IRS extends e-services to more tax preparers
Tax preparers that file five or more returns electronically a year can make use of the tax agency's e-services, services previously restricted to preparers that filed 100 or more returns.
The IRS today dropped most restrictions limiting tax preparers that want to use the agency’s suite of electronic services. Effective immediately, tax preparers that file any combination of five or more accepted individual and business tax returns electronically in a calendar year can take advantage of the IRS’ disclosure authorization, electronic account resolution and transcript delivery.The IRS originally reserved these e-services for businesses that filed 100 or more individual returns electronically. "These services make it easier for tax preparers to deal with the IRS and obtain information to help their clients," IRS commissioner Mark Everson said. Disclosure authorization let tax preparers complete disclosure authorization forms, view and modify existing forms, submit forms for power of attorney, expedite processing and issues real-time acknowledgement of accepted submissions.Electronic account resolution lets preparers resolve clients’ account problems by electronically sending and receiving inquiries about individual or business accounts, refunds, installment agreements, missing payments or notices. Tax professionals must have a power of attorney on file before inquiring into a client’s account. The IRS delivers each response to a secure electronic mailbox within three business days. With the transcript delivery system, preparers with a power of attorney on file can request and receive account transcripts, wage and income transcripts, tax return transcripts, and verification of nonfiling letters for individual taxpayers and account transcripts for business taxpayers.