ZIP REFUND BLOG
Articles for tax preparers
Browse our archive of tax preparation updates and business resources. Older articles reflect the rules and information available when published; check current IRS guidance before relying on dated information.
IRS Opening Day 2024
The IRS seems to get later and later in announcing the opening day of tax season. With that being said, they announced the date today to be Jan 29th. The Internal Revenue Service today announced Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, as the official start
IRS Free Webinar Dec 14
Announcement from the IRS regarding a free webinar on the 1099K delay for third- party reporting and the rollout for 2024 is below: The Internal Revenue Service will hold a free webinar, designed primarily for tax professionals whose clie
1099 K Reporting Threshold For Third Part Platforms Delayed
In more good news, the IRS announced the delay of the 1099k threshold amount for third-party platforms. This is good news for preparers as it was about to cause some confusion among the tax industry. For more details on what the roll-out o
IRS drops PTIN Registration Fees
GOOD news comes early for tax preparers as the IRS has dropped the PTIN fee to $19.75. Currently, PTINs are required to file taxes professionally. Although they are not free as they were a few years back, they have been way more expensive
2022 tax filing season begins Jan. 24; IRS outlines refund timing and what to expect in advance of April 18 tax deadline
IR-2022-08, January 10, 2022 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation’s tax season will start on Monday, January 24, 2022, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2021 tax year returns. The January
2021- PTIN FEES ARE BACK
IRS announces 2021 PTIN fees for tax return preparers IR-2020-159, July 15, 2020 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today the annual fee for 2021 that tax return preparers must pay to apply for or renew their Preparer Tax I
2019 Tax Season Opening Day- Jan 27th 2020
Zip Refund is open for yet another tax season and as of today, the IRS announced when they will be, too. The Internal Revenue Service confirmed that the nation’s tax season will start for individual tax return filers on Monday, January 27,
IRS Changes The 1040 Again – Wait, WHAT?
Guess the first time they tried this, they did not succeed and it did not go so well so they are trying again. Last year a postcard- this year… The IRS revealed that the 1040 will have several changes for the coming tax season. First, the
2019 Tax Refunds Will Be 26% Higher, Morgan Stanley Says
Odds are you’re paying too high a tax bill today. The good news, though, is that means you could see a notably higher refund next year. A research note from Morgan Stanley estimates 2019 refunds will top this year’s by 26%, working out to a
10 tips for tax pros to avoid phishing scams
10 tips for tax pros to avoid phishing scams By Jeff Stimpson Published September 17 2017, 5∶09pm EDT The inbox seems to have become tax preparers’ worst enemy in this age of phishing e-mails designed to trick preparers into volunteering cr
First Time Abate
First Time Abate: The ‘Get Out of Tax Penalties Free’ Card JULY 13, 2016 BY PAUL L. MANCINONE AND ALISON WALSH Most tax practitioners occasionally find themselves in the position of having to deal with clients who have received penalties fo
IRS Tax Updates
2016 Changes to EITC, Child Tax and Education Credits, and 2017 Filing Season Refund Delays for Returns with EITC As the main part of the 2016 filing season comes to a close, it is time to emphasize the coming important changes to the pre
Recent Funding Update
IRS Funding & Taxpayer Identity Verification February 11, 2016 – An Update on IRS Funding Patterns As of this morning, the IRS has paid approximately 70% of refunds related to taxpayers who filed within the first weeks of the season. That l
IRS Resumes Processing Tax Returns
WASHINGTON, D.C. (FEBRUARY 5, 2016) BY MICHAEL COHN The Internal Revenue Service said it resumed processing individual and business tax returns at approximately 5 p.m. Thursday following resolution of its system outage. Many of the tools an
Unusual Refund Patterns at IRS
As of 7am Eastern this morning, the IRS has still only released a small trickle of refunds so far this year. Never in the history of e-file have most early filers waited this long to receive their refund. By the end of today, the IRS is sch
e-filing will open on Tuesday Jan 19th
Tax Time is Approaching! Are you ready? The IRS announced that e-filing will open on Tuesday Jan 19th. Tell your clients and get ready for another great tax season with Zip Refund.
