Deadline tomorrow

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation reminds tax professionals and taxpayers that tomorrow, September 15, is the deadline for certain payments, filings, and extensions. For more information on this and other topics, click here. 

Security Summit: Promptly report data losses

The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies, and the tax industry -- working together as the Security Summit -- urge practitioners to immediately report data losses.

"The IRS, the states and the nation’s tax community continue to make progress in the battle against tax-related identity theft," IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in a statement today. "But we need the help of tax professionals across the country to help strengthen this effort. In addition to working to ensure the safety of their systems, practitioners should promptly report identity theft or data breaches to help protect their clients," he said.

For more information, click here.

Security Summit: Make data security a priority

The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies,  and the tax industry -- which are working together as the Security Summit -- today urged tax professionals to make data security an everyday priority.

The Security Summit noted that a few simple steps can go far in protecting taxpayer information from cybercriminals. To find out more, click here.

Draft guide - income from pensions, other sources

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation has posted a draft document for public comment. It involves the personal income tax modification for income from private pensions, government pensions, 401(k) plans, annuities, 403(b) plans, military retirement pay, and other such sources.

Public comment is invited. All comments must be submitted on or before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, September 15, 2017. 

• To view the draft guide, click here. 
• To comment on the draft guide, click here.

Wavemaker tax credit

Governor Gina M. Raimondo and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation have announced the selection of the second round of recipients of the Wavemaker Fellowship awards. 

Following a competitive review process, a total of 224 college graduates who work in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and design fields at Rhode Island employers will receive the award, which is a Rhode Island tax credit used to defray the cost associated with student loan repayment for a minimum of two years. To learn more, click here.

Criminals impersonate IRS and FBI

The Internal Revenue Service yesterday warned people to avoid a new phishing scheme that impersonates the IRS and the FBI. It is part of a ransomware scam to take computer data hostage. The scam email uses the emblems of both the IRS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For more information, click here.

In a separate announcement today, the Security Summit offered tips for how tax professionals can get started protecting their clients and their business from cybersecurity threats. The Security Summit is made up of the Rhode Island Division of Taxation, tax agencies from other states, the IRS, and the tax industry. For details, click here.

Practitioner Alert: Rhode Island tax scam

The Rhode Island Division of Taxation today warned taxpayers and tax professionals about a Rhode Island tax-related scam. It involves a caller who is impersonating a Rhode Island Division of Taxation employee. For more information, click here.