E-help Desk assists tax professionals such as enrolled agents, reporting agents, electronic return originators, Certified Public Accountants, software developers, and transmitters with non-account related questions and issues concerning e-products. E-help desk toll-free number 866-255-0654 Note: Callers who are outside of the 50 U.S. states and/or U.S. territories should use the international phone number: 512-416-7750. Taxpayers who file their returns electronically using a tax preparer or online software should not be referred to the e-help Desk. If you are an individual taxpayer and have questions about electronic filing, visit our help page for individuals. The e-help Desk assistors support IRS e-file Individual and Business, EFTPS, SAM, and e-Services customers. Phone options have changed. Please listen to all the menu options before selection. Use the following bulleted options as reference. From the main menu: Press (1) for e-File, ERO, ITIN related information Press (2) for e-Service related information Press (3) for EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) Press (4) for SAM (System Award Management) Press (5) for FATCA on-line registration (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) From the (e-File, ERO, ITIN) sub-menu: Press (1) for individual returns Press (2) for business and non-profit returns Press (3) for e-File applications Press (4) for suitability From the (e-Services) sub-menu: Press (1) for Taxpayer Identification Number matching (TIN matching) Press (2) for Transcript Delivery System Press (3) for Short ID E-help desk hours Monday thru Friday 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time What products does the e-help desk support? e-Services: a suite of web-based products that allows third parties and payers to conduct business with the IRS electronically. IRS e-file Application: allows a business or organization to become an Authorized e-file provider to participate in the e-file program. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Matching: enables authorized payers (firms who withhold or make specified payments to the IRS) to verify a TIN and name combination. Transcript Delivery System (TDS): allows the tax preparer to request transcripts and Wage and Income documents from the IRS. E-file: An electronic submission of taxpayer return data Individual returns: filing any of the Form 1040 family of returns and associated forms and schedules and the processing of electronic payments attached to the return. Employment and fiduciary returns: filing of Forms 940, 941, 944, and 1041. Business returns: filing of Forms 720, 1065, 1065-B, 1120, 1120-F, 1120-S, 2290, 7004, and 8849. Exempt organizations information returns: filing of Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 1120-POL, 8868, 7004, and 990N e-Postcard. Modernized e-File (MeF), Assurance Testing System (ATS): testing required for software developers and transmitters who transmit individual and business returns to the IRS. Who must e-file? e-file requirement for tax return preparers: The law requires tax return preparers and firms who reasonably expect to file 11 or more covered returns in calendar year 2013 and thereafter, to e-file the returns they prepare and file. For 2013, covered returns are Forms 1040, 1040-A, 1040-EZ, and 1041. If this requirement will cause an undue hardship, apply for a waiver by completing Form 8944, Preparer e-file Hardship Waiver Request. For more information, go to IRS.gov, keyword 'e-file requirement'. Excise tax filers of Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return, who register 25 or more vehicles for any taxable period. Corporations and tax-exempt organizations who file Forms 990, 1120, 1120-F, and 1120-S have assets of $10 million or more, and who file at least 250 returns annually. These returns include income tax, excise tax, employment tax, and information returns such as Forms W-2 and 1099. Private foundations and charitable trusts who file at least 250 returns annually (including Forms W-2, 1099, and others). Partnerships with more than 100 partners. Tools and tips for authorized IRS e-file providers Need to know where to transmit individual e-file returns? Refer to Part 1 of Publication 1346, Electronic Return File Specifications for Individual Income Tax Returns. Go to IRS.gov, keyword 'Pub 1346'. Subscribe to Quick Alerts to receive valuable and important e-file information throughout the filing season. Go to IRS.gov, keyword ‘Quick Alerts’. Contact your state e-file coordinator to take advantage of filing federal and state returns at the same time. Go to IRS.gov, keyword 'federal/state e-file'. Update an e-file application within 30 days of any change to prevent an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) from being deactivated. Refer to Publication 3112, IRS e-file Application and Participation, for rules and requirements for participation in IRS e-file. Go to IRS.gov, keyword 'Pub 3112'. Order or download the following publications from IRS.gov: Publication 1345, Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of Individual Income Tax Returns Publication 2043, IRS Refund Information Guidelines for the Tax Preparation Community Report suspected tax fraud activity by completing Form 3949-A, Information Referral at IRS.gov, keyword 'Form 3949-A', or by calling the Tax Fraud Hotline at 800-829-0433.