PATH of 2015
Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (the PATH Act) – 12-18-2015 Here is a list of key provisions. Made permanent: Enhanced Child Tax Credit Enhanced American Opportunity Tax Credit Enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit IRA-to-char
Identity protection tips
Seven Steps for Making Identity Protection Part of Your Routine IRS Security Awareness Tax Tip Number 3, December 7, 2015 Español The theft of your identity, especially personal information such as your name, Social Security number, addre
IRS Lowers Amount for PTIN Number
The IRS recently announced that it will be charging less for PTIN (Preparer tax identification number) registration and renewals. The PTIN is required to be a paid tax preparer so this is good news for all tax preparers. Instead of the usua
Tax filing problems could jeopardize health law aid for 1.8M
FINANCE JULY 06, 2016 Verizon hikes prices, though new options could save money Verizon is hiking prices on its cellphone plans, though the new rates come with changes that might save you money. If you … JULY 05, 2016 Conservative Party
800,000 Taxpayers Received Wrong Tax Info from Health Insurance Marketplace
800,000 Taxpayers Received Wrong Tax Info from Health Insurance Marketplace 454 WASHINGTON, D.C. (FEBRUARY 20, 2015) BY MICHAEL COHN Approximately 800,000 taxpayers who received health care coverage through the federal insurance marketplace
IRS Cuts Back Help Desk Hours for Tax Pros
IRS Cuts Back Help Desk Hours for Tax Pros 77 WASHINGTON, D.C. (JANUARY 16, 2015) BY MICHAEL COHN The Internal Revenue Service is eliminating the extended weekday hours, Saturday and President’s Day availability of its e-help desk service d
Tax Extenders Bill Should Keep Tax Season Opening On Track
The President is expected to sign the tax extenders bill which will extend the tax breaks until the end of 2014, but will force Congress to have to take up the issue again in 2015. Maybe they will do it sooner than the end of the year next
Zip Refund Teams Up With RefundSafe for Third Year
Zip Refund had teamed up with RefundSafe to allow their nationwide tax preparers to offer this valuable add on service to their clients for the third year in a row. With acknowledgement the problem of irs identity theft continues to get wor
Start Your Tax Business Now In Time for the Upcoming Tax Season
The tax season starts in January, so it’s almost here and more than half of the 300 million Americans will be looking for someone to prepare their tax returns. If you have been thinking of starting a tax preparation business, now is the tim
Certain Characteristics Every Good Tax Franchise Owner Should Possess
Due to its confusing nature, filing of tax returns is a dreadful thing for many Americans. Due to this, they choose to pay for the services of tax preparers’ rather than make the computations and file the returns themselves. The great num
Obtaining Your PTIN -Preparer Tax Identification Number
A preparer tax identification number must be obtained by a person who, for a fee, prepares or assists in the preparation of individuals’ or the tax returns of a ‘business’, refund claims or other forms of federal compensation. Enrolled agen
IRS Adjusts Tax Rate and Deduction Levels for 2015
IRS Adjusts Tax Rate and Deduction Levels for 2015 360 WASHINGTON. D.C. (OCTOBER 30, 2014) BY MICHAEL COHN The Internal Revenue Service announced the annual inflation adjustments for tax year 2015 for more than 40 tax provisions, including
2014 Federal Refund delay FALSE!
We have been contacted by many people asking if this article is true or false….. it is FALSE! Read more at http://www.snopes.com/media/notnews/taxdelay.asp#u0ArXeCYeloyXx6H.99
Affordable Health Act Instructions Issued for Tax Preparers
This tax season will be slightly different with the new Affordable Health Cara Act in full force. Here is some preliminary info on the forms that will be needed to be completed. If you are a Zip Refund preparer then all of this will be in t
Healthcare Form May Delay Tax Season For Some
Good info for tax preparers to add to their education packet to clients for this upcoming season. HEALTH JULY 06, 2016 Villegas torn between PGA Tour card and Olympics Camilo Villegas is torn between trying to keep his PGA Tour card
IRS Start Date 2014 is January 31
Although this is the latest ever the IRS has started accepting returns, they seem to think it will not affect the season significantly. They recently announce their start date to be Jan 31, 2014 for the first efile acceptance. They will not
IRS Delays Tax Season For the Second Season In A Row
This past week the IRS announced they will be delaying tax season for the second year in a row. Based on the government shutdown, the IRS feels they can not be ready to start accepting returns on January 21, 2014 and must push out the start
Tax Preparers and Obamacare
This upcoming tax season tax preparers will be responsible for discussing the health care mandate under Obamacare and this is sure to cause some confusion. Obamacare states that everyone has to have health insurance or pay a fine. The fine
Why Start Your OWN Tax Business Instead of an Hourly Job
There are several means to locate a tax preparer job based upon the sort of work you are looking for in regards to tax obligation prep work. If you are a tax preparer, you realize that this type of position is periodic, nonetheless, it coul