IRS Resumes Field Exams & Collections

irs-sealThe Internal Revenue Service is back and has released guidance on the resumption of field audits and collection activities. Here are some highlights:

  • If you received an audit report requesting a response in 10 days but were unable to respond because of the shutdown you may still respond.  However, your auditor also should re-establish contact before taking additional actions in your case.
  • If you received a 30 day letter, you should continue to adhere to the deadline.  You may contact your auditor to discuss your options.
  • Failure to pay and failure to file penalties are statutory and are charged from the due date of the return until the date of payment.  These penalties will not be abated during the period of the shutdown.

Please visit IRS.gov for more information or read the FAQs here:

FAQs: Resumption of Field Exam Activities

FAQs: Resumption of Field Collections Activities

Goodbye 4-Day Weekend, IRS Will Be Open on August 30th

Bye ByeIRS employees hoping for an end of summer vacation will have to settle for a measly 3-day Labor Day weekend this year. As we suggested may happen in July, the IRS has officially cancelled the furlough day scheduled for Friday, August 30th, 2013.On a brighter note they’ll get another day of pay to spend on the festivities.

The press release leaves open the possibility that the IRS may require an additional furlough day before their fiscal year ends on September 30th. So far, the IRS has closed for only three of the five furlough days initially proposed in the wake of the Federal sequester.

All services will be available on the normal Friday schedule.

Good News? IRS Will Be Open on July 22nd

Caribbean-DestinationsIt’s probably good news for IRS employees happy to regain an extra day of pay, less good for those who booked a flight to the islands for the long weekend.

The IRS announced yesterday that it is canceling the furlough day originally scheduled for Monday, July 22, 2013. According to the press release “the IRS will be open for taxpayers that day as scheduled.” Presumably all functions and services will be available. The press release indicates that the IRS also may cancel the scheduled August 30, 2013 furlough day but a firm decision has not been made.

Mark Your Calendars: IRS Closes for 5 Days Under Sequestration

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UPDATE 7/17/2013: The IRS has announced that it is canceling the furlough day scheduled for Monday, July 22, 2013 mentioned below. According to the press release “the IRS will be open for taxpayers that day as scheduled.” Presumably all functions and services will be available. The press release indicates that the IRS also may cancel the scheduled August 30, 2013 furlough day but a decision has not been made.

Four Fridays and a Monday. Those are the days that the IRS will be closed under the budget cuts imposed by sequestration. Rather than rolling employee furloughs, the IRS has decided to take a few three-day weekends and close shop entirely for five days in 2013. Acting Commissioner Steven Miller make the announcement on Friday.

In addition to regular federal holidays, the IRS will be closed on the following days in 2013: May 24, June 14, July 5, July 22 and Aug. 30. IRS employees will not be paid for these days and IRS offices will not open.

Can the IRS Read Your Email?

IRS_logoThe IRS thinks that they can.

The IRS maintains that its agents can read taxpayers’ emails, texts, and other private electronic communications without a warrant according to a story by Brendan Sasso in The Hill. According to the story, the IRS has maintained that taxpayers “do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in such communications.”

The report is based on documents acquired in a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Read the story here:
IRS: We can read emails without warrant

Hat tip: Beau Howard