IRS Tax Updates

Advance Child Tax Credit Payment Tools

The IRS and Treasury have unveiled an online Non-filer Sign-up tool to assist eligible families who don’t normally file tax returns to register for the monthly Child Tax Credit payments scheduled to begin July 15. The tool is an update of last year’s Non-filers tool which helped individuals claim Economic Impact Payments (EIPs). The tool will continue this work as well. Additionally, the IRS has also released a Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant tool to help families determine if they qualify for the payments and an Update Portal for monitoring and managing the payments. Finally, the IRS is also partnering with groups such as non-profit organizations, churches, and community groups in 12 cities to help identify any families who may have missed the many previous requests to register for EIPs or the Advance Child Tax Credit. Outreach events were held this past weekend and will be held next weekend in Atlanta; New York; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; Las Vegas; Miami; Milwaukee; Philadelphia; Phoenix; St. Louis; and Washington, DC.

IRS Data Book Released

The IRS has issued the Data Book for fiscal year 2020 (October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020), detailing the agency’s activities and “important work that IRS employees accomplish on behalf of the public,” according to IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. The 2020 Data Book also describes the measures taken to protect the health and safety of taxpayers and IRS employees during the COVID-19 pandemic while implementing legislation such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as well as carrying on their typical work of processing returns and making online tools to assist taxpayers.

ETAAC Annual Report

The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) has released its annual report  (PDF) to Congress, featuring recommendations focused on preventing identity theft and refund fraud. Recommendations were made to Congress regarding the IRS budget, filing information returns, and federal data-sharing, while those made to the IRS dealt with electronic filing and cybersecurity. ETAAC members represent various segments of the tax community, from taxpayers to tax professionals, software developers, the financial industry and state and local governments.