Key Messages for Small Businesses

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Key Messages for Small Businesses
Wendy Campbell Senior Stakeholder Liaison
617-316-2486 Wendy.W.Campbell_at_irs.gov
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What Does Stakeholder Liaison Do?

• Partner with business and industry organizations
• Develop distribute information that will help
  taxpayers meet their federal tax responsibilities

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What Do We Offer Small Business Owners?

• Educational Products
• Web Site www.irs.gov
• Services
• e-file e-pay

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Products

• Small Business Resource Guide CD updated annually
  (Publication 3207)
• New DVD for Small Business Workshop (Publication
  1066C)
• Small Business Tax Calendar (Publication 1518)

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Services

• Small Business section of IRS web site
• Online EIN application
• Headliners for partner organizations
• Voluntary Compliance Fact Sheets
• Tax Center links for partner organizations
• Subscription services
• Biz Specialty Tax Line [phone]

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Whats on the IRS Web Site?

• Forms publications
• Online classroom
• Information for new businesses
• Industry specific information
• Audit Technique Guides
• Employment taxes
• Website in Spanish

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Audit Technique Guides

• From IRS.gov home page, click on Businesses to
  find link
• Tax information for many specific industries
  business practices
• Unique industry issues, business practices,
  industry terminology

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Tax Centers

• Partnering opportunity to benefit your membership
• IRS provides template with logos links to key
  small business sections of our web site
• Small business organization posts the links
  and/or articles on their web site

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Tax Centers
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Issue Management Resolution System

• Identifies and tracks local and national issues
• Ensures appropriate and timely resolution
• Provides resolution feedback to the initiator
  potentially impacted stakeholders

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Burden Reduction

• Goal is to reduce the time and money spent by
  taxpayers to comply with the tax laws
• Issues may be submitted by taxpayers or
  stakeholders

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Selecting a Return Preparer

• Choose a preparer you can contact
• Investigate the preparer (BBB, IRS, CPA Bar
  Associations)
• Affiliated with a professional organization
• Beware of preparers who guarantee results or
  charge a of your refund

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Return Preparer Tips

• Reputable preparers will request to see your
  receipts
• Taxpayers are legally responsible for whats on
  their own tax returns
• Paid preparer must sign the return
• Review your completed return
• Never sign a blank return, and never sign in
  pencil

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Telephone Excise Tax Refund

• Telephone tax on long distance service no longer
  taxed after July 31, 2006
• Local service will continue to be taxed
• Refund claimed as refundable credit on new line
  of 2006 returns

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Credit for Federal Telephone Excise Tax (Contd)

• ? Form 8913 used to claim actual taxes paid over
  the last three years
• ? Individuals may claim a safe harbor amount
  instead of actual amount
• ? Standard amount not available to non-profits
  and businesses (formula)
• ? Interest will be paid on refunds

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Small Business Phone Forum
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• Thank you!
• Contact Wendy W. Campbell
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail Wendy.W.Campbell_at_irs.gov