Preparers looking for a wish list of provisions for the lame duck session of Congress to pass have a number of items to consider.

House Democrats passed a tax cut package on Thursday aimed at extending the Bush-era tax cuts for taxpayers who earn below $250,000, but the prospects for passage in the Senate will depend on the deal worked out by a bipartisan group of four lawmakers and two Obama administration officials.

The Internal Revenue Service has begun sending more than 10,000 letters to tax return preparers nationwide to remind them of their obligation to prepare accurate tax returns, and during the 2011 filing season, IRS representatives will visit approximately 2,500 tax return preparers who received the letters to discuss their responsibilities and verify their compliance.

The Internal Revenue Service detailed how, starting Jan. 1, 2011, paid tax return preparers can comply with a new law that requires them to electronically file tax returns for individuals, trusts and estates.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin, D-Mich., introduced legislation Wednesday that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts only for those making less than $250,000 a year, and provide a two-year AMT patch.

One promising sign of President Obama’s meeting with congressional leaders Tuesday was that he didn’t emerge with his lip bleeding from a fresh elbow jab in the face.

The Senate voted Monday evening on a competing pair of amendments to repeal the expanded 1099 information reporting requirements that were included in the health care reform bill, but failed for the second time this fall to roll back the controversial requirements.