Support

Lacerte Critical Forms Delivery Nearly Complete
Of the approximately 3,200 forms in the 180 Federal and State modules released on CD-2, 78% are final, fileable forms.

IRS Announces 2007 Standard Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service issued the 2007 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

2007 Filing Season Kicks Off with New Features, Extended Tax Breaks; Tax Forms in Mail This Week
The Internal Revenue Service began a busy 2007 filing season that features telephone excise tax refunds, a new refund deposit feature, and recently enacted tax breaks that may require extra attention from taxpayers.

IRS Plans February 3 Start Date for Processing Extender Claims
The IRS announced that it will begin processing both e-file and paper tax returns on February 3 that include claims for the major “extender” provisions, including deductions for state and local sales taxes, higher education tuition and fees, and educator expenses. 

Direct Deposit Changes for Tax Year 2006
For tax year 2006, the following changes have been made to the direct deposit of federal tax refunds

New for CD-3 - Individual - US
The following features and enhancements have been added to the individual module for CD-3

IRS Begins Implementing Extenders Legislation; Works to Help Taxpayers During Filing Season
The Internal Revenue Service announced new guidance to help tax filers in 2007 claim the extended deductions and other tax advantages in the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 signed into law this week.

Changes to the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
Please see this topic for information about changes to the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

New for CD-2 - US - Individual
The following new forms, features, and enhancements have been added to the individual module for CD 2

Recent Tax Law Changes May Affect People Giving to Charity: IRS Offers Tips for Year-End Donations
Individuals and businesses making contributions to charity should keep in mind several important tax law changes made last summer by the Pension Protection Act.

State Conformity with the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006
Research is already under way to determine state conformity.  As this information becomes available, the program and this support bulletin will be updated.

Residents of Certain States Have One Additonal Day to File
The filing deadline for residents of Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and the District of Columbia is April 17, 2007.

IRS Service Center Realignment
The IRS Service Centers to which certain taxpayers must file paper returns have been changed for 2006.  The 2006 Individual Tax Program has been updated to reflect this realignment of service centers.

Credit for Federal Telephone Excise Tax Paid (Form 1040, line 71; Form 1040A, line 42; Form 1040EZ, line 9)
The telephone tax refund is a one-time payment designed to refund previously collected long-distance federal excise taxes.  Anyone who paid the long-distance telephone tax is eligible for the refund.

Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006
The following Short Summary of Tax and Other Provisions in H.R. 6111 was released by the Committee on Ways and Means.

IRS Installment Agreement User Fees to Increase
The Internal Revenue Service announced increases in user fees for installment agreements. The increases - the first since the fees were implemented in 1995 - result from increases in labor and other costs of processing the various applications.

2007 Inflation Adjustments Widen Tax Brackets, Expand Tax Benefits
Personal exemptions and standard deductions will rise, tax brackets will widen, and income limits for IRAs will increase in 2007, thanks to inflation adjustments announced today by the Internal Revenue Service.

IRS Announces Pension Plan Limitations for 2007
The Internal Revenue Service announced cost of living adjustments applicable to dollar limitations for pension plans and other items for Tax Year 2007.

Schedule K-1 Input Screen Changes
The following changes have been made to the Passthrough K-1's input screens.

Pension and IRA Distribution Screen Changes
The following changes have been made to the Pension and IRA Distribution input screen (Screen 13.1)

Diagnostic Warning Incorrectly Generated During K-1 Transfer to 1040
If a return was split using the "Split Joint Return" tool within the Lacerte tax program in a previous year, and that return has a K-1 transferred to it using the K-1 transfer utility within the tax program, a diagnostic warning may be generated incorrectly:

New For 2006 - US - Individual
Please see this topic for new features or forms added for 2006.

2006 Significant Tax Law and Form Changes
The following is a summary of the significant tax law and forms changes for 2006.

All Business Modules

Businesses and Tax-Exempts Can Use Formula for Telephone Tax Refund
The Internal Revenue Service today announced a formula that will allow businesses and tax-exempt organizations to estimate their federal telephone excise tax refunds

Partnership

New for 2006 - US - Partnership
Please see this topic for new features or forms added for 2006.

Corporation

IRS Center Re-Alignment
Returns that, in the past, were required to be sent to the IRS center in Philadelphia, PA are now to be filed with the IRS center in Ogden, UT.

Corporation

New for 2006 - US - Corporation
Please see this topic for new features or forms added for 2006.

S Corporation

New for 2006 - US - S Corporation
Please see this topic for new features or forms added for 2006.

New For 2006 - US - Fiduciary
Please see this topic for new features or forms added for 2006.

Exempt

Exempt Org. Program Release Delayed Until CD-4
The release of the Exempt Organization (990) program has been delayed until CD-4 due to the forms and instructions being delayed by the IRS.

Lacerte E-file Start Dates
A complete list of the modules and states that Lacerte can electronically file for 2006, as well as their start dates can be found in the EF Atlas

New EF Atlas Live on the Lacerte Website
The EF Atlas is designed to provide your firm with access to e-file information and resources through an easy-to-use interface.

Getting Ready to E-file 2006 Returns
Do you have your login name, password and PIN for e-services?  Have you applied to participate in IRS e-file?  Have you reviewed and updated your IRS e-file application online?

Tips For Getting Ready to Electronically File
Please see this topic for useful tips on getting ready  to electronically file for the 2006 filing season.

IRS e-file for MeF Business Returns Will Be Closed December 28 - January 8
For 1120, 1120S, 1065, 990 and 5500 returns
Attention MeF Transmitters:  Please be advised that the Modernized e-File (MeF) production system will be unavailable to transmit returns or extensions beginning Thursday, December 28 at 11:00am EST for annual filing season updates.

Lacerte Electronic Filing begins on January 12, 2007 at Midnight Eastern Time
On Friday January 12, 2007 at Midnight Eastern Time, the Lacerte Electronic Filing Center will begin receiving electronic returns.  To electronically file any return, you must install the CD-3 version of the 2006 Lacerte Tax Program. 

Filing Guidelines for Resubmission of Rejected 990 Returns
The following information is taken from IRS Publication 4206 regarding the resubmission of timely filed 990 returns and returns on extension.