Here you'll find items of current interest — new programs, recent guidance, or timely reminders. Or jump to the latest news about IRS forms and publications.

Filing Season Begins

In 2009, there were numerous tax law changes that expanded credits and deductions that may affect your 2009 tax return. Find out more. For general information, visit 1040 Central.

Tax Return Preparer Compliance and Enforcement

The IRS has undertaken several intiatives to reach tax return preparers with education and enforcement. Find out more.

Consumer Alert

The IRS does not send taxpayers unsolicited e-mails about their tax accounts, tax situations or personal tax issues. If you receive such an e-mail, most likely it's a scam.

IRS impersonation schemes flourish during filing season. These schemes may take place via phone, fax, Internet sites, social networking sites and particularly e-mail. 

Many impersonations are identity theft scams that try to trick victims into revealing personal and financial information that can be used to access their financial accounts. Some e-mail scams contain attachments or links that, when clicked, download malicous code (virus) that infects your computer or direct you to a bogus form or site posing as a genuine IRS form or Web site. 

Some impersonations may be commercial Internet sites that consumers unknowingly visit, thinking they're accessing the genuine IRS Web site, IRS.gov. However, such sites have no connection to the IRS.

For more information on scams and what to do if you're subject to one, see Online Scams that Impersonate the IRS, Suspicious e-Mails and Identity Theft and How to Report and Identify Phishing, E-mail Scams and Bogus IRS Web Sites. 

Tax Avoidance Transactions

Read up on these milestones in the IRS campaign against abusive tax avoidance transactions. Taxpayers with unreported income relating to offshore transactions who wish to voluntarily disclose the information to the IRS can find information on the process.

Why Pay Taxes? The Truth about Frivolous Tax Arguments

The Truth About Frivolous Tax Arguments (PDF 405K) addresses some of the more common false "legal" arguments made by individuals and groups who oppose compliance with the federal tax laws. These arguments are grouped under six general categories, with variations within each category. Each contention is briefly explained, followed by a discussion of the legal authority that rejects the contention. The second section deals with frivolous arguments encountered in collection due process cases. The final section illustrates penalties imposed on those pursuing frivolous cases.