IR-2008-76, June 2, 2008

Washington — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning July 1, 2008, will drop by one percentage point. The new rates will be: 

• five (5) percent for overpayments [four (4) percent in the case of a corporation];
• five (5) percent for underpayments;
• seven (7) percent for large corporate underpayments; and
• two and one-half (2.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000.

Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points. Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point.

The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate based on daily compounding determined during April 2008.

Revenue Ruling 2008-27, announcing the new rates of interest, will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin No. 2008-26, dated June 30, 2008.

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IR-2008-77, June 6, 2008

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today introduced several new features to the interactive Online Payment Agreement application , which will make it easier for taxpayers and their authorized representatives to make changes to existing installment agreements.

The system will now permit:

• Individuals to revise their payment due dates and/or amounts on existing agreements.
• Individuals to revise existing extensions to regular installment agreements and direct debit installment agreements.
• Individuals to revise existing regular installment agreements to a payroll deduction installment agreement or a direct debit installment agreement.
• Practitioners with valid authorizations to use the signature date found on their approved Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, or the caller ID as an alternate way to authenticate when requesting agreements for clients.

More than 75 percent of those eligible for an installment agreement can establish one using the online application, according to the IRS. Since launching in October 2006, more than 30,000 taxpayers have successfully used it to set up a payment agreement.

Eligible taxpayers who owe $25,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest can self-qualify, apply and receive immediate notification of approval for installment agreements – including pre-assessed agreements on tax year 2007 Form 1040 liabilities and paperless direct debit agreements.

IR-2008-78, June 16, 2008

WASHINGTON — Victims of storms and flooding in 10 states will have more time to make quarterly estimated tax payments normally due today, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

"Our hearts go out to the flood victims in the stricken states," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. "At a time like this, taxes should be the last thing on the minds of these unfortunate victims."

Over the weekend the IRS provided tax relief, including the postponement of various tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines, to disaster-area counties in Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin. Earlier this spring, the agency extended similar relief to storm victims in parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma.

IR-2008-79, June 17, 2008

WASHINGTON –– The Internal Revenue Service today reminded U.S. persons who have bank and other financial accounts in a foreign country that they may be required to report those accounts to the U.S. Department of Treasury by the June 30 deadline.

With globalization, more people in the U.S. have foreign financial accounts. There is nothing improper about setting up or maintaining such accounts. Still, IRS officials are concerned that U.S. persons may overlook that their accounts are large enough to trigger reporting obligations.

“There are responsibilities that go along with owning such foreign bank and financial accounts,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Foreign account owners must remember that they may have to report their accounts to the government, even if the accounts do not generate any taxable income.”

Since 2000, the number of Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) forms received by the Treasury has increased by nearly 85 percent, from 174,528 in 2000 to 322,414 in 2007. Despite this significant increase in filings, concern remains about the degree of reporting compliance for those who are required to file.

U.S. persons are required to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), Form TD F 90-22.1, each year if they have a financial interest in or signature authority or other authority over any financial accounts, including bank, securities or other types of financial accounts, in a foreign country, if the aggregate value of these financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.

The 2007 FBAR form is due June 30, 2008.

IR-2008-80, June 19, 2008

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced a new summer campaign to reach those retirees and disabled veterans who qualify for the economic stimulus payment but have not filed to claim it. New statistics released today indicate about 74 percent in this group are accounted for in the stimulus payments currently being sent, leaving about 5.2 million potential recipients remaining.

For all taxpayers, the IRS has issued 76.1 million payments worth $63.8 billion based on 2007 tax returns processed so far. The agency expects to issue 124 million payments to Americans by year’s end. Eligible individuals are receiving up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples filing joint returns) plus $300 for eligible children younger than 17.

“The IRS has delivered. Only 70 days after the legislation became law, the IRS started putting the money in the hands of tens of millions of Americans. This summer, we will go the extra mile to help the remaining retirees and disabled veterans get their payments,” said Doug Shulman, IRS Commissioner.

IR-2008-81, June 19, 2008

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that it will waive certain limitations for the low-income housing tax credit in Indiana and Iowa so that owners of facilities in these states can provide housing to victims of recent storms and flooding.

