Tax Forms Distribution Programs (TFDP) include distribution outlets for tax forms and products used by the taxpaying public. These outlets are internal and external to the Service. The TFDP Section provides planning and distribution systems for these outlets in conjunction with the National Distribution Center (NDC).

Programs include but are not limited to:

The TFDPS also provides oversight on processes and procedures regarding the communication of products status and ordering options.

For additional information on all TFDPS programs and processes refer to Document 12320, Tax Forms Distribution Programs Section (TFDPS) Information Guide.

The IRS partners with businesses and local governments to make reproducible tax forms and tax information available through the Community Based Outlet Program (CBOP).

CBOP participants include corporations and businesses (of 100 or more employees), copy centers, office supply stores, credit unions, local government offices, pharmacies, and grocery stores among others.

CBOP offers four products. Three products are produced and shipped to the partners as requested. They are:

The poster, Publication 3366A, Tax Forms Available Here, is available from the CBOP web site at http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0..id=98027,00.html .

The TFDPS encourages partners to provide a link on their Local Area Network to http://www.irs.gov/formspubs. This allows taxpayers to download products directly from the IRS web site. Outlets must have a photocopier and/or personal computers with print capability since all the CBOP products are electronic or reproducible.

The TFDPS coordinates with the Government Program Management Office (GPMO) the data transcription and order fulfillment of CBOP orders by the NDC. TFDPS coordinates with the Media & Publications (M&P) Printing Specialists the printing and fulfilment of orders by commercial printers.

Annually in October, current partners receive a letter and Publication 3654 CBOP Self Mailer, which contains a postcard order form (Form 12815). Partners annotate the products they will make available to their employees and/or customers and return the postcard to the NDC for data transcription into the Computer Assisted Publishing Services (CAPS) system. The address files containing the orders are sent to the print contractor for printing and distribution of the products. Orders received after the address files are given to the print contractor are filled by the NDC.

The Employer Program facilitates the distribution of employer-related products and information returns the public in support of the IRS Mission.

Businesses and employers can order products offered in this program year round through the IRS web site at http://www.irs.gov or by calling the forms toll-free number 1-800-829-3676. All products in this program are distributed by the NDC.

United States embassies, consulates, and various military legal assistance offices worldwide are provided tax products through the International Program. Participants distribute the products to individuals who have U.S. tax obligations.

Annually in September, an E-mail is sent to each participant providing information on any program changes. Form 14004, International Program Order Form, is attached to the E-mail. Also included in the E-mail is recap of last filling seasons ordering history and Publications 4605, International Program Quick Reference Guide to Order IRS Tax Products.

Program participants E-mail the completed Form 14004 to a mailbox where the data is extracted and loaded directly into the Enterprise Logistics Information Technology (ELITE) system for processing and fulfilment by a print contractor or NDC. The partner can also use Form 14004 for reorders.

There are approximately 80 products offered on the International Program, with the majority of the orders sent from the NDC.

The IRS partners with the Peace Corps to provide Tax Package 1040-1 tax material to volunteers throughout the world.

Annually is June, a spreadsheet listing the number of volunteers, each country's address, and the shipment method is provided to a coordinator at the Peace Corps. The spreadsheet is updated by the coordinator and returned within a specified time period usually by the beginning of July.

The accounts are maintained in the CAPS system and the programmer updates the database and notifies the Program Analyst when all accounts records are current. The Program Analyst sends the CAPS generated spreadsheet to the Printing Specialist responsible for Tax Package 1040 -1.

The Printing Specialist provides the information to the printing contractor who ships the tax package directly to the location in each country for further distribution to the volunteers.

The Post of Duty (POD) Program is designed to provide TACs and other Posts of Duty (PODs) with tax forms, instructions and publications for redistribution to the public. Over 400 TAC offices and PODs are surveyed each year to determine the remaining stock levels and to obtain quantity requirements for the initial product shipment for the upcoming filing season.

The Balance On Hand and the Due-In Surveys are completed on-line. The surveys are located in the post-of-duty Order Management System (OMS) on the intranet. Authorized Field Assistance (FA) personnel can access and update the surveys using their office Order Point Number (OPN) ending in 6699.

Each office is required to order all products on the Mandatory Stocking List (MSL). This list contains approximately 63 products and each office must order a minimum of 50 copies.

Offices may order products on the Optional Stocking List (OPL). This list contains approximately 125 products that offices may select to order based on their local demand and space availability.

