IMRS Monthly Overview – January 2012
RECENTLY CLOSED ISSUES
Policy, Practice & Procedures
IMRS Issue 12-0001537 – Opt-out of release of information in PTIN application
Issue: A tax practitioner proposed that an opt-out feature be established regarding the release of practitioners’ PTIN information.
Response: The law allows vendors and others to obtain the PTIN holder listing. PTIN holders are not allowed to opt out of the disclosure of their contact information because this information is available to the public based on Freedom of Information Act laws. You should also review the PTIN application privacy policy.
In order to maintain privacy, PTIN holders may want to review and/or update their contact information to ensure that their business (not personal) information is listed.
If you receive unwanted email solicitations due to this required disclosure, the Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection can best advise you whether an email violates the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 and how to report violations.
IMRS Issue 11-0001527 - Posting date for failure to pay penalty abatement
Issue: When the IRS abates the failure to pay penalty, the date posted to the IRS computer system for the abatement is often the date the abatement was processed instead of the date the penalty was originally assessed. The result is that it appears the IRS collects interest on abated penalties from the date of assessment to the abatement posting date.
Response: Even though the posting date on the account transcript shows the date the abatement was processed, the computer uses the original assessment date when computing interest. Interest on penalty abatements is computed using a first in first out ordering system, so interest on abated failure to pay penalties is abated from the penalty assessment date. Therefore, there is not a systemic interest problem with failure to pay penalty abatements.
NOTE: Current and previous reports are also available on this site. The monthly overviews are posted for the prior two years through the current month. You can also access reports for issues closed in prior years on the same page.
We invite you to raise your issues/concerns with your local stakeholder liaison.
