news release (IR-2016-119) to warn tax preparers of a new wave of attacks that allow identity thieves to file fraudulent tax returns by remotely taking over a tax preparer’s computer system.

These cyber-attacks are taking place using remote technology which allows the identity thieves to gain access to a tax preparer’s computer system, access client data, complete and e-file tax returns, then direct the refunds to the criminal’s own bank accounts. The IRS is aware of approximately two dozen cases where tax preparers have recently been victimized.

The victims learned of these thefts while they were reconciling their e-file acknowledgements.

See IRS News Release IR-2016-119 (dated September 2, 2016) for more details on these attacks and what measures tax preparers should take to protect their computer systems.

Also see the IRS Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself webpage for more information how preparers can help fight identity theft and protect their customer tax return data and their computer systems.

Delays in Federal Return Acknowledgements

The IRS just released the following Quick Alert:

IRS QUICK ALERT

April 16, 2013

Due to the significant increase in federal and state submissions transmitted on April 15th, the length of time to create federal acknowledgments and make them available for retrieval is taking longer than expected. The IRS is closely monitoring the acknowledgment rates and is working to close the gap as a top priority.

The majority of state returns are linked to the acceptance of the federal return, so the length of time it takes to make the state return available for state retrieval has also increased. As the federal backlog decreases, the state submissions will then be ready for state pickup.

In the interim, please do not retransmit any submissions awaiting acknowledgment if the IRS has issued a receipt.

We thank you again for your patience and support.