Tax season

Even though President Obama indicated only last Friday that the fiscal cliff deal likely to be produced by the January 1 deadline would be a basic package, lawmakers managed to come out with a surprisingly comprehensive set of tax provisions, some with long-lasting effects.

The Internal Revenue Service has finalized its regulations regarding how tax preparers can use and disclose the information on their clients’ tax returns.

A new Web site aims to establish a competitive bidding system where tax preparers can compete for clients.

In the face of major uncertainty regarding the upcoming tax season, Jeff Gramlich, president of tax software developer CCH Small Firm Services, is urging tax preparers to get in touch and stay in touch with their clients.

IRS Acting Commissioner Steven T. Miller warned Congress on Wednesday that if lawmakers fail to extend the traditional alternative minimum tax patch, up to 100 million American taxpayers could be affected, and most taxpayers might not be able to file their tax returns until late March 2013 or later.

Effective end-of-year letters and other communication with tax prep clients are more than reminders that those clients should hire you to do 2012 returns.

Online accounting software maker has added a set of new features including 1099 and GAAP compliance additions for the U.S. market, as well as an integration to the Track1099 e-filing and preparation tool.

Failure by Congress to act on the alternative minimum tax by year’s end will lead to “significant” delays in tax filing and a strain on taxpayers, said Steven Miller, the Internal Revenue Service’s acting commissioner.

Check out the digital edition of the December 2012 issue of Accounting Today.

Small businesses need to deal with several changes in W-2 and 1099 forms and reporting requirements this year as the IRS looks to close the tax gap.

Many tax practitioners focus on improving their efficiency during tax season, but there are plenty of things they can do in advance to ensure success from January to April, according to 2020 Group chairman and CEO Chris Frederiksen.

The Income Tax School has launched a Web site of more than 70 tax courses and products, plus many free resources for tax professionals. ITS said the move was in response to the new IRS regulations for tax preparers and the corresponding growing demand for tax education.

Last week I moderated an Accounting Today Web Seminar on Tax Office Workflow.

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business, has released two new mobile tax information apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices -- CCH Applicable Federal Rates 2012 and CCH Tax Rates and Tables 2012 -- adding to its line of mobile applications.

New River Innovation has enhanced its Beyond415 Guidance product, a Web-based research center for resolving issues after tax filing, with key features including searchable guidance covering individual, business, and payroll areas of IRS practice and procedure.

The Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board has sent a letter to the leaders of Congress’s two tax-writing committees urging them to act swiftly to patch the Alternative Minimum Tax to keep it from spreading to millions more taxpayers.

Postcards can be an effective marketing tool during tax season if targeted precisely to existing clients and used to build brand recognition.

The option of allowing taxpayers to split up their tax refunds into different accounts has increased the risk of fraud, perhaps even among IRS employees, according to a new government report.

The Internal Revenue Service has made progress in deploying its Modernized e-File system, according to a pair of new government reports, but unresolved performance issues are hampering the retirement of its older legacy systems for processing tax returns.

Check out the digital edition of the November 2012 issue of Accounting Today.