11 things you and your clients will want to start thinking about for next tax season by accountingtoday.com
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Day #4 ​New forms to contend with
​The Form 1095-B and Form 1095-C, which were optional for calendar year 2014, must be filed by any person that provides minimum essential coverage to an individual (1095-B) and by applicable large employers (Form 1095-C) who had on average at least 50 full-time equivalent employees during calendar year 2014 or small employers who are member of a controlled group that collectively had at least 50 FTEs and who offer an insured or self-insured plan or no group health plan at all.

11 things you and your clients will want to start thinking about for next tax season by accountingtoday.com

Day #3 ​ACA provisions’ impact on businesses
Applicable large employers who have on average of 50 or more full-time equivalent employees in the prior calendar year must offer minimum essential coverage that is affordable to their FTEs and their dependents, or be subject to an employer shared responsibility payment. Transition relief for 2015 exists for ALEs with fewer than 100 FTEs in 2014, and only requires employers to offer minimum essential coverage to 70 percent of full-time employees and their dependents in 2015.

11 things you and your clients will want to start thinking about for next tax season by accountingtoday.com
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Day #2 Affordable Care Act changes for individuals
The individual mandate penalty increases to the higher of 2 percent of yearly household income or $325 person per year, with a maximum penalty per family for those using this method of $975.
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In addition, federal poverty level guidelines, used to determine if the individual qualifies for subsidy, have increased.

11 things you and your clients will want to start thinking about for next tax season by accountingtoday.com

​Day #1 - Supreme Court ruling on ACA​
Millions of people will now continue to have access to affordable health care in the states which did not establish marketplace healthcare exchanges. It also tees up our next three major tax issues.

Accounting Facts 1: ComputerCompter ​
​was the original word of accounting. It was a derived from a French language. The meaning of compter is to count or score. The p letter on compter was dropped on the pronunciation and spelling of over the time.

Accounting Facts 2: record keeping
The people who were obsessed with record keeping were the ancient Romans. The military bases of roman always recorded the number of grains or even nails that they use and have in the workshops.

Accounting Facts 3: Luca Bartolomeo De Pacioli
​Luca Bartolomeo de Pacioli wrote the first book about double-entry accounting in 1494. He was an Italian mathematician and Franciscan friar.  This man is called as the father of modern accounting because of his book.

​Accounting Facts 4: 19th Certified Accountant
​In 1896, New York State issued the first certified public accountant exam.

Accounting Facts 5: FBI
The law enforcement cannot be separated from accounting. You may be surprised when you know that FBI   has 1,400 accountants as their special agents.

​Accounting Facts 6: Walter Dimer
​Walter Dimer was an accountant who invented a bubble gum in 1928.
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Accounting Facts 7: Al Capone
Some FBI accountants brought down Al Capone in 1931.  This Chicago crime boss was charged of income tax evasion even though many people believe that he was subjected to crime such as murder and bootlegging.

​Accounting Facts 8: celebrities
​There are various celebrities who began their career as an accountant. Some of them include WWE wrestler D-Lo Brown, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, comedian Bob Newhart and jazz artist Kenny G.​
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Accounting Facts 9: Accounting Study
Before their big time, there were some celebrities who studied accounting. Some of them include singer Jane Jackson, lead singer of Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger and author John Grisham.

​Accounting Facts 10: Academy Awards
​Accountants are needed in Academy Awards. Prior to the Oscar night, the accountants will spend their 1,700 hours to count the Academy Award ballots manually.

List made by http://www.myinterestingfacts.com/​

​NEW PARTNERSHIP TAX RETURN DUE DATE REMINDER:
Partnership returns have previously been due by April 15. Effective
immediately, the new due date is March 15 for calendar-year partnerships,
and the 15th day of the third month after the end of the fiscal year for
fiscal-year partnerships. The IRS will now permit an extension of up to
six months for filing a partnership return.