TAC offices place reorders for tax products by using the order and Subscription Management System (OSMS) on-online ordering for IRS offices. They may also call the NDC at 1-800-829-2765 or fax Form 7130, Fax Order Requisition for Products Stocked at the NDC, to the NDC at 309-556-5062.

Initial distribution of the majority of tax products is mainly from the print contractor directly to the TACs. The remaining lower volume products and reorders are shipped from the NDC.

The TFDPS supports the Small Business Program by providing tax materials for clients at various resource centers who conduct Small Business Tax Workshops on behalf of the Service.

The Small Business/Self-Employed (SB/SE) Stakeholder Liaison staff partners with Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) offices, and others to conduct Small Business Tax Workshops and/or educate clients in federal tax obligations for their businesses.

Form 12196, Small Business Tax Product Order Blank for IRS Designated Partners, is used to request tax products for use as training material. SB/SE Stakeholder Liaison staff must contact NDC to establish an account. Thereafter, using their account number, the partner may order products directly from the NDC by calling 1-800-829-2765 or faxing a Form 12196 into the NDC at 309-556-5062.

Since the program is not filing season influenced, all orders are processed by the NDC year round.

The Tax Forms Outlet Program (TFOP) was developed as an outreach to increase availability of major tax products in local communities.

) The TFOP offers bulk tax products, through select libraries and post offices. The program also offers paper products to prisons and military installations. Libraries and post offices are the accounts in the program.

Annually in August, active TFOP participants are mailed Form 8635, Tax Forms Outlet Program Order Form, to request product for the upcoming filing season. Also included is Publication 4507, TFOP Quick Reference Guide.

The completed Form 8635, TFOP Order Form is mailed or faxed into the NDC for data transcription into CAPS.

Annually usually beginning in November, TFOP participants start receiving shipment of tax products and continue to receive shipments through the end of January. Most orders for major tax products ship direct from a print contractor and the remaining orders ship from NDC.

Shipment of tax products to the participants begins in November and concludes the end of January. Most products are shipped direct from a print contractor with the remainder shipped from the NDC.

The IRS partners with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) by providing tax products to be redistributed by land-grant universities. The products explain how the federal tax laws apply to farming and contain information about federal tax laws that apply to businesses.

The USDA coordinator works with the USDA Program Analyst to ensure all accounts are accurate and current.

Annually in September, an E-mail is sent to each participant providing information on any program changes. Form 14005, USDA Program Order Form is attached to the E-mail.

Program participants E-mail the completed Form 14005 to a mailbox where the data is extracted and loaded directly into ELITE for fulfillment by print a contractor or the NDC. The partner can also use Form 14005 for reorders.

There are four products offered on the USDA program, with the majority of the orders sent from the print contractors.

IRS offers free assistance with tax return preparation and tax counseling using volunteers trained by the Service.

VITA/TCE assists seniors, individuals with low to moderate incomes, those with disabilities, and those for which English is a second language. IRS also provides training materials for over 101,000 volunteers in these programs.

Stakeholder, Partnership, Education and Communication (SPEC), Stakeholder Relationship Tax Consultants (SRTC) and their volunteers use two order forms which offer a wide variety of tax materials:

Annually in September, an E-mail is sent to each partner and/or participant that has an E-mail address associated to their account. The E-mail contains Form 2333V, Volunteer Order Form.

Program participants E-mail the completed Form 2333V to a mailbox where the data is extracted and loaded to CAPS for the SRTC to review, edit (if necessary), and approve. Upon approval the order is sent to ELITE for fulfillment by a print contractor or the NDC. The partner can also use Form 2333V for reorders.

Program participants may complete form 2333X and send it to the SRTC for review and approval. SRTCs may E-mail, mail, or fax the approved Form 2333X to the NDC for fulfillment.

Form 2333V, Volunteer Program Order Form orders may also be entered directly into the CAPS system by SRTCs.

VITA/TCE materials are sent to individuals' homes and/ or offices and in bulk quantities to VITA/TCE sites, IRS offices and military installations.

There are approximately 81 products offered on the VITA/TCE Program with the training products and materials processed by the print contractor and the majority of the remaining orders are processed by the NDC.

In addition to the above distribution programs, Tax Forms Distribution is responsible for special distribution processes including databases, order forms, and product information sharing with other IRS employees and contracted entities. Some of the primary processes are: