IRS E-Services
Peter Harris, CPA, CMA
The IRS has some great electronic products that can help tax professionals service their clients better than ever. These e-services products are easy to use and provide real-time and accurate information 24 hours a day. • Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) Application • Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Matching • Electronic Account Resolution • Transcript Delivery System Disclosure Authorization With this product, you can complete authorization forms 2848 & 8821 and submit them electronically in just minutes, and the POA becomes effective immediately (you do not have to wait three days). Now you can receive transcripts electronically or call the practitioner priority service to discuss your client issues — this is real-time. Electronic Account Resolution This product allows tax professionals to electronically send or receive account related inquiries. The same group that handles the practitioner priority service handles this, which allows you to do business without talking to the forum. However, you must have a POA before you use this. This is a handy tool because you receive a written response that you can document in your client’s file. Transcript Delivery System This service makes it easy to get a detailed IRS report instantly. Documents available include account transcripts, wage & income documents, tax return transcripts, and verification of non-filing letters. To use this, you must have a valid POA. • http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/index.html Look for e-services tab – also, online tutorials are available once you have completed the registration process and logged on to the system. • http://www.taxtalktoday.tv/ This is a great resource. You can review the archives to find helpful broadcasts about e-filing, e-services, and many other topics (you must register to use). These webcasts include a panel of experts who work in our industry. Peter Harris, CPA, CMA, is a partner at Johnson, Harris, and Goff, PLLC. He can be reached at AZ CPA – January 2006
The IRS has classified e-services into two separate categories, general e-services and incentive e-services. Regardless of the level of service, you must first register. You can register on the IRS Web site at http://www.irs.gov/taxpros. Just click on e-services – Online Tools for Tax Professionals and look for Not Yet Registered?
The “general” e-service products are available for all tax professionals without qualification. General e-service products include:
• Online e-file application (form 8633)
The “incentive” e-services are only available to qualified EROs (Electronic Return Originators). In other words, you must be an active participant in the IRS e-file program and e-file five or more accepted individual or business returns in a season to use these services. This is a big incentive to e-file tax returns, because you can take advantage of these services! The incentive e-service products include:
• Disclosure Authorization
Where can you find out more? Below are a few helpful resources.
• e-help desk at 1-866-255-0654
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