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IRS Electronic Advisory Committee Delivers Report To Congress,
by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC), which provides
feedback on the development and implementation of the Internal Revenue Service’s
electronic tax administration strategy, has presented its 2009 Annual Report
to Congress.
The report includes 10 recommendations to advance the use of electronic filing.
For example, the report recommends the IRS require all tax preparers who file
at least 200 returns a year to use e-file. The report also calls for continued
modernization of IRS systems as well as collaboration between the IRS and industry
regarding software standards.
“ETAAC plays a significant role in IRS efforts to improve the taxpayer’s
experience via e-file and the Internet,” said David Williams, director
of Electronic Tax Administration. “ETAAC feedback helps the IRS shift
more returns from paper to e-file, which is a top priority.”
The 14-member panel provides an organized public forum for discussion of electronic
tax administration issues and the overriding goal that paperless filing should
be the preferred and most-convenient method of filing tax and information returns.
ETAAC submits an annual progress report to Congress each June. The IRS Electronic
Tax Administration created the ETAAC in 1998 as required by the IRS Restructuring
and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA 98). The report is the result of research and analysis
as well as meetings with senior IRS executives.
RRA 98 requires that ETAAC annually report to Congress on: the IRS’
progress in meeting the goal to receive electronically 80% of tax and information
returns; the status of the IRS’ e-filing strategic plan; legislative changes
that would assist the IRS in meeting the 80% goal; and the effects e-filing
tax and information returns would have on small businesses and the self-employed.
The IRS Oversight Board (Board), also established via RRA 98, has among its
duties a similar reporting responsibility with respect to advancing electronic
tax administration.
According to the report, the IRS made “significant progress” increasing
the e-file rate for individual returns, particularly in do-it-yourself online
filing. Through the end of the 2009 primary filing season, this segment grew
by 19% over the 2008 season. Preparer e-filed returns, on the other hand, were
down by just less than 1%.
ETAAC estimates strong gains will be made for the 2009 calendar year for business
e-file, while minimal gains are anticipated for employment returns, 1099-MISC
returns and fiduciary returns. The 2009 calendar year overall e-file rate for
all major form types is estimated at 59%. To reach the 80% goal, an estimated
57 million additional returns would need to be e-filed, including 16 million
individual returns.
The report also notes that the IRS has made progress in establishing the foundation
to develop a new e-strategy. “Principally, the Advancing e-file Study
and progress towards an over-arching Enterprise E-Strategy indicate that the
IRS is on the right path,” the report states.
In summary, ETAAC’s recommendations are:
Congress should enable the IRS to require preparers to e-file
Congress should fund, and the IRS should complete, the “four pillars”
of its Modernization Program
The Data Strategy project should be comprehensive
The IRS should modernize preparer e-services
The Electronic Services Strategy should be an enterprise priority
The IRS and industry should collaborate on tax software standards
The IRS should rebrand e-file
The IRS should develop an operational process for e-file rejects
The IRS should renew the Free File Alliance agreement
The IRS should ease the signature burden for information return sharing
"The IRS is making great progress on its strategic planning efforts toward
reaching not only the 80% e-file goal established by Congress but also toward
providing the next generation of electronic services for taxpayers, tax preparers
and other stakeholders," said Chris Beach, ETAAC Chairman. "ETAAC
looks forward to working with the IRS on helping to advance these important
electronic tax administration opportunities."
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