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Issue Number:  2015-10

Inside This Issue

1. New on IRS.gov
2. Taxes. Security. Together: New Steps to Help Public Protect Personal Tax Data
3. IRS Seeks Information about Professional Employer Organizations
4. IRS Tests W-2 Verification Code for Filing Season 2016
5. Webinar: Electronic Filers of Affordable Care Act Information Returns Must Use AIR Program
6. Plan Now to Use Health Flexible Spending Arrangements in 2016
7. Technical Guidance

• Pub. 1693, SSA/IRS Reporter Newsletter
• 2015 Inst. 8952, Instructions for Form 8952, Application for Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP)  
• 2016 Form W-3SS, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (Info Copy Only)
• 2015 Form W-3SS, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (Info Copy Only)  
• 2015 Form W-3C, Transmittal of Corrected Wage and Tax Statements (Info Copy Only)
• 2016 Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (Info Copy Only)
• 2015 Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (Info Copy Only)
• 2015 Form 8508, Request for Waiver from Filing Information Returns Electronically (Forms W-2, W-2G, 1042-S, 1097-BTC, 1098 Series, 1099 Series, 3921, 3922, 5498 Series, and 8027)
• 2015 Form 8922, Third-Party Sick Pay Recap  
• 2015 Pub. 1239, Specifications for Filing Form 8027, Employer's Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips, Electronically 
• 2015 Form 944, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return  
• 2015 Inst. 943, Instructions for Form 943, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees  
• 2015 Form 943, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees  
  2015 Pub. 1220, Specifications for Electronic Filing of Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, and W-2G  
• 2015 Inst. 945, Instructions for Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax  
• 2015 Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax"##

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The IRS, state tax administrators and the private-sector tax industry announced a new campaign to raise public awareness that even routine actions on the Internet and personal devices can affect the safety of their financial and tax data.

The education campaign will complement the expanded series of protections the IRS, states and tax industry are putting in place for the start of the 2016 filing season to address tax-related identity theft.

Related links: 

• IR-2015-117 
• Fact Sheet 2015-23

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IR-2015-127, Nov. 17, 2015 – The IRS announces that it is requesting information about current professional employer organization (PEO) practices in an effort to streamline the implementation of a new federal program.

Specific topics of interest include covered employees, financial audit practices, verification of payroll tax obligations and working capital and net worth requirements.

Find further details on the specific topics and the process for submitting information in the full text of the request for information.

Deadline for submissions is Jan. 8, 2016.

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The IRS and certain payroll service providers are partnering to test a new Verification Code that will help validate data on the Form W-2. If the Verification Code is present on the Form W-2, enter it on the electronic return when prompted by the software.

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Health coverage providers and applicable large employers – and those assisting them in preparation for electronically filing the 2015 health care information returns – need to understand the IRS ACA Information Return (AIR) electronic filing process.

Register now for live webinars on the AIR system, and also see an AIR Tax Tip on the topic.

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Remind your clients that now’s the time to begin planning to take full advantage of their employer’s health flexible spending arrangement (FSA) during 2016.

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Revenue Procedure  2015-53 sets forth inflation-adjusted items for 2016. Find RP 2015-53 in IRB 2015-44 on November 2, 2015.

Notice 2015-75 provides the Tax Year 2016 dollar limitations for qualified retirement

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