IRS Update: Reminders for Upcoming 2015 Filing Season

As the January 20 start date for the 2015 filing season draws near, it is important to review the IRS Identity Protection PIN program and the new IRS direct deposit limit.

Identity Protection PIN

For the upcoming filing season the IRS will issue 1.7 million Identity Protection PINs (IP PIN) to individuals who have had an identity theft indicator applied to their IRS tax account.

These are the key items to know about the Identity Protection PIN:

• If a taxpayer received an IP PIN last year they should have received a new 6-digit IP PIN from the IRS in December via IRS notice CP01A.
• If a taxpayer received an IP PIN, the taxpayer and spouse must enter their IP PIN on their 2014 federal return or the IRS will reject the return.
• Read More

New IRS Direct Deposit Limits

Beginning this filing season, the IRS will be limiting the number of refunds that may be electronically deposited into a single financial account or pre-paid debit card to three (3).

Any subsequent deposits will be automatically converted to a paper refund check and mailed to the taxpayer at the address shown on the federal return... Read More

Click here to read the entire CrossLink Tax Update on reminders for the 2015 Filing Season.

New IRS Direct Deposit Limits

Beginning with the upcoming filing season the IRS will be limiting the number of refunds that may be electronically deposited into a single financial account or pre-paid debit card to three.

Any subsequent deposits will be automatically converted to a paper refund and mailed to the taxpayer at the address shown on the federal return.

If this occurs, the taxpayer will be sent a notice informing them the reason why the refund will not be direct deposited and that they will receive a paper check in approximately four weeks.

This new procedure has been instituted as part of the IRS’ continuing efforts to combat fraud and identity theft.

To read more about this new limitation on direct deposits see the Direct Deposit Limits page on the IRS website.

IRS to Limit the Number of Direct Deposit Refunds into Single Account

As part of the ongoing IRS effort to combat fraud and identity theft, beginning with the 2015 filing season, the IRS will limit the number of refunds that may be electronically deposited into a single bank account or pre-paid debit card to three. Read more.

Once the limit of three is reached, any subsequent refunds will be switched to a paper check which will be mailed to the taxpayer at the address that is included on their federal return.

If this occurs, the taxpayer will receive a notice informing them they have exceeded the limit of direct deposits that may be made to a single account and that they will receive a paper check within 4 weeks.

It will also prevent tax preparers from obtaining payment of their tax preparation fees by having part of the taxpayer’s refund deposited into their bank account through the use of Form 8888 (Allocation of Refund) or by preparers opening a joint account with the taxpayer. Read more

Click here to read the entire CrossLink Tax Update that includes further information on the IRS's limit on direct deposit refunds into a single account.