From pamella.johnson at state.or.us Wed Nov 2 14:56:39 2011 From: pamella.johnson at state.or.us (Pamella Johnson) Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:56:39 -0700 Subject: [OSSSA218] The October Update from the Oregon Department of Revenue Message-ID: <4EB15A27.CD1F.0048.0@PERS.STATE.OR.US> FYI. Payrolltax News LISTSERV Oct 2011 Please share this information with anyone who may benefit from it. I. IMPORTANT REMINDER: Workers Benefit Fund Assessment: When calculating the Workers Benefit Fund (WBF) assessment, you must include hours worked by ALL paid workers each quarter, including hours worked by workers paid on a basis other than by the hour. This includes salaried or commission employees, as well as those paid by the piece or by the mile. To calculate the number of hours worked by workers paid on a basis other than by the hour, employers need to determine "reasonable hours" for each, and include these amounts in the total number of hours subject to the WBF assessment each quarter. Information on how to determine reasonable hours can be found on the WBF website at http://www.oregon.gov/DCBS/FABS/docs/assessment.pdf, or by calling 503 378-2372. II. iWire Reminder: This is a reminder that all employers will be required to submit W2 Information electronically effective for calendar year 2011 (due March 31, 2012). The Department of Revenue will follow the same file specifications for the W2 information as the Social Security Administration. Effective for calendar year 2011, businesses with 250 or more of any one type of information return (1099*) are required to report this information electronically. This information is also due March 31, 2012 for the following: forms 1099-MISC, 1099-G, 1099-R and W2G. For more information on electronic W2 and 1099 reporting, please go to our website at http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/BUS/iwire-income-wage-information-return-eservices.shtml NOTE: Be sure to review all information including the sections on "Trouble Shooting: and Frequently Asked Questions" III. IMPORTANT! Updating address/phone numbers: New forms and tax rate information will soon be sent out to the most current business address on file. It is very important that if you had a change of address and/or telephone number in the past year that you complete a "Business Contact Change Form" located on our website at http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/forms/business/business_contact_change_form_150-211-159.pdf This new form allows you to update all contact information, including any information regarding the addition or deletion of an offsite payroll service. This will be especially important if you use either OTTER (Oregon Tax Employer Reporting) or SETRON (Secured Employer Tax Reporting Online) tax reporting systems to submit your quarterly tax reports. Updating your contact information will ensure that you are kept informed as to when the new system (the Oregon Payroll Reporting System) goes online. Failure to update your contact information prevents you from receiving the proper forms and important tax information sent to you by mail. This includes next year's Employment tax rates and any tax updates. It is also very important to update your account to take off any person or payroll provider, accountant or CPA who is no longer authorized to be given tax information or to submit information on your behalf. IV. Power of Attorney Forms: In response to the recent passage of SB 867 (aka: CPA Mobility Bill), the Power of Attorney form has been updated to include a line requiring out of state CPA's to sign "attesting that they meet the requirements to practice in Oregon". It is important to be sure that this line is signed if the form has been filled out giving the out of state CPA "authorization to represent" the taxpayer. If the POA is completed indicating "authorization to disclose" information only, this line does not need to be signed by the CPA. NOTE: This new policy applies only to out of state CPA's and attorneys. It does not apply to any other tax professionals including enrolled agents. V. Outreach /Education: Upcoming Educational Event: "LLC's and S-Corps" Chemeketa Community College SBDC 626 High St NE (corner of High and Union) Salem OR Date/Time: Weds, Nov 9th 2:00-4:00 Cost: Free S-Corps and LLC's can be very confusing. What exactly is an LLC? What makes the S-Corp different from a standard corporation? Learn more about these particular entities and the common misconceptions people have, plus why these structures have become so popular. " Taxes Made Easy" Chemeketa Community College SBDC 626 High St NE (corner of High and Union) Salem OR Date/Time: Weds, Nov 16th 10:00-12:00 Cost: Free Get a better understanding of payroll and business tax obligations. What do I need to file if I am a sole proprietor? What happens when I change entities? Additional Information: If you wish to hear about specific Tax and topics would like to have a representative speak to your group or organization, please feel free to contact us. ***For Payroll and Withholding Tax topics and issues contact: Contact Cathy Tavares,-LISTSERV owner,(contact information below). For personal Income tax issues, contact the LISTSERV owner as well for further contact. The Payrolltax-News e-mail list provides employers with complete and up-to-date payroll tax information. Employers can self-subscribe here. Representatives in the Business Division will send information to employers through this list. Employers can request additional information by e-mailing payroll.help.dor at state.or.us. As a standard practice, e-mail sent from the department will be in text form only. Department of Revenue will not open attachments. Questions about list content and subscription problems should be directed to the list owner: Cathy Tavares Oregon Dept of Revenue Cathleen.M.Tavares at state.or.us 503-945-8762 Pamella Johnson Interim OSSSA Coordinator Legal Liaison Policy, Planning and Legislative Analysis PERS sl2 From pamella.johnson at state.or.us Fri Nov 18 07:48:31 2011 From: pamella.johnson at state.or.us (Pamella Johnson) Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:48:31 -0800 Subject: [OSSSA218] Update from the IRS Message-ID: <4EC60DCE.CD1F.0048.1@PERS.STATE.OR.US> Good morning: Here are the latest IRS News Releases and Headliners