WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service and its Security Summit partners today urged tax professionals to take additional security steps immediately to protect taxpayer data as more practitioners telework and security risks increase.

The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry continue to see an upswing in data thefts from tax professionals as cybercriminals try to take advantage of COVID-19 and Economic Impact Payments to create new scams.

“Identity thieves view the pandemic as a chance to exploit tax professionals as well as taxpayers,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “They are using every trick of their criminal trade to con people as well as steal valuable personal and financial information to help enable tax-related identity theft. In many ways, tax pros are one of the first lines of defense. We urge the entire tax community to take additional steps and protect their sensitive data.”

The partners in the Security Summit – including the IRS, state tax agencies and private-sector tax industry – continue working closely together to watch for new threats during the coronavirus.

In addition, IRS Criminal Investigation is actively working to combat scam artists trying to exploit Economic Impact Payments and other provisions related to coronavirus. So far, the scams CI has already seen look to prey on vulnerable taxpayers who are unaware of how the payments will reach them. IRS CI is prioritizing these types of investigations to help protect taxpayers and the tax system.

Tax Pros: Use a Virtual Private Network for extra security
All tax professionals who are teleworking should be using an encrypted Virtual Private Network or VPN. A VPN provides a secure, encrypted tunnel to transmit data between a remote user via the internet and the company network.

Cybercriminals can exploit various weaknesses, whether by using a phishing email or an unsecured network, to gain control of a tax professional’s computer. Once they have remote control, they can either steal data or complete and file client tax returns but change the bank account information for refunds.

The government cannot recommend a VPN provider, but tax professionals can ask trusted colleagues or search for “Best VPNs” to find a legitimate vendor. Major technology sites often provide lists of top services. Never fall for “pop-ups” on websites for VPN or any kind of security software. Those generally are all scams.

Multi-Factor Authentication helps protect data
This year, most tax software providers for tax professionals and for taxpayers are offering the option of multi-factor authentication. Security Summit partners urge the use of this option.

Multi-factor authentication means a returning user to the software product must enter not only their credentials (username/password) but also a security code, generally sent as a text to a mobile phone. The idea is the thieve may compromise log-in credentials, but it is unlikely they will have stolen the mobile phone as well.

Multi-factor authentication protects the software account from being breached and from client data being stolen. Tax professionals should activate this feature immediately.

Avoid phishing scams
Identity thieves have stepped up phishing scam efforts to capitalize on COVID-19 and Economic Impact Payments. Crooks are targeting tax professionals as well as taxpayers.

Tax professionals should beware of emails from criminals posing as potential clients. As people practice social distancing these days, criminals may exploit this process to try to trick tax practitioners into opening links or attachments. For example, crooks may present themselves as a new client and ask the practitioner to view the wage and income information they have in an attachment.

The Security Summit reminds tax professionals of simple steps to remember: Know your customers. Use the phone to confirm identities. And, don’t take the bait. 

Thieves also seek to impersonate tax software providers, cloud storage providers banks and others. Remember, phishing emails generally have an urgent message, i.e. your account password expired, and direct you to a link or attachment.

Taxpayers can report suspicious emails posing as the IRS to our *PHISHING mailbox at phishing@irs.gov.

Watch out for IRS impersonation scams
The IRS will not call, email or text anyone about Economic Impact Payments. These are impersonation scams by thieves seeking to steal bank account or other sensitive data. Do not fall for these scams.

Don’t forget security software
Everyone, especially all tax professionals, should be using broad-based security software that protects not just their computers but mobile phones as well. Security features will help identify and stop potentially dangerous malware that can infect digital networks.

For more help, the IRS and  the Security Summit partners urge tax practitioners to review the security measures outlined in Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data.

The IRS has updated FAQs regarding Form 1139 and Form 1045 to Claim Quick Refunds of the Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax Liability of Corporations and Net Operating Loss Deductions

Revenue Procedure 2020-26 provides guidance relating to the tax qualification of certain securitization vehicles that hold mortgage loans for which borrowers have participated in forbearance programs arising from the COVID-19 emergency.  This revenue procedure also provides guidance for certain real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) that acquire mortgage loans for which borrowers have participated in forbearance programs arising from the COVID-19 emergency.

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers they have several options to schedule and pay federal taxes electronically that are due on July 15. Taxpayers with payments scheduled for April 15 also have a midnight Monday deadline to reschedule payments.

