To all NJSEA Members
The Officers, Board of Directors and Committees of the NJSEA are all doing amazing work to move our affiliate forward. We are engaging more members than ever before and now, through a series of webinars, we continue to bring quality education not only to members in attendance at our monthly meeting, but to members and potential members across the state. We are actively supporting Educating America and are expecting our first ever SEE class to be held and taught by one of our members. We have a newly formed long-range planning committee who be surveying our members to set up future goals and aspirations for our affiliate. We are also in the process of reviewing a program known as Practice 911, a practice preservation support group which would provide short-term assistance to an NJSEA member that experiences sickness or death, especially during tax season.
Reminder to renew: EA License renewal season began November lst for EAs with Social Security numbers that end in 7, 8 or 9 and for EAs without a social security number. You may renew online through pay.gov and by completing the Form 8554. EAs are required to obtain 72 hours of CE for three years (2015, 2016 and 2017) with a minimum of two hours of ethics for each year.
The IRS reminds taxpayers with expiring ITINS to submit their renewal applications as soon as possible. Failing to renew them by the end of the year will cause refund and processing delays in 2018.
The IRS announced that although technology upgrades took longer than anticipated, user applications for e-File, Transcript Delivery Systems and AIR Transmitter Control Code are now available. The transition of e-Services to a new platform is now complete.
The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry urge tax professionals to make data security an everyday priority, noting a few simple steps can go far in protecting taxpayer information from cybercriminals. Cybersecurity experts often refer to the 90/10 rule, which states 10% of cybersecurity is reliant upon technology while 90 percent is up to users. The IRS currently is receiving reports of tax professional data breaches at the rate of three to five a week. We are also encouraged to remind our clients not to “take the bait” and become a victim to an IRS scam.
The IRS will appeal a federal district court decision that barred the agency from charging fees for issuing or renewing PTINs. In June, the court in Steele v, United States, ruled that the IRS lacks the authority to require preparers to pay for the PTIN. The court also ruled the IRS has to refund millions of dollars in fees it already collected. The PTIN online registration process is now open but without the payment requirement.
And finally, for some light reading, check out “H.R.1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” for Policy Highlights from the Committee on Ways and Means for proposed tax law changes. (https://waysandmeans.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/20171106-H.R.-1.pdf)
Thank you all for your continued support of our affiliate.
Bernadette Antonelli, EA, ATA, ATP
President, New Jersey Society of Enrolled Agents