--AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR-- IRS just released Publication 2043, IRS Refund Information Guidelines for the Tax Preparation Community, a slick, multicolor, one-pager that on the surface seems innocuous enough. It directs taxpayers to Wheres My Refund (because even before the agency had a meat cleaver taken to its budget its knee-jerk response to any question was oh, go to IRS.gov to figure out that...unless, of course, the issue was disclosure authorization, in which case the answer was to send a fax and wait five days). Much of the document is common sense (e.g., Dont count on getting your refund by a certain date to...pay...financial obligations.) and useful (e.g., WMR is updated no more often than once every 24 hours). The 9-point type reminder at the bottom of the page gives me pause (and maybe Im overly sensitive--Ill let you guys be the judges as EAs are not known for keeping their opinions to themselves). First, the reminder bludgeons e-filers with Pub. 3112 and Pub. 1345 requirements regarding marketing faster refunds through e-file. Second, and much more ominous (or at least iron fist, velvet glove) is This reminder serves as the IRS request to the tax preparation community to follow these messaging guidelines. The IRS will monitor industry practice during the filing season, but anticipates and expects voluntary compliance from its partners... IRS request? Really? No. Not a request at all. Demand or requirement would be more accurate. But worst of all is anticipates and expects voluntary compliance. What the what?!? I hear echoes of Ill get you and your little dog, too, but as I said at the onset, I might be overly sensitive...
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 22:05:26 +0000
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