IRS and AICPA Announce Agreement to Assist Disaster Victims
IR-2005-94,
The Internal Revenue Service announced today
that it will partner with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
(AICPA) to provide assistance to taxpayers at local disaster recovery centers
established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To that end, the
IRS and AICPA have signed an agreement.
The CPA volunteers will soon join IRS
employees to staff disaster recovery centers servicing some of the areas
affected by Hurricane Katrina.
“With so many American lives disrupted by
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, the ability to expand service by using CPA
volunteers should help reduce some of the tax issues victims will face,” said
IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. “These volunteers will provide the technical
expertise and skills necessary to explain the laws regarding disaster-related
tax relief.”
When the President designates an area to receive federal disaster assistance, FEMA opens local disaster recovery centers where individuals and businesses may register for disaster aid. IRS assigns employees to staff these local centers to provide tax assistance to taxpayers. Occasionally, IRS must augment its capacity to staff these centers.
Under the terms of the partnership agreement,
the IRS and the AICPA will test the use of volunteer CPAs at FEMA’s disaster
recovery centers to facilitate service to those seeking aid. The IRS will
request support from the profession to supplement staff on an as-needed basis.
Both IRS and the AICPA will work with CPA volunteers at FEMA disaster recovery centers in Presidentially-declared disasters to reach more taxpayers and inform them of the services offered.
“CPAs are working in the public interest to
help Americans with their financial recovery from major disasters such as
Hurricane Katrina,” said Barry Melancon, AICPA President and CEO. “Many CPAs
have already established themselves as essential members of the
The American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants is the national, professional organization for certified public
accountants. Its mission is to provide members with the resources, information
and leadership that enable them to provide quality services to benefit the
public as well as employers and clients.
“The IRS would like to thank the AICPA for
its willingness to partner and provide assistance to those Americans in their
greatest time of need. We will continually look to find new ways and
opportunities to strengthen our partnership with the AICPA to serve the American
public,” Everson said.
Information regarding disaster tax relief may
be found on the IRS’s Web site at IRS.gov.