AICPA president and CEO, Barry Melancon stated "The new structure will
provide more accurate information to taxpayers in a more logical flow and
reduce the number of extended and amended individual and corporate tax
returns that are filed each year.

The new due dates take effect for tax years starting after Dec. 31, 2015.

​Identity Theft an Ongoing Concern on the IRS Annual "Dirty Dozen" List of Tax Scams to Avoid
IR-2016-12, Feb. 1, 2016
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued a filing season alert warning taxpayers to watch out for identity theft at tax time and highlighted the crime as the first scam in the agency’s “Dirty Dozen” series.
Over the course of the past year, as part of the Security Summit initiative, the IRS partnered with states and the tax industry to enhance coordination and create a more secure system for taxpayers.
Security Summit participants, including the IRS, will regularly share details of fraudulent schemes detected this season so industry and government have the same information and can adjust accordingly to provide increased protection. Many changes will be invisible to the taxpayer, but the more than 20 shared data elements are critical to making sure the IRS, states and industry can better verify the taxpayer and the legitimacy of the tax return.
“Our collaborative efforts with the Security Summit have given the IRS additional tools to stop fraudulent returns at the door," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "The criminals continue to look for increasingly sophisticated ways to breach the tax system. While the IRS has improved prevention and detection efforts, we’re calling on taxpayers to protect their private information so thieves can’t steal personal data to file fraudulent returns."
The IRS also joined with industry and states on a public awareness campaign to provide taxpayers with easy tips to better protect themselves.  The “Taxes. Security. Together.” campaign includes YouTube videos, Tax Tips and fact sheets to help taxpayers stay safe online.
The Dirty Dozen is compiled annually by the IRS and lists a variety of common scams taxpayers may encounter any time during the year. Many of these con games peak during filing season as people prepare their tax returns or hire someone to do so.
“We urge people to use caution when viewing e-mails, receiving telephone calls or getting advice on tax issues because scams can take on many sophisticated forms," Koskinen said. "Keep your personal information secure by protecting your computers and only giving out your Social Security numbers when absolutely necessary."
Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses your stolen Social Security number to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. While the IRS has made significant strides over the past several years to address this issue, it remains a top concern for the IRS, which is why identity theft remains on the Dirty Dozen list again this year as the IRS works to protect taxpayers and help victims.
In the most recent three fiscal years, Criminal Investigation (CI) helped convict approximately 2,000 identity thieves. In fiscal year 2015, the IRS initiated 776 identity theft related investigations, which resulted in 774 sentencings through CI enforcement efforts. The courts continue to impose significant jail time with the average months to serve in fiscal year 2015 at 38 months — the longest sentencing being over 27 years.
The IRS understands that identity theft is a frustrating, complex process for victims. While identity thieves steal information from sources outside the tax system, the IRS is often the first to inform a victim that identity theft occurred. The IRS is working hard to resolve identity theft cases as quickly as possible. 

Phone Scams Continue to be a Serious Threat, Remain on IRS “Dirty Dozen” List of Tax Scams for the 2016 Filing Season:
IR-2016-14, Feb. 2, 2016

