MASS DOR Announces Limited Amnesty Program For Taxpayer With Certain Tax Liabilities

Document Title:  TIR 15-2:  LIMITED AMNESTY PROGRAM FOR TAXPAYER WITH CERTAIN TAX LIABILITIES

Status: TIR; Issued

Tax types:  Corporate Excise, Estate Tax, Fiduciary Income Tax, Use Tax on Motor Vehicles

Summary:  This TIR explains a 60-day amnesty period beginning on March 16 and ending on May 15, 2015 intended to encourage the payment of certain delinquent tax obligations.  The amnesty will apply to tax years or periods for which an assessment was made on or before January 1, 2015 and is limited to eligible taxpayers with existing tax liabilities in the tax types listed above who receive a notice that they are eligible, and as further described in the TIR.

Target Audience:  Taxpayers with unpaid tax liabilities in the tax types listed above who receive a notice of eligibility from DOR; tax practitioners.

Link to Document:   http://www.mass.gov/dor/businesses/help-and-resources/legal-library/tirs/tirs-by-years/2015-releases/tir-15-2.html

Former MA/RI Chapter Board of Director and NATP Member Peg Baldassari Has Passed Away

Margaret "Peg" R. Baldassari

Margaret “Peg” R. (Morgan) Baldassari, 64, of East Walpole, died March 3, 2015 in Norwood Hospital. She was the wife of James D. Baldassari. Peg was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and spent most of her adult life in Toronto, also having lived and worked in England as a professional photographer. She had lived in East Walpole for the past 19 years.

Prior to moving to the United States, Peg was an advertising executive in Toronto and worked in technical support for a large mining research and development firm in Toronto.

Peg had her own income tax preparation business, and organized and ran ballroom dances in Walpole and Norwood on a weekly basis, and was an accomplished water color artist. One of her designs was published and distributed by a national greeting card company. An accomplished ballroom dancer, Peg competed in amateur ballroom competitions in both Canada and the u.S.

In addition to her husband she is survived by her step-sons James Baldassari of Cambridge and Scott Baldassari of New Haven, Connecticut. She is also survived by two sisters and a brother in Toronto and her beloved dogs. Her funeral will be held on Monday, March 9 from the Ginley Funeral Home (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 892 Main Street, Walpole at 9:15 followed by a funeral mass in Blessed Sacrament Church at 10:00. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, South Walpole. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 1-3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to Homes for our Troops, 6 Main Street, Taunton, MA 02780. www.hfotusa.com.

IRS Webinar - 2015 Payment Alternatives - March 25th

Find out what options are available during this FREE one-hour webinar…

Topic: 2015 Payment Alternatives When You Owe the IRS

Date:  Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Time:  11:00 a.m. (Pacific); Noon (Mountain); 1:00 p.m. (Central); 2:00 p.m. (Eastern)

Highlights of What's Covered:

• Online Payment Agreements – Expanded eligibility criteria 
• Prerequisites to Collection case resolution – Why current and ongoing compliance is vital
• Collection Information Statements
  • Providing financial information to resolve the more complex Collection cases
  • When it is necessary and how the information is used
• Selling or refinancing property when there is a tax lien
  • What you’ll need to make the process go smoothly
• Plus a live Q&A session

CPE:  Earn One CE Credit – Category: Federal Tax

PTIN Holders: In order to get your CE reported to the IRS, ensure that your first name, last name and PTIN match your account.

Your PTIN must begin with the letter P followed by 8 numeric characters. If your name and PTIN are incorrectly entered, you may

still receive a certificate but your credit will not be reported to the IRS.

         

Information & Registration:  

Click on the following link to register: 

http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=100098

Please share this with your members, staff, volunteers, colleagues and

anyone who may benefit from this information.

Webinar Support Team

Small Business/Self-Employed

See what you can learn today -- or if today’s not good for you, then tomorrow -- take advantage of the IRS Video Portal

MA DOR Issues Refunds While Enhancing Taxpayer Verification Efforts to Combat Fraud

Some taxpayers being asked to verify refund information resulting in delays

(Boston, MA)- Commissioner Amy Pitter today announced that efforts have been intensified to authenticate the legitimacy of tax returns resulting in refunds. “We already had robust filters in place and we are adding to our arsenal in an effort to combat ever-increasing fraud attempts,” said the Commissioner.

Earlier this month, the Department of Revenue (DOR), like many state revenue agencies across the country, temporarily stopped issuing refunds following reports of possible widespread tax refund fraud. Refunds were resumed within several days and more than 440,000 refunds have been issued since, with approximately 5% of returns with refunds being set aside for additional taxpayer verification.

In response to the recent reported fraud concerns, DOR began developing an online application designed to collect information from taxpayers whose refunds have been set aside for additional scrutiny. These taxpayers will be notified by mail with instructions for completing a secure, online verification process with specific information related to their refund. It is anticipated that this application will be ready before March 15. Due to the inventory of refunds that were recently set aside, there will be a one-time release of notices this week to approximately 15,000 impacted taxpayers asking them to call and speak with a DOR representative to provide information that will allow their refund to be released.

Until the new online refund verification application is available in the next couple of weeks, any additional refunds set aside for further scrutiny will be held. Although only a small percentage of taxpayers due refunds will be included in the verification process, it could mean that up to 20,000 taxpayers will experience a delay in receiving their refund. When the new online application is launched, notices will be sent to affected taxpayers with instructions for completing the refund verification.

Since last fall, some taxpayers have been notified by mail to take a secure online quiz answering personal information only they would know to confirm their identity. Once that quiz is passed, their refund is issued. This is a separate procedure for a different group of taxpayers and this process will continue. So far, more than 16,000 taxpayers have been notified to take the quiz, and once the quiz is passed, refunds are issued.

“This new fraud test means that some taxpayers will wait a little longer for their refunds as we determine that the legitimate taxpayer actually filed the return. It is essential that we protect taxpayers and the Commonwealth, and although it will result in a delay for some, we think it is well worth the extra effort,” said the Commissioner.

Taxpayers may check the status of their refund at any time online using the Where’s my Refund app at www.mass.gov/dor or through the automated phone system at 617-887-6367 (or toll-free in Massachusetts at 800-392-6089).