Several options allow taxpayers to schedule payments up to a year in advance. For taxpayers using Direct Pay and Electronic Funds Withdrawal (EFW) with payments scheduled for April 15, they will need to take special steps to reschedule their payments if they would like a later date. Direct Pay and EFW users with a scheduled April 15 deadline will need to reschedule these payments before midnight Eastern time on Monday.

In Notice 2020-18 (PDF), the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced special Federal income tax return filing and payment relief in response to the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.

The Federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15 to July 15. Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15 to July 15 without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax. Taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief.

Filing and paying federal taxes due by July 15

Taxpayers can schedule their payment electronically online, by phone or using their mobile device and the IRS2Go app.

Scheduling or rescheduling your payment

For taxpayers looking to reschedule or schedule their federal tax payments, the IRS offers two payment options where payments can be scheduled up to 365 days in advance. These two options are optimal for those who cancelled their payments that were due April 15 and want to reschedule their payment to the July 15 due date. They are:

Additional electronic payment options

Additional payment options and explanations on how to cancel payments already scheduled are available on IRS.gov/payments. 

Bank Account (Direct pay) You can pay for free with your bank account using Direct Pay, where taxpayers can schedule a payment up to 30 days in advance. Payments for the July 15 due date can be scheduled beginning June 15. Scheduled payments need to be cancelled at least two days in advance. This means taxpayers who originally scheduled their payment on April 15 and want to reschedule it for later need to take action no later than Monday, April 13 at midnight Eastern time. 

Paying when filing electronically

Taxpayers who filed electronically and scheduled their payment with an Electronic Funds Withdrawal, and want to reschedule their payment to the July 15 due date, can call the IRS e-file Payment Services automated line at 888-353-4537 to cancel their payment no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern time two business days prior to the scheduled payment date. This means taxpayers who originally scheduled their payment on April 15 and want to reschedule it for July 15, need to take action no later than Monday, April 13 at midnight Eastern time. Taxpayers are reminded that they will need to schedule their tax payment for the new tax deadline date of July 15.

EFW payments cannot be resubmitted. Taxpayers should select a different electronic payment option to reschedule the payments.  

Need more time to file?

Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline can request a filing extension two ways.

Estimated Payments

Estimated tax payments, for tax year 2020, originally due April 15 and June 15 are now due July 15. Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals, includes instructions to help taxpayers figure their estimated taxes. They can also visit IRS.gov/payments to pay electronically. IRS offers two free electronic payment options, where taxpayers can schedule their estimated federal tax payments up to 30 days in advance, with Direct Pay or up to 365 days in advance, with the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

For details on how to cancel a specific type of payment, see question 14 in our Filing and Payment Deadlines Questions and Answers page.

Revenue Procedure 2020-22 provides guidance under section 163(j) relating to elections to be an electing real property or farming trade or business.  This revenue procedure also provides the time and manner for making three elections under section 2306 of the CARES Act relating to the section 163(j) limitation. 

Revenue Procedure 2020-22 will be in IRB:  2020-18, dated 4/27/2020.

IRS.gov feature helps people who normally don’t file get payments; second tool next week provides taxpayers with payment delivery date and provide direct deposit information

WASHINGTON – To help millions of people, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for those who don’t normally file a tax return.

The non-filer tool, developed in partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, provides a free and easy option designed for people who don’t have a return filing obligation, including those with too little income to file. The feature is available only on IRS.gov, and users should look for Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here to take them directly to the tool.

“People who don’t have a return filing obligation can use this tool to give us basic information so they can receive their Economic Impact Payments as soon as possible,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The IRS and Free File Alliance have been working around the clock to deliver this new tool to help people.”

The IRS reminds taxpayers that Economic Impact Payments will be distributed automatically to most people starting next week. Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2018 will receive the payments automatically. Automatic payments will also go in the near future to those receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits.

How do I use the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info tool?
For those who don’t normally file a tax return, the process is simple and only takes a few minutes to complete. First, visit IRS.gov, and look for “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here.” Then provide basic information including Social Security number, name, address, and dependents. The IRS will use this information to confirm eligibility and calculate and send an Economic Impact Payment. Using the tool to get your payment will not result in any taxes being owed. Entering bank or financial account information will allow the IRS to deposit your payment directly in your account.  Otherwise, your payment will be mailed to you.

“Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info” is secure, and the information entered will be safe. The tool is based on Free File Fillable Forms, part of the Free File Alliance’s offerings of free products on IRS.gov.

