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Issue Number:  2017-11

Inside This Issue

1. New on IRS.gov
2. National Tax Security Awareness Week, November 27-December 1
3. 2018 Filing Season
4. Technical Guidance

Forms

• 2018 Form W-3SS, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (Info Copy Only)
• 2018 Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (Info Copy Only)
• 2017 Inst. 944, Instructions for Form 944, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return
• 2017 Form 944, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return
• 2017 Inst. 943, Instructions for Form 943, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees
• 2017 Form 943, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees
• 2017 Inst. 945, Instructions for Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax
• 2017 Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax

Publications

• Pub. 5223, General Rules and Specifications for Affordable Care Act Substitute Forms 1095-A, 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C
• Pub. 1220, Specifications for Electronic Filing of Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, and W-2G
• Pub. 5258, Affordable Care Act (ACA) Information Returns (AIR) Submission Composition and Reference Guide

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For five days, the IRS and its Security Summit partners will host informational events around the country. IRS will also issue tax tips and news releases to help individual and business taxpayers avoid falling victim to identity theft and refund fraud.

More information:

• IR 2017-190, IRS, State Tax Agencies and Tax Industry Announce National Tax Security Awareness Week, Nov. 27-Dec. 1; Event Focuses on Protecting Tax, Financial Data in Advance of Holidays,
• IRS Tax Tip 2017-79, National Tax Security Awareness Week: Data Protection Tips to Help Taxpayers, Businesses

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The IRS has not yet announced when the 2018 tax filing season will begin. We are working to update programming and processing systems for 2018. We are also closely monitoring potential legislation that could affect the 2018 tax season.

The IRS will continue to work closely with tax professionals and the software community as we prepare for the 2018 tax filing season.

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Announcement 2017-15 provides relief to victims of Hurricane Maria and the recent California wildfires, which caused damage to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and parts of California.  It permits easier access to funds held in workplace retirement plans and in IRAs for the period beginning September or October 2017 and ending March 15, 2018.  The relief provided in the announcement is in addition to the relief the IRS already provided under News Releases CA-2017-06, VI-2017-02 and PR-2017-02.

Notice 2017-67 provides guidance on the requirements for providing a qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement (QSEHRA) under section 9831(d) (added to the Internal Revenue Code by 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act)), the tax consequences of the arrangement, and the requirements for providing written notice of the arrangement to eligible employees.

Notice 2017-64 Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) provides for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions under qualified retirement plans. Section 415(d) requires that the Secretary of the Treasury annually adjust these limits for cost-of-living increases. Other limitations applicable to deferred compensation plans are also affected by these adjustments under § 415. Under § 415(d), the adjustments are to be made under adjustment procedures similar to those used to adjust benefit amounts under § 215(i)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act.

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