to distribute to your small business members. I hope that the information will be helpful and we encourage publication in your association's magazines, newsletters, email distributions and/or website. Below are summaries and links to the most recent headliners and news releases your members might be interested in. The title and summary are designed to give you a brief overview of the article's content -- the link to the full article is at the end of each summary. I encourage you to use any or all of these in newsletters or emails to your members, or on your web site. If someone else in your organization is a more appropriate contact point for these types of emails, please let me know. And if you do not want to receive future emails like this one, please reply and request your name be removed. KayDel KayDel Marshall Senior Stakeholder Liaison Small Business & Self-Employed C/L/D 100 S.W. Main Street, Suite 1200 Portland, Oregon 97204 ID#1000843166 503-415-7141/503-473-3694 Got Tax Questions? Watch Videos & Get Answers on the IRS Video Portal http://www.irsvideos.gov/ Connect with the IRS through YouTube, Twitter and other social media channels to spread the word about important tax information. Announcements & Upcoming Events: Now Available on the IRS Video Portal: Reporting of Employer Provided Healthcare Coverage on Form W-2 http://www.irsvideos.gov/ReportingEmployerHealthcareCoverage/ About 1 hour long. This webinar was originally broadcast Oct 31, and explains the Affordable Care Act provision that requires some employers to report health care coverage on Form W-2. Related links: IR-2011-31, IRS Issues Interim Guidance on Informational Reporting of Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage Employer-Provided Health Coverage Informational Reporting Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions OAME Architects & Engineers Meeting December 9, 2011 7:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. | Large Conference Room Leaders from the private and public sectors come together to announce upcoming projects and network with the business community. To be added to the agenda contact modena at oame.org by December 5th, 2011. This event is free and open to the public. OAME Contractors Meeting December 9, 2011 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. | Large Conference Room Leaders from the private and public sectors come together to announce upcoming projects and network with the business community.To be added to the agenda contact modena at oame.org by December 5th, 2011. This event is free and open to the public. Oregon Small Business Forum - January 24, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 will be the next scheduled Oregon Small Business Forum at The Oregon Association for Minority Entrepreneurs, 4134 N. Vancouver, Portland, Oregon. The Focus Area Topic will be "How a Business Coach Can Help Small Business Achieve Success." Big Jim Steiner of SCORE and other speakers will focus on the resources available and advantages of business coaching to enhance the success of small businesses in Oregon. OAME Trade Show & Luncheon Thursday May 10, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center Reserve your booth for next year, numbers are limited! email modena at oame.org Click HERE to view event photos! Mercy Corps Northwest has several small business trainings coming up. Check at it out at: http://www.mercycorpsnw.org/what-we-do/classes-and-events/ Portland General Electric offers free energy seminars for business that can boost your bottom line. Check it out at: http://portlandgeneral.com/business/news_classes/classes/default.aspx?small Oregon Small Business Development Centers have classes and trainings at SBDC's located around the State of Oregon. Check it out at: http://clients.bizcenter.org/Events.aspx?days=14&sort=L IRS Updates & News Releases: Did you know? One of the best ways to get information is by visiting the IRS Small Business Tax Center where you can learn everything from how to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online to how to best navigate an audit. IRS Advisory Council Issues 2011 Annual Report http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=249763,00.html One of the Internal Revenue Service's main advisory panels for tax administration today issued its 2011 annual report, covering a range of key issues affecting taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council (IRSAC) issued its report at a public meeting. IRSAC's primary purpose is to provide an organized public forum for senior IRS executives and representatives of the public to discuss relevant tax administration issues. Based on its findings, IRSAC made several recommendations on a broad array of issues and concerns - see the article for the list, as well as the full report for further details. Prepared Remarks of IRS Commissioner Douglas H. Shulman before Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=249735,00.html Commissioner Shulman discusses aspects of the tax code with Harvard's Kennedy School's public policy students. Prepared Remarks of IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman at the AICPA Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 8, 2011 http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=249453,00.html In prepared remarks to the AICPA Fall Meeting, Commissioner Shulman discusses some priority programs at the IRS including the Return Preparer Program, the evolving relationship with large corporate taxpayers, and work toward a real-time tax system. FAQs on New Payment Card Reporting Requirements http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=249029,00.html The Internal Revenue Service is providing special transitional relief to banks and other payment settlement entities required to begin reporting payment card and third-party network transactions to the IRS on new Form 1099-K. By law, reporting is scheduled to begin in early 2012 for payment card and third-party network transactions that occurred in 2011. Details on the special transitional relief and reporting requirements are in these FAQs, and more information on this relief is in Notice 2011-88 and Notice 2011-89. IRPAC Issues Annual Report for 2011 http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=248947,00.html The Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC) today released its 2011 Report, which includes recommendations pertaining to merchant card and third-party payments, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act and other tax administration issues. IRPAC provides a public forum for the IRS and members of the information reporting community in the private sector to discuss relevant information reporting issues. The IRPAC is administered by the National Public Liaison Division of the IRS. IRPAC draws its members from the tax professional community. 