IRS Seeks Applications for Information Reporting Advisory Committee; Deadline Is May 31 IR-2012-39, March 30, 2012 — The IRS opened the nomination season for the Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC). IRS Announces Procedures Adjusted for APA and Certain Competent Authority Requests IR-2012-38, March 27, 2012 — The Advance Pricing and Mutual Agreement program has moved from the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel International to the Large Business and International Division. IRS Provides Penalty Relief to Farmers Affected by MF Global Bankruptcy IR-2012-37, March 23, 2012 — IRS will provide relief to farmers who incur penalties because they didn't timely receive Forms 1099 from MF Global or its court appointed trustee, and were unable to file their 2011 tax return by March 1, 2012. IRS Releases FY 2011 Data Book IR-2012-36, March 22, 2012 — Fiscal Year 2011 stats are available in the recently issued IRS Data Book. IRS Seeks Volunteers for Taxpayer Advocacy Panel 2012 IR-2012-35, March 19, 2012 — The IRS seeks volunteers to serve on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP), a federal advisory committee that listens to taxpayers, identifies key issues, and makes recommendations for improving IRS service. IRS Creates Online Search Tool for Easier Check on Information About Exempt Organizations IR-2012-34, March 14, 2012 — A new online search tool, Exempt Organizations Select Check, has been launched to help users more easily find key information about tax-exempt organizations, such as federal tax status and filings. IRS Encourages Small Employers to Check Out Small Business Health Care Tax Credit IR-2012-33, March 13, 2012 — The IRS encouraged small employers to check out the small business health care tax credit and then claim it if they qualify. IRS Sends Test Results; First Registered Tax Return Preparer Certificates IR-2012-32, March 9, 2012 — The IRS announced that it has begun providing test results to tax return preparers who have taken the new return preparer competency test. IRS Offers New Penalty Relief and Expanded Installment Agreements to Taxpayers under Expanded Fresh Start Initiative IR-2012-31, March 7, 2012 — The IRS announced a major expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative to help struggling taxpayers with new penalty relief to the unemployed and making Installment Agreements more available. Winter 2012 Statistics of Income Bulletin Now Available IR-2012-30, March 2, 2012 — The winter 2012 issue of the Statistics of Income Bulletin has been released. Tax Scam Warning: Beware of Phony Refund Scheme Abusing Popular College Tax Credit; Senior Citizens, Working Families and Church Members Are Targets IR-2012-29, March 2, 2012 — The Internal Revenue Service warned senior citizens and other taxpayers to beware of an emerging scheme tempting them to claim fraudulent refunds. News release and fact sheet archive Find previous year news releases and fact sheets from 1997 through last month.