Who should use the Non-Filers tool?
This new tool is designed for people who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who don’t receive Social Security retirement or disability benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits. Others who should consider the Non-Filers tool as an option, include:

Lower income: Among those who could use Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info tool are those who haven’t filed a 2018 or 2019 return because they are under the normal income limits for filing a tax return. This may include single filers who made under $12,200 and married couples making less than $24,400 in 2019.

Veterans beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients: The IRS continues to explore ways to see if Economic Impact Payments can be made automatically to SSI recipients and those who receive veterans disability compensation, pension or survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and who did not file a tax return for the 2018 or 2019 tax years. People in these groups can either use Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info option now or wait as the IRS continues to review automatic payment options to simplify delivery for these groups. 

Social Security, SSDI and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries with qualifying dependents: These groups will automatically receive $1,200 Economic Impact Payments. People in this group who have qualifying children under age 17 may use Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info to claim the $500 payment per child.

Students and others: If someone else claimed you on their tax return, you will not be eligible for the Economic Impact Payment or using the Non-Filer tool.
 
Coming next week: Automatic payments begin
Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 and chose direct deposit of their refund will automatically receive an Economic Impact Payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples and $500 for each qualifying child. Individuals who receive Social Security retirement or disability benefits, SSDI or who receive Railroad Retirement benefits but did not file a return for 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive a payment in the near future.

Coming next week: Get My Payment shows Economic Impact Payment date, helps with direct deposit
To help everyone check on the status of their payments, the IRS is building a second new tool expected to be available for use by April 17. Get My Payment will provide people with the status of their payment, including the date their payment is scheduled to be deposited into their bank account or mailed to them.

An additional feature on Get My Payment will allow eligible people a chance to provide their bank account information so they can receive their payment more quickly rather than waiting for a paper check. This feature will be unavailable if the Economic Impact Payment has already been scheduled for delivery.

More Information on Economic Impact Payments
The IRS will post additional updates on IRS.gov/coronavirus on these and other issues.

Revenue Procedure 2020-24 provides guidance under section 172(b)(1) and section 172(b)(3), as amended by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES Act). Section 2303 of the CARES Act amended section 172 to require taxpayers with net operating losses (NOLs) arising in taxable years beginning in 2018, 2019, and 2020 to carry those NOLs back for the 5 preceding taxable years, unless the taxpayer elects to waive or reduce the carryback period. The revenue procedure also describes how taxpayers with NOLs arising in taxable years 2018, 2019, or 2020 can elect to either waive the carryback period for those losses entirely or to exclude from the carryback period for those losses any years in which the taxpayer has an inclusion in income as a result of section 965(a).

Revenue Procedure 2020-24 will be in IRB:  2020-17, dated 04/20/20

Notice 2020-26 provides relief for certain taxpayers to allow them to take advantage of amendments made to the net operating loss (NOL) provisions set forth in § 172 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) by section 2303 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136, 134 Stat. 281 (March 27, 2020).  Specifically, this notice extends the deadline for filing an application for a tentative carryback adjustment under § 6411 of the Code with respect to the carryback of an NOL that arose in any taxable year that began during calendar year 2018 and that ended on or before June 30, 2019.

Notice 2020-26  will be in IRB: 2020-18, dated 04/27/2020.

Notice 2020-23; Expanded Federal tax filing and payment relief on account of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency. The Treasury Department and IRS are providing additional relief to taxpayers, postponing until July 15, 2020, a variety of tax form filings and payment obligations that are due between April 1, 2020 and July 15, 2020.  Associated interest, additions to tax, and penalties for late filing or late payment will be suspended until July 15, 2020.  Additional time to perform certain time-sensitive actions during this period is also provided. This notice also postpones due dates with respect to certain government acts and postpones the application date to participate in the Annual Filing Season Program. This notice expands upon the relief provided in Notice 2020-18, issued March 20, 2020, and Notice 2020-20, issued March 27, 2020.

Notice 2020-23 will be in IRB  2020-18, dated April 27, 2020

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today reminds taxpayers and tax professionals to use electronic options to support social distancing and speed the processing of tax returns, refunds and payments.

To protect the public and employees, and in compliance with orders of local health authorities around the country, certain IRS services such as live assistance on telephones, processing paper tax returns and responding to correspondence are extremely limited or suspended until further notice. All Taxpayer Assistance Centers remain temporarily closed as are many volunteer tax preparation sites until further notice. This will not affect the IRS’s ability to deliver Economic Impact Payments, which taxpayers will begin receiving next week. 

