- quote -

Would you like to define "Spare time"? lol

Seriously, all I've done so far was to request information
on how payments were applied to a certain quarter in 1998,
and was rewarded with email the following Monday (it was on
a Saturday I inquired). This was possible cause I already
had a POA on file in Memphis.

One sticking point right now is that the DA (disclosure
authorization; a real time POA) is not working.

If there's interest, I'll keep the group posted on progress,
since our real star, Jim Leimbach, is not a regular here.

Cheer$$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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- quote -

I am lucky enough to have EAR, Harlan has all the services
from what I hear, but this will be an awesome product. I
would suggest taking a look see at the show in your "Spare
Time"

Helen, EA in PA
Member of The Tax Gang
Director, National Assoication of Enrolled Agents
Immediate Past President, PA Society of Enrolled Agents

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IRS e-News for Tax Professionals-Pennsylvania
4/01/04
Issue 2004-03

In this issue:

1. IRS Announces Senior Leadership Appointments
2. Some Returns Filed in Different States This Year
3. Practitioner Priority Service Toll-Free Number for Practitioner Use
Only
4. Reengineered Examination Process Makes its Debut
5. E-Services Featured on March Tax Talk Today
6. IRS Updates Warning About "Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams
7. New IRS Publication Reminds Foreign Account Holders about Reporting
Obligations
8. 401(k) Plans for Small Businesses Publication NOW AVAILABLE
9. Interest Rates Increase for the Second Quarter of 2004
10. Family Day Care Provider Standard Meal Rates
11. IRS Stakeholder Partners Headliners

* * * * *
1. IRS Announces Senior Leadership Appointments

IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson recently announced several important
changes in the agency's senior management team. Effective June 1, Kevin M.
Brown will become the commissioner of the Small Business/Self-Employed
Division replacing Commissioner Dale Hart, who is retiring after 37 years
with the IRS.

Brown is currently chief of staff to Everson. Replacing Brown as chief of
staff to the commissioner will be Evelyn Petschek. Petschek is currently
the commissioner of the Tax-Exempt and Government Entities Division.

In addition, the commissioner named Bruce Ungar as Deputy Commissioner,
Large and Mid-Size Business Division, and Frank Keith as Chief,
Communications and Liaison.

Ungar, who joined the agency in 2003, currently serves as counselor to the
commissioner. He will work with LMSB leaders to continue improving the
compliance process.

Keith, who has been with the IRS since 1975, is currently director of
Communications. Keith will oversee Communications and Liaison, which
oversees all aspects of external and internal communications for the IRS.

Meet these senior leaders at
<http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=121117,00.html<http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...121228,00.html

2. Some Returns Filed in Different States This Year

Tax professionals whose clients are in the Metro New York area and
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Michigan, Montana, Rhode Island, Tennessee,
Utah and Wyoming will be filing their returns with different IRS centers
during the 2004 filing season. For clients in Arizona and Washington,
they will send returns with payments to different IRS addresses although
other returns will continue to go to the IRS center in Fresno. Returns
for New York taxpayers previously filed in Brookhaven are now sent to the
Andover, MA processing center. For taxpayers who file paper returns, the
new center addresses will be provided on the envelopes in the tax
packages. Taxpayers who e-file will not be affected by these changes. For
all returns, check "Where to File" on IRS.gov at
<http://www.irs.gov/file/index.html> .

3. Practitioner Priority Service Toll-Free Number for Practitioner Use
Only

The Practitioner Priority Service (PPS) toll-free number ****************
is designed specifically for practitioners and should not be shared with
non-practitioners. The PPS toll-free, accounts-related service is for all
tax practitioners, nationwide. It is the practitioners' first point of
contact for assistance regarding taxpayers' account-related issues.

If your clients need to contact IRS, please refer them to 1-800-829-1040
for questions regarding individual tax returns or 1-800-829-4933 for
issues related to business returns. When non-practitioners call the PPS
toll-free number, it impacts the efficiency of this system and results in
longer wait times for you, the practitioner. So that we may continue to
provide you with the best possible service, please do not share the PPS
toll-free number outside the practitioner community.