2011 Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee Public Report -- http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/article/0,,id=248778,00.html IRS Begins PTIN Renewals for 2012 Filing Season http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=248572,00.html The IRS announced that the nation's 738,000 tax return preparers who have Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) can now renew their PTINs for the 2012 filing season. Preparers are required to renew their PTINs on an annual basis and need to do so before the next year begins. For example, a preparer's PTIN for 2012 must be renewed by Dec. 31, 2011. In 2012, Many Tax Benefits Increase Due to Inflation Adjustments http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=248485,00.html Personal exemptions, standard deductions and other tax items go up in 2012 for tax returns people will file in 2013. For tax year 2012, personal exemptions and standard deductions will rise and tax brackets will widen due to inflation, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. By law, the dollar amounts for a variety of tax provisions, affecting virtually every taxpayer, must be revised each year to keep pace with inflation. New dollar amounts affecting 2012 returns, filed by most taxpayers in early 2013, include the following: Details on these inflation adjustments can be found in Revenue Procedure 2011-52, Foreign Agricultural Workers http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96422,00.html New reporting requirements for foreign agricultural workers temporarily admitted into the United States on H-2A visas take affect in 2011. SSA/IRS Reporter http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=109886,00.html The latest issue of the SSA/IRS Reporter includes articles on: * Simplified employee pension plan for partnerships * E-file for employment taxes * Preparing for "split" reporting on 2011 Form 940 Protect Your Personal Information: The IRS Does Not Initiate Taxpayer Communications through Email http://www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=179820,00.html Phishing is a scam typically carried out by unsolicited email and/or websites that pose as legitimate sites and lure unsuspecting victims to provide personal and financial information. A reminder as we approach the tax filing season ... the IRS does not initiate email communication with taxpayers regarding EFTPS or tax account matters. The IRS does not ... ... request detailed personal information through email. ... send any communication requesting your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts. All unsolicited email claiming to be from either the IRS or any other IRS-related components such as the Office of Professional Responsibility or EFTPS, should be reported to phishing at irs.gov. However, if you have experienced monetary losses due to an IRS-related incident please file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission through their Complaint Assistant to make that information available to investigators. See the page for instructions on what to do if you receive a suspicious IRS-related communication. The IRS Asks for Volunteers The IRS is looking for volunteers to help prepare tax returns for low income and elderly taxpayers in this new YouTube video. Recent Articles from e-News for Small Businesses Tax centers make finding information easy IRS.gov tax centers offer industry specific information in one location. Your rights as a taxpayer The Taxpayer Rights Corner is a one-stop resource for taxpayer rights information. IRS Explains Flexible Spending Arrangements for 2012 This new YouTube video describes a change in the law that affects flexible spending arrangements for next year. Watch this and other videos on the IRS YouTube Channel. From pamella.johnson at state.or.us Tue Nov 29 08:13:12 2011 From: pamella.johnson at state.or.us (Pamella Johnson) Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:13:12 -0800 Subject: [OSSSA218] Social Security Webinar today 11/29/2011 Message-ID: <4ED49418.CD1F.0048.1@PERS.STATE.OR.US> Good morning: Just a reminder of today's Social Security webinar which includes several pertinent topics for employers: Business Services Online (BSO) offers many internet services for businesses and employers who exchange information with Social Security. This webcast will guide you through the BSO Registration Process step-by-step and get you to a point where you will be prepared to setup and use two of BSO's most popular tools: the SSN Verification Service (SSNVS) and our Electronic Wage (W-2) Reporting suite. The webcast will be available beginning *November 29, 2011 at 1pm eastern time*. View this webinar [ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/webinars/bsopart1.html ] ________________________________________________________________________ SSA [ http://www.ssa.gov/ ] Questions for SSA? Contact Us [ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/reach.htm ] STAY CONNECTED: Visit Us on YouTube [ http://www.youtube.com/socialsecurityonline ] Follow us on Twitter [ http://twitter.com/socialsecurity ] Visit Us on Facebook [ http://www.facebook.com/socialsecurity ] Sign up for email updates [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSSA/subscriber/new ] SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Preferences [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSSA/subscriber/edit?preferences=true#tab1 ] | Unsubscribe [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSSA/subscriber/edit?preferences=true#tab1 ] | Help ________________________________________________________________________ This email was sent to pamella.johnson at state.or.us by Social Security Administration Powered by GovDelivery [ http://www.govdelivery.com/portals/powered-by ]