A Certifying Acceptance Agent is a person who is authorized to assist individuals who do not qualify for a Social Security Number but who still need a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to file a Form 1040 and other tax schedules. The Certifying Acceptance Agent facilitates the application process by reviewing the necessary documents, authenticating the identity when able and forwarding the completed forms to IRS. 

Below are answers we received to questions around how to become a certifying acceptance agent:

So if you do less than five ITIN applications a year, will you lose your status?

Yes. All Acceptance Agents are required to submit at least five W-7 applications a year to remain in the program.

Is there is a cost to become Certifying Acceptance Agent?

The only cost to becoming a Certifying Acceptance Agent is the cost of the forensic training. This cost ranges from $200 to $350 depending on the vendor. For more information visit: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/forensic-training

Does a Certifying Acceptance Agent renew every year?

A Certifying Acceptance Agent renews every five years.

Not long after Santa Claus comes ho-ho-ho’ing down the chimney comes something not so jolly: 1099 form filing. You’ve got a list of payers and vendors. We hope you’re checking it twice! There’s a lot to think about and to take care of when it comes to filing 1099 forms. To make matters more complicated, compliance regulations can change from year to year. It’s a lot to keep up with. That’s one reason why it’s important to partner with an eFile provider, a provider that makes keeping up with compliance regulations a top priority.

Tax1099, powered by Zenwork, will offer a joint webinar with the Latino Tax Professional Association. This session will be a “1099 eFiling Overview.” The session will be available for 1.0 hour of free CPE credit. In the session, Zenwork will provide filers with information on preparing and submitting 1099 forms. In particular, Zenwork will discuss the IRS form 1099-MISC. With over 75K users, and 10+ years of eFiling experience, Tax1099 is well-equipped to share information on this process.

What is an ITIN?

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a United States tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS issues ITINs to individuals who have a U.S. tax filing obligation, but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain a social security number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status, as both resident and non-resident foreigners may have a requirement to file tax returns per the Internal Revenue Code.

ITINs are used for tax purposes only. An ITIN does not authorize work in the U.S. or provides eligibility for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit. An ITIN is not valid for identification outside the tax system and does not change immigration status. The applicant must enter his ITIN in the space provided for the SSN when completing and filing a federal tax return.

¿Qué es un ITIN?

Un Número de Identificación de Contribuyente Individual (ITIN) es un número de procesamiento de impuestos emitido por el Servicio de Rentas Internas conocido como el IRS. El IRS emite el ITIN a las personas que deben tener un número de identificación tributario de los Estados Unidos, pero que no tienen, y no son elegibles para obtener, un número de Seguridad Social (SSN) de la Administración de Seguridad Social (SSA).

El IRS emite el ITIN para ayudar a las personas a cumplir con las leyes tributarias de los EE. UU. y proporcionar un medio para procesar y contabilizar de manera eficiente las declaraciones y pagos de impuestos para aquellos que no son elegibles para obtener números de Seguro Social.  

Se emiten independientemente de la condición migratoria, ya que tanto los extranjeros residentes como los que no son residentes pueden tener un requisito de presentación de declaraciones según el Código de Rentas Internas.

By Talha Baqar & Daniel Woolsey

As an accountant or bookkeeper, you may have noticed that the market for accounting services is changing. Individuals and businesses have a lot of new options for automating their bookkeeping and handling financial functions in-house. Inexpensive, easy-to-use applications help users with everything from bookkeeping and tax preparation to budgeting and spending analyses. These tools can be invaluable for small business owners and freelancers operating on a shoestring budget, and their popularity demonstrates just how many people want to do their own bookkeeping. However, you might find your accounting services less in demand as prospective clients try out the self-serve approach instead.

Overview of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act  

Major tax reform that affects both individuals and businesses was enacted in December 2017. It’s commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, TCJA or tax reform.

The IRS estimates that we will need to create or revise more than 400 taxpayer forms, instructions and publications for the filing season starting in 2019. It’s more than double the number of forms we would create or revise in a typical year.

The IRS collaborates with the tax professional community, industry, and tax software partners each year as we implement changes to the tax law, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, to ensure that our shared customer – you, the taxpayer - has information about how the law applies to your particular situation and you are prepared to file.