4. Reengineered Examination Process Makes its Debut

The Small Business/Self-Employed Division (SB/SE) of the IRS is ready to
rollout its new examination process. SB/SE examiners will receive training
over the next few months. The training and rollout of the reengineered
examination process is being conducted in waves and will conclude by
September 2004. For more information on exam reengineering visit the IRS
Web site at <http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=120978,00.html> .

5. E-Services Featured on March Tax Talk Today

What would it be like to handle an IRS bill or notice by e-mail? Or get a
transcript of a client's account without writing or calling the IRS? Or
input your own power of attorney into the IRS system? During the March 9
program, the IRS demonstrated the Electronic Account Resolution (EAR)
prototype system for practitioners. Practitioners learned about the suite
of e-services and who is eligible to participate. The IRS demonstrated
e-services that are currently in the final testing stages including online
registration, online account registration, disclosure authorization, and
the transcript delivery system. Practitioners who participated in the
pilot testing presented information about their experiences with the
applications and provided tips for practitioners.

Did you miss the program? To view it in the Tax Talk Today archive go to
<http://www.taxtalktoday.tv/index.cfm?page=8.532> .

The next webcast will be on Tuesday May 11, 2004, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
ET, and will focus on IRS Examination Program Changes.
See <http://www.taxtalktoday.tv/viewpage.cfm?pgname=8.71> .

6. IRS Updates Warning About "Dirty Dozen" Tax Scams

In an update of an annual consumer alert, the Service urged taxpayers to
avoid falling victim to one of the "Dirty Dozen" tax scams and a variety
of other schemes. In the new 2004 ranking, several new scams have reached
the top of the consumer watch list, including abusive trusts and the
"claim of right" doctrine.

Eight new revenue rulings are attached to the Fact Sheet, which is linked
to the end of the News Release. See
<http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=120803,00.html> .

7. New IRS Publication Reminds Foreign Account Holders about Reporting
Obligations

The IRS has issued a new brochure, Publication 4261, Do You Have a Foreign
Bank Account, aimed at helping taxpayers determine whether they need to
file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) if they have
financial accounts with institutions outside the United States, go to
<http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4261.pdf> .

8. 401(k) Plans for Small Businesses Publication NOW AVAILABLE

Publication 4222 is a joint effort by IRS and DOL to help small business
owners better understand what is involved in establishing and operating a
401(k) plan. An expanded online version is also available on the
Retirement Plans web page as well as on the DOL Web site
<http://www.dol.gov/ebsa> . The online
version contains the text of the publication and is enhanced with links to
more detailed information and other resources dealing with 401(k) plans.
To view the publication and the expanded online version, go to
<http://www.irs.gov/ep> .

9. Interest Rates Increase for the Second Quarter of 2004

The interest rates will rise by one percentage point for the calendar
quarter beginning April 1, 2004. According to the IRS, the interest rates
will be five percent for underpayments by non-corporate taxpayers. For all
of the rates, go to <http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=120820,00.html> .

10. Family Day Care Provider Standard Meal Rates

This is a reminder that Revenue Procedure 2003-22, issued under the
Industry Issue Resolution Program, allows family day care providers to
elect a standard meal allowance in lieu of actual expenses to determine
their deductible food expenses. The standard meal and snack rates are
based on the Department of Agricultures Tier 1 reimbursement rates in
effect on the December 31 preceding the taxable year. Recordkeeping
instructions, procedures, and the rates in effect for tax year 2003 are
included in Revenue Procedure 2003-22,
<http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-03-22.pdf> .

The Tier 1 rates in effect on December 31, 2003, which will be used as the
standard meal and snack rates for 2004, can be found on the Department of
Agricultures Web site at
<http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/ProgramBasics/Rates/homes.htm> .

11. IRS Stakeholder Partners Headliners

IRS Headliners provides you with the latest IRS information to be included
in your newsletter, publications and/or Web site. Learn more about
Headliners at
<http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102669,00.html> .

Thank you for subscribing to e-News For Tax Professionals in Pennsylvania,
an IRS e-mail service.

If you have a specific concern about your tax situation, call IRS CUSTOMER
SERVICE AT 1-800-829-1040.

"Jack" - John H. Fisher - TaxService[at]aol.com
Philadelphia, Pa - Atlantic City, NJ - West Wildwood, NJ
My Newsgroups & Boards at: http://members.aol.com/TaxService/index.html

Where Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise!=

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