The Internal Revenue Service has released guidance and forms that employers can use to claim a newly-expanded tax credit for hiring veterans. Employers will also be given more time to file a certification form for employees hired on or after Nov. 22, 2011 and before 2012. Some tax-exempt organizations that hire unemployed veterans during that period are now also eligible for the credit.

The National Society of Accountants has been approved as a continuing education provider by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS sanction means that NSA can offer courses to professionals who are requried to complete 15 credit hours of CPE under the Registered Tax Return Preparer program.The approval also applies to courses for Enrolled Agents who must earn 72 credit hours every three years.

The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department has conducted a nationwide sweep to arrest perpetrators of tax refund fraud and identity theft. The agencies said they had targeted 105 people in 23 states and filed 939 criminal charges as part of 69 indictments.

A federal court has permanently barred Lakeisha Pearson of Birmingham, Ala., from preparing federal tax returns for others. Pearson operated under the names,  LGS Tax Service, PositiveEndeavors and  AGA Tax Service. Pearson was ordered to provide a copy of the injunction that bars her work to each person for whom she has prepared a federal tax return since Jan. 1, 2008.