SECTION 5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF

A 1040NR FILER

.01 To ensure that complete returns are accurately and efficiently filed, a 1040NR Filer must comply with all publications and notices of the Service related to magnetic or electronic filing. Currently, these publications and notices include:

(1) Procedures for Magnetic Media Filing of U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Returns, Form 1040NR (available from the Project Office);

(2) File Specifications and Record Layouts for Magnetic Media Filing of U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Returns, Form 1040NR (available from the Project Office); and

1998–23 I.R.B. 11 June 8, 1998

(3) Postings to the Electronic Filing System Bulletin Board (EFS Bulletin Board).

.02 A 1040NR Filer must maintain a high degree of integrity, compliance, and accuracy.

.03 A 1040NR Filer may accept returns for magnetic or electronic filing only from the taxpayer filing the return, a representative of the taxpayer filing the return, or from another 1040NR Filer.

.04 If a 1040NR Filer charges a fee for the submission of a magnetically or electronically filed tax return, the fee may not be based on a percentage of the refund amount or any other amount from the tax return. A 1040NR Filer may not charge a separate fee for Direct Deposit. See section 9 of this revenue procedure for a discussion of Direct Deposit.

.05 A 1040NR Filer must submit a revised Form MAR–8980 to the Project Office within 30 days of when any of the conditions or changes described in section 4.03 of this revenue procedure occur. .06 A 1040NR Filer must notify the Project Office within 30 days of discontinuing its participation in the 1040NR Program. This does not preclude reapplication in the future.

.07 A 1040NR Filer must ensure that it promptly processes returns submitted to it for magnetic or electronic filing. See sections 5.10, 5.16, and 5.17 of this revenue procedure. However, a 1040NR Filer that receives a return for magnetic or electronic filing on or before the due date of the return must ensure that the return is filed on or before that due date (including extensions, see section 5.08 of this revenue procedure). A composite return is not considered filed until the data portion of the tax return is acknowledged by the Service as accepted for processing and a completed and signed Form 8453–NR is received by the Service. However, if the data portion of a return is successfully transmitted on or shortly before the due date and the 1040NR Filer complies with section 7.01 of this revenue procedure, the return will be deemed timely filed. If the data portion of a return is transmitted on or shortly before the due date but is ultimately rejected, the return will be deemed timely filed if the 1040NR Filer and the taxpayer comply with section 5.14 of this revenue procedure. In the case of a balance due return, see section

10 of this revenue procedure for instructions on how to make a timely payment of tax.

.08 Unless the Service grants an extension of time to file, a 1040NR Filer must ensure that the return for any individual is received by the Service on or before:

(1) April 15 if the individual was an employee and received wages subject to U.S. federal income tax withholding; or

(2) June 15 if the individual did not receive such wages. However, section 2.05 of this revenue procedure provides that a composite return cannot be filed after December 4, 1998. .09 A 1040NR Filer must ensure against the unauthorized use of its MTFIN. A 1040NR Filer must not transfer its MTFIN by sale, merger, loan, gift, or otherwise to another entity.

.10 A 1040NR Filer is responsible for ensuring that stockpiling does not occur. Prior to official acceptance of the 1040NR Filer into the 1040NR Program, stockpiling means collecting returns from taxpayers. After official acceptance, stockpiling means:

(1) in the case of a 1040NR Return Originator, waiting for more than three calendar days after receiving the necessary information to submit a return to a Transmitter or Service Bureau, or

(2) in the case of a Transmitter, waiting for more than ten calendar days after receiving the necessary information to send the data portion of the return to the Service.

.11 A 1040NR Filer that functions as a Return Originator must:

(1) comply with the procedures for completing Form 8453-NR described in section 7 of this revenue procedure;

(2) comply with the procedures described in section 10 of this revenue procedure for handling a balance due return;

(3) furnish the taxpayer with a copy of the signed Form 8453–NR (except for multiple return filing as described in section 7.01(5) of this revenue procedure) and, in the case of a prepared or corrected return, a copy of the paper portion of the return;

(4) while returns are being filed, retain and, if requested, make available to the Service the following material at the business address from which a return was accepted for magnetic or electronic filing:

(a) a copy of the signed Form 8453-NR, paper copies of Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc., and the paper portion of the taxpayer’s return;

(b) a complete copy of the data portion of the taxpayer’s return (may be retained on computer media) that can be readily and accurately converted into magnetic or electronic data that the Service can process; and

(c) the acknowledgement file received from the Service or from a Transmitter;

(5) retain until the end of the calendar year in which a return was filed and make available to the Service upon request the materials described in section 5.11(4) of this revenue procedure, at the business address from which a return was accepted for magnetic or electronic filing or from the contact person named on Form MAR–8980.

.12 A 1040NR Return Originator who is the paid preparer of a magnetically or electronically filed Form 1040NR must also retain for the prescribed amount of time the materials described in § 1.6107– 1(b) that are required to be kept by an income tax return preparer.

.13 A 1040NR Return Originator must identify the paid preparer (if any) in the appropriate field of the data portion of the return, in addition to ensuring that the paid preparer signed Form 8453–NR. If Form 8453–NR is not signed by the paid preparer, the 1040NR Return Originator must attach a copy of the Form 1040NR originally signed by the paid preparer. This copy must be marked “COPY-DO NOT PROCESS” to prevent duplicate filings.

.14 If the data portion of a taxpayer’s return is acknowledged as rejected by the Service, and the reason for the rejection cannot be rectified by making nonsubstantive changes as described in section 6.02(3) of this revenue procedure, the 1040NR Return Originator, within 24 hours of receiving the rejection, must take all reasonable steps to tell the taxpayer that the taxpayer’s return has not been filed. If the taxpayer chooses to have the data portion of the return resubmitted magnetically or electronically, and the 1040NR Return Originator successfully

June 8, 1998 12 1998–23 I.R.B.

.19 A 1040NR Filer that functions as a Software Developer must:

(1) promptly correct any software error that causes a data portion of a composite return to be rejected;

(2) promptly distribute any software correction made to its software packages to all 1040NR Filers utilizing these packages; and

(3) not incorporate into its software a Service-assigned production password.

.20 In addition to the specific responsibilities described in this section, a 1040NR Filer must meet all the requirements in this revenue procedure to keep the privilege of participating in the 1040NR Program.