WASHINGTON — Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remain a major threat to taxpayers, headlining the annual "Dirty Dozen" list of tax scams for the 2016 filing season, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.
The IRS has seen a surge of these phone scams as scam artists threaten police arrest, deportation, license revocation and other things. The IRS reminds taxpayers to guard against all sorts of con games that arise during any filing season.
"Taxpayers across the nation face a deluge of these aggressive phone scams. Don't be fooled by callers pretending to be from the IRS in an attempt to steal your money," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “We continue to say if you are surprised to be hearing from us, then you're not hearing from us.”
"There are many variations. The caller may threaten you with arrest or court action to trick you into making a payment,” Koskinen added. “Some schemes may say you're entitled to a huge refund. These all add up to trouble. Some simple tips can help protect you."
The Dirty Dozen is compiled annually by the IRS and lists a variety of common scams taxpayers may encounter any time during the year. Many of these con games peak during filing season as people prepare their tax returns or hire someone to do so.
This January, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) announced they have received reports of roughly 896,000 contacts since October 2013 and have become aware of over 5,000 victims who have collectively paid over $26.5 million as a result of the scam.
"The IRS continues working to warn taxpayers about phone scams and other schemes," Koskinen said. "We especially want to thank the law-enforcement community, tax professionals, consumer advocates, the states, other government agencies and particularly the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for helping us in this battle against these persistent phone scams."
Protect Yourself
Scammers make unsolicited calls claiming to be IRS officials. They demand that the victim pay a bogus tax bill. They con the victim into sending cash, usually through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. They may also leave “urgent” callback requests through phone “robo-calls,” or via aphishing email.
Many phone scams use threats to intimidate and bully a victim into paying. They may even threaten to arrest, deport or revoke the license of their victim if they don’t get the money.
Scammers often alter caller ID numbers to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. They may use the victim’s name, address and other personal information to make the call sound official.
Here are five things the scammers often do but the IRS will not do. Any one of these five things is a tell-tale sign of a scam.
The IRS will never:
Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.

Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.

Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.

Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:
If you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to think that you do:
Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.

Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page. You can also call 800-366-4484.

Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov. Please add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.
If you know you owe, or think you may owe tax:

Stay alert to scams that use the IRS as a lure. Tax scams can happen any time of year, not just at tax time. For more, visit “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” on IRS.gov.
Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. These are your Taxpayer Bill of Rights. 

IR-2016-10, Jan. 28, 2016

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers that it issues 90 percent of refunds in less than 21 days. The best way to check the status of a refund is online through the “Where’s My Refund?” tool at IRS.gov or via the IRS2Go phone app.

"As February approaches, more and more taxpayers want to know when they can expect their refunds," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "There aren't any secret tricks to checking on the status of a refund. Using IRS.gov is the best way for taxpayers to get the latest information."
Many taxpayers are eager to know precisely when their money will be arriving, but checking "Where's My Refund" more than once a day will not produce new information. The status of refunds is refreshed only once a day, generally overnight.

"Where’s My Refund?" has the most up to date information available about your refund. Taxpayers should use this tool rather than calling.
Taxpayers can use “Where’s My Refund?”  to start checking on the status of their return within 24 hours after IRS has received an e-filed return or four weeks after receipt of a mailed paper return. "Where’s My Refund?" has a tracker that displays progress through three stages: (1) Return Received, (2) Refund Approved and (3) Refund Sent.

The IRS2Go phone app is another fast and safe tool taxpayers can use to check the status of a refund. In addition, users can use the app to find free tax preparation help, make a payment, watch the IRS YouTube channel, get the latest IRS news, and subscribe to filing season updates and tax tips. The app is free for Android devices from the Google Play Store or from the Apple App Store for Apple devices.

Users of both the IRS2Go app and “Where’s my Refund” tools must have information from their current, pending tax return to access their refund information.

The IRS reminded taxpayers there's no advantage to calling about refunds. IRS representatives can only research the status of your refund in limited situations: if it has been 21 days or more since you filed electronically, more than six weeks since you mailed your paper return, or "Where’s My Refund?" directs you to contact us. If the IRS needs more information to process your tax return, we will contact you by mail.

The IRS continues to strongly encourage the use of e-file and direct deposit as the fastest and safest way to file an accurate return and receive a tax refund. More than four out of five tax returns are expected to be filed electronically, with a similar proportion of refunds issued through direct deposit.
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The IRS Free File program offers free brand-name software to about 100 million individuals and families with incomes of $62,000 or less. Seventy percent of the nation’s taxpayers are eligible for IRS Free File. All taxpayers regardless of income will again have access to free online fillable forms, which provide electronic versions of IRS paper forms to complete and file. Both options are available through IRS.gov.