Although the tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15, 2020, from April 15, the IRS continues to process electronic tax returns, issue direct deposit refunds and accept electronic payments. As of April 3, the IRS received over 97.4 million tax returns and issued over $213 billion in refunds.

IRS operational status and alternatives
Paper Tax Returns: All taxpayers should file electronically through their tax preparer, tax software provider or IRS Free File if possible. The IRS is not currently able to process individual paper tax returns. If you already have filed via paper but it has not yet been processed, do not file a second tax return or write to the IRS to inquire about the status of your return or your economic impact payment. Paper returns will be processed   once processing centers are able to reopen. This year, more than 90% of taxpayers have filed electronically.

Ordering Forms: The IRS’s National Distribution Center is closed until further notice. We are not able to take any orders for forms or publications to be mailed during this time. Most forms and publications are available for download electronically at www.IRS.gov/forms.

Web Options: IRS.gov remains the best source for tax law questions, checks on refund status and tax payments. All IRS updates on the Economic Impact Payments and other Covid-19 related issues also will be posted immediately on www.IRS.gov/coronavirus. Taxpayers can check their refund status at Where’s My Refund? or obtain a tax transcript at Get Transcript Online. Tax transcripts are only available online at this time.

Taxpayers also can make tax payments through Direct Pay. Taxes due must be paid by July 15. The Interactive Tax Assistant can help answer tax law questions. There currently are no email options that will generate answers to questions posed by taxpayers. Publication 5136, IRS Services Guide, is a good source of information.

Telephone Options: Automated phone lines: which handle most taxpayer calls - also will remain available during this period. Some tax compliance lines also remain available. IRS phone lines supported by customer service representatives for both taxpayers and tax professionals are not staffed at this time. To check on regular tax refund status via automated phone, call 800-829-1954. (This line has no information on Economic Impact Payments.)

Practitioner Priority Service (PPS): Due to staff limitations the Practitioner Priority Service line is temporarily closed until further notice. The IRS is unable to process Centralized Authorization File (CAF) requests at this time.
IRS.gov remains the first option for answers to questions. Practitioners with e-Services accounts and with client authorization can access the Transcript Delivery System to obtain prior-year transcripts. Taxpayers should use Where’s My Refund? and Get Transcript, both common requests. However, the Get Transcript by Mail option should not be used since the offices that print and mail the transcripts are closed.
Taxpayer correspondence: While the IRS is receiving and storing mail, our mail processing functions have been scaled back to comply with social distancing recommendations. Currently, we have reduced responses to paper correspondence. Our primary concern is serving taxpayers as indicated in the People First Initiative, which includes numerous actions to alleviate taxpayer burden during this time.

Taxpayers who mail correspondence to the IRS during this period should expect to wait longer than usual for a response. Once normal operations resume it will take the IRS time to work through any correspondence backlog. Correspondence sent to IRS offices may be returned to the taxpayer if that office is closed and no one is available to accept them.  

U.S. Residency Certification: The Philadelphia Accounts Management Campus is currently closed. Processing of the US Residency Certification Program is temporarily suspended. Normal operations will resume as soon as possible.

Taxpayer Protection Program: If you received correspondence from the IRS asking if you filed a suspicious tax return, you may use the online Identity Verification Service to validate your identity. Because the IRS cannot take calls or appointments right now, this is the only present option and is only for taxpayers who receive IRS letters asking them to authenticate their identity via online, telephone or in-person and confirm whether they filed the tax return in question.

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today issued guidance providing tax relief under the CARES Act for taxpayers with net operating losses. Recently the IRS issued tax relief for partnerships filing amended returns.

COVID Relief for taxpayers claiming NOLs
Revenue Procedure 2020-24 provides guidance to taxpayers with net operating losses that are carried back under the CARES Act by providing procedures for:

Six month extension of time for filing NOL forms
In Notice 2020-26, the IRS grants a six-month extension of time to file Form 1045 or Form 1139, as applicable, with respect to the carryback of a net operating loss that arose in any taxable year that began during calendar year 2018 and that ended on or before June 30, 2019.  Individuals, trusts, and estates would file Form 1045, and corporations would file Form 1139.

COVID relief for partnerships with NOLs
On April 8, 2020, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2020-23, allowing eligible partnerships to file amended partnership returns using a Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, by checking the “Amended Return” box and issuing amended Schedules K-1, Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, to each of its partners. Partnerships filing these amended returns should write “FILED PURSUANT TO REV PROC 2020-23” at the top of the amended return.