IRS announces 2021 PTIN fees for tax return preparers

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today the annual fee for 2021 that tax return preparers must pay to apply for or renew their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
In final regulations issued today, the IRS set a $21 fee per PTIN application or renewal (plus a $14.95 fee payable to a contractor).
Anyone who prepares or substantially helps prepare any federal tax return or claim for refund for compensation must have a valid PTIN from the IRS. The PTIN must be used as the identifying number on returns prepared. Failure to have and use a valid PTIN may result in penalties. The IRS estimates that more than 800,000 tax return preparers will apply for or renew a PTIN this year.
The annual renewal of PTINs ensures the IRS has up-to-date identifying information about each return preparer, which is essential for timely communication of important information. The program helps protect both return preparers and taxpayers and prevent the unauthorized use of PTINs. 
The IRS is required to conduct a biennial review of the PTIN user fee. The agency determined that the full cost to administer the PTIN program going forward is $21 per application or renewal. This amount includes costs relating to PTIN misuse and maintaining the integrity of PTINs. The third-party contractor fee, $14.95, pays for several functions including processing applications, renewals and operating a call center.
PTINs expire on Dec. 31 of the year for which they are issued. PTINs generally can be renewed beginning in mid-October and are valid for the following calendar year. A tax return preparer can renew online at www.irs.gov/ptin by logging into the preparer’s PTIN account or by submitting a paper Form W-12 with the “Renewal” box checked.

Delayed Response time in Receiving E-file Acknowledgements (Acks)

As the 1040 filing deadline approaches, we are experiencing extremely high volume in e-filing and customers may experience longer wait times for acknowledgements (acks) from the Electronic Filing Center (EFC) and the IRS.

We recommend that you transmit e-files early (don't wait until the deadline) and often (not in large batches) during this period, as acks may take longer to post.

We appreciate your patience. 

Treasury is Delivering Millions of Economic Impact Payments by Prepaid Debit Card

WASHINGTON— This week, Treasury and the IRS are starting to send nearly 4 million Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) by prepaid debit card, instead of by paper check. EIP Card recipients can make purchases, get cash from in-network ATMs, and transfer funds to their personal bank account without incurring any fees. They can also check their card balance online, by mobile app, or by phone without incurring fees. The EIP Card can be used online, at ATMs, or at any retail location where Visa is accepted. This free, prepaid card also provides consumer protections available to traditional bank account owners, including protections against fraud, loss, and other errors. 

“Treasury and the IRS have been working with unprecedented speed to issue Economic Impact Payments to American families. Prepaid debit cards are secure, easy to use, and allow us to deliver Americans their money quickly,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “Recipients can immediately activate and use the cards safely.”

Treasury has already delivered more than 140 million Economic Impact Payments worth $239 billion to Americans by direct deposit to accounts at financial institutions, Direct Express card accounts, and by check. The Treasury-sponsored EIP Card is another method to provide money efficiently and securely to eligible recipients and their families. EIP Cards are being distributed to qualified individuals without bank information on file with the IRS, and whose tax return was processed by either the Andover or Austin IRS Service Center.

Treasury’s financial agent, MetaBank, will mail EIP Cards to eligible recipients beginning this week. Each mailing will include instructions on how to activate and use the card.

The EIP Card is part of Treasury’s U.S. Debit Card program, which provides prepaid debit card services to federal agencies for the electronic delivery of non-benefit payments. MetaBank was selected as Treasury’s financial agent for the U.S. Debit Card program in 2016, following a competitive selection process conducted by the Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

Read more about Economic Impact Payments.

Read more about the Economic Impact Payment Card.

Cancelling IRS payments already submitted in a tax return

Note: IRS instructions for modifying payment methods are the same for individuals and businesses.
They do not allow the withdrawal date to be changed. They only cancel payments.

Direct Debit payments

• Taxpayer can call the IRS e-file Payment Services 24/7 at 1-888-353-4537 to inquire about or cancel a scheduled payment.
• Please wait 7 to 10 days after the return was accepted before calling.
• Cancellation requests must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. ET two business days prior to the scheduled payment date.

EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System)
See https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4990.pdf

To cancel a payment, taxpayer will need the following: ­

• Taxpayer’s EIN (for businesses) or SSN (for individuals) ­
• PIN ­
• Tax form number ­
• The last eight digits of the EFT Acknowledgment Number for the payment to cancel (this was the confirmation received when the payment was scheduled).

If you do not have the last eight digits of the EFT Acknowledgment Number, please call EFTPS Customer Service:

• English: 1.800.555.4477
• En español (Spanish): 1.800.244.4829

Online

• Log in and select “Payments.”
• Select “Cancel a Payment” and follow the process. Record the Cancellation EFT Acknowledgment Number you receive, and keep for your records

Phone:

• Call the EFTPS Tax Payment toll-free number (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week): 1.800.555.3453 2 Follow the voice prompts.
• Record the Cancellation EFT Acknowledgment Number received, and keep for your records.

Note: If you wish to cancel a scheduled payment, you must do so by 11:59 p.m. ET at least two business days before the scheduled date. For example, a payment scheduled for Monday cannot be canceled after 11:59 p.m. ET the previous Thursday.

Spanish Chat Support LIVE

We here at Refunds Today have been proudly serving the Latino community of tax preparers for over the past decade. In an effort to provide the best customer service possible, we are now excited to announce that we will be offering Live Chat Support in Spanish for all of our customers. If you have any questions or concerns, please be sure to click the link below to chat with a Spanish-speaking support representative today.

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IRS Help Desk Closures

Information from IRS regarding help desks:

The PPS line, the e-Services Help Desk line and the e-Services, FIRE and AIR system help desks are closed until further notice. Please make IRS.gov your first option for answers to questions. The IRS is temporarily suspending acceptance of new Income Verification Express Services (IVES) requests at this time and is experiencing delays with existing IVES processing as well as CAF number authorizations. Practitioners with e-Services accounts and with client authorization can access the Transcript Delivery System to obtain prior-year transcripts. Taxpayers should use Where’s My Refund? and Get Transcript, both common requests. Additionally, we are unable to answer any questions as yet on stimulus payments. Normal operations will resume as soon as possible. Please check IRS.gov for updates

IRS E-file Blackout Aug 3-5

The IRS MeF (E-filing) Production system will be unavailable due to a system upgrade from Saturday, August 3, 2019, 12:01AM Eastern time through August 5, 2019, 11:59 AM Eastern time.

During these IRS e-filing blackout periods, the Electronic Filing Center (EFC) will continue to receive e-files from customers; however, please note:

• E-files will be held at the EFC during this period. They will transmitted to the IRS when their system comes back online for processing;
• Acknowledgements (acks) for these e-files will not be delivered until after we transmit to the IRS.