The IRS will continue to monitor closely the housing situation in other states affected by the recent flooding and is prepared to act quickly as circumstances warrant.

“Our thoughts are with the thousands of families left homeless by these terrible tragedies,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “We are pleased to help these states to quickly house the needy whose homes were destroyed.”

Because of the widespread devastation to housing caused by storms and flooding, the IRS will temporarily suspend certain limitations for qualified low-income housing projects located anywhere in the states of Indiana and Iowa. Today’s action will expand the availability of housing for disaster victims and their families.

Formal notices detailing this relief will be issued shortly.

Notes:

This information was obtained from the IRS.gov website. E-File Magic does not warrant the accuracy of this information and provides it as a convenience to it’s customers. We encourage you to visit http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=108500,00.html for the most recent copy of this information. Download our Free 1098/1099/5498/W2G Software by Downloading the Free Business E-File Software Here.

IR-2008-82, June 23, 2008

         Downloadable Audio File:  Mileage Rates

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2008. Taxpayers may use the optional standard rates to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

The rate will increase to 58.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven from July 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008. This is an increase of eight (8) cents from the 50.5 cent rate in effect for the first six months of 2008, as set forth in Rev. Proc. 2007-70.

In recognition of recent gasoline price increases, the IRS made this special adjustment for the final months of 2008. The IRS normally updates the mileage rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.

"Rising gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans. Given the increase in prices, the IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the real cost of operating an automobile," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "We want the reimbursement rate to be fair to taxpayers."

While gasoline is a significant factor in the mileage figure, other items enter into the calculation of mileage rates, such as depreciation and insurance and other fixed and variable costs.

IR-2008-83, June 27, 2008

WASHINGTON –– The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) recently presented its 2008 Annual Report to Congress. The report includes 21 recommendations on a wide range of issues that pertain to individual filers and business, such as modernized e-File and web services.

The ETAAC provides feedback on the development and implementation of the IRS' electronic tax administration strategy.

“ETAAC plays a significant role in IRS efforts to improve the taxpayer’s experience via e-File and the Internet,” said David Williams, director of Electronic Tax Administration. “ETAAC feedback helps the IRS shift more returns from paper to e-File, which is a top priority.”

The 14-member ETAAC provides an organized public forum for discussion of electronic tax administration issues and the overriding goal that paperless filing should be the preferred and most-convenient method of filing tax and information returns.

"This has been a remarkable year for the IRS given late tax legislation and processing of the stimulus payments,” said Tim Hubbs, ETAAC chairman. "The ETAAC looks forward to seeing further progress in electronic tax administration.”

ETAAC submits an annual progress report to Congress each June. The IRS Electronic Tax Administration created the ETAAC in 1998 as required by the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. The report is the result of research, analysis, and meetings with senior IRS executives as well as the ETAAC members. Public comments on the report will be solicited via the Federal Register in the fall.

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IR-2008-84, June 30, 2008

WASHINGTON — Internal Revenue Service officials today announced a change in the extended due date on certain business returns to help individuals better meet their filing obligations. The change, which reduces the extension period from six to five months, eases the burden on taxpayers who must report information from Schedules K-1 and similar documents on their individual tax returns.

Income, deductions and credits from partnerships, S corporations, estates and trusts are reported to partners, investors and beneficiaries on Schedules K-1 and other similar statements. The recipients then use that information to complete their own tax returns.

Currently, the extended due date for both businesses and individuals often falls on the same date, generally Oct. 15. This creates a burden for individual taxpayers who rely on the information from Schedule K-1 and other similar statements to prepare and file their personal tax returns in a timely manner.

"We are eliminating the same-day deadline for these returns, which causes needless hardship and puts the individual taxpayer in an awkward position," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "We want to correct this timing issue to ensure that all taxpayers have the information they need to file timely and stay in compliance with the law."

The IRS today issued temporary and proposed regulations that will reduce the extension of time to file tax returns for certain businesses that generate Schedules K-1 and other similar statements from six months to five. Requiring these statements to be issued one month earlier, generally by Sept. 15, will provide recipients time to prepare and file returns within the extended time frames.