e-News for Payroll Professionals

Useful Links:

IRS.gov

Payroll Professionals
Tax Center

Employment Taxes

Reporting Agents File

Employment Tax Forms

Employment Tax Publications

Online Ordering

SSA/IRS Reporter

SSA - Employer Web Page

Taxpayer Advocate Service

Back to top

Issue Number:  2016-2

Inside This Issue

1. New on IRS.gov
2. What to tell employees about Health Care Information Forms 1095-B and C
3. Consumers Warned of New Surge in IRS Email Schemes during 2016 Tax Season; Tax Industry Also Targeted
4. Certain Taxpayers May Now File Their Employment Taxes Annually

• 2016 Inst. 8963, Instructions for Form 8963, Report of Health Insurance Provider Information
• Pub. 5121, Affordable Care Act: Individuals and Families
• Pub. 1693, SSA/IRS Reporter Newsletter
• Pub. 5200, Affordable Care Act: What employers need to know
• 2016 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement (Info Copy Only)
• 2015 Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement (Info Copy Only)
• Pub. 5208, Affordable Care Act: Are you an applicable large employer?

Back to Top

Starting this year, employees may receive one or more forms providing information about the health care coverage that they had or were offered during 2015. Some employees may not receive a Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, or Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, by the time they are ready to file their 2015 tax return.

While the information on these forms may assist in preparing a return, they are not required. It is not necessary to wait for Forms 1095-B or 1095-C in order to file.

Direct your employees to Health Care Information Forms Questions and Answers for more information about the Health Care Information Forms 1095-B and C.

Back to Top

The Internal Revenue Service renewed a consumer alert for email schemes after seeing an approximate 400 percent surge in phishing and malware incidents so far this tax season.

The emails are designed to trick taxpayers into thinking these are official communications from the IRS or others in the tax industry, including tax software companies. The phishing schemes can ask taxpayers about a wide range of topics. Emails can seek information related to refunds, filing status, confirming personal information, ordering transcripts and verifying PIN information.

Variations of these scams can be seen via text messages, and the communications are being reported in every section of the country.

IR-2016-27 has more information.

Back to Top

To reduce burden on small employers, the Internal Revenue Service simplified the rules for filing employment tax returns to report Social Security, Medicare and withheld federal income taxes.

If you have been filing Form 941, Employer's QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return, and believe your employment taxes for the calendar year will be $1,000 or less, and would like to file Form 944, Employers ANNUAL Federal Tax Return, instead of Form 941, you must contact the IRS to request to file Form 944 rather than Form 941.

You may make the request by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-4933 by April 1 of the current year, or by sending a written request, postmarked by March 15 of the current year, to:

Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0038

or:

Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Cincinnati, OH 45999-0038

Select the appropriate addresses above based on the state you are in. See "Without a payment" under the "Where Should You File" section of the Instructions for Form 944.

If you do not receive written notice from the IRS to file Form 944, you must file Forms 941 for the current calendar year.

Related link: Certain Taxpayers May Now File Their Employment Taxes Annually

Back to Top