Yes, millions of folks still haven't filed their 2008 returns (that final deadline is Oct. 15; more on that soon), but the IRS also is getting ready for the 2010 e-filing season.
The agency has released the updated version of Publication 1436, Test Package for Electronic Filing of Individual Income Tax Returns for Tax Year 2009.
The Service requires all software developers and electronic forms transmitters to perform the tests in the package before they will be accepted into the upcoming e-filing program.
As you can imagine, the process involves lots of acronyms, but basically the IRS wants to make sure that, prior to live processing, tax pros transmit in the correct format and meet the IRS electronic filing specifications. The IRS also wants to make sure that providers understand the mechanics of e-file.
This year the IRS also is getting feedback on its Modernized e-File (MeF) technology. MeF already is in use to process electronically filed corporation, partnership, excise tax and exempt organization tax returns.
The IRS is incorporating individual tax forms into MeF. For the upcoming filing season, MeF will support the following 2009 tax year filings:
| Form 1040 | Individual Income Tax Return |
| Schedule A | Itemized Deductions |
| Schedule B | Interest and Ordinary Dividends |
| Schedule C | Profit or Loss from Business |
| Schedule D | Capital Gains and Losses |
| Schedule E | Supplemental Income and Loss |
| Schedule EIC | Earned Income Credit |
| Schedule M (new for 2009) | Making Work Pay Credit |
| Schedule R | Credit for the Elderly or Disabled |
| Schedule SE | Self-Employment Tax |
| Form 1099-R | Retirement plan distributions |
| Form 2106 | Employee Business Expenses |
| Form 2210 | Underpayment of Estimated Tax |
| Form 2441 | Child and Dependent Care Expenses |
| Form 4562 | Depreciation and Amortization |
| Form 4868 | Extension to File |
| Form 8283 | Noncash Charitable Contributions |
| Form 8812 | Additional Child Tax Credit |
| Form 8829 | Business Use of Home |
| Form 8863 | Education Credits |
| Form 8880 | Retirement Savings Credit |
| Form 8888 | Direct Deposit to Multiple Accounts |
| Form W-2 | Wage and Tax Statement |
The IRS' Forms and Publications Web page has the latest versions of the existing tax forms that will be part of the modernized e-filing system next year if you want a sneak preview.
As for what other e-filing steps the IRS is exploring, check back tomorrow when I'll give you a preview courtesy of a session I attended at the Dallas Nationwide Tax Forum last month.
Programming note 10/4/09: A perfect storm of home repairs, story deadlines and the upcoming Tax Carnival have forced me to move the aforementioned elaboration on e-filing issues to Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Update: The promised (threatened?) post on the increasingly electronic IRS is now posted!
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