[Federal Register: June 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 118)]
[Notices]               
[Page 33138]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn99-138]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

 
Discontinuance of Bisynchronous Communications Protocol in IRS E-
Filing

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This announcement serves as notice that the Internal Revenue 
Service plans to discontinue the use of the bisynchronous communication 
protocol for IRS e-filing of Forms 1040 series, including the stand-
alone Electronic Tax Document System. This includes Forms 4868, 
Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual 
Income Tax Return and Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request.

DATES: The effective date for this discontinuation is October 18, 1999 
at the conclusion of the 1999 filing season.

ADDRESSES: Questions or concerns should be directed to Carolyn E. 
Davis, Senior Program Analyst at IRS, Electronic Tax Administration, 
OP:ETA:O:S, 5000 Ellin Road C4-187, Lanham, MD 20706.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or concerns will also be 
taken over the telephone. Call 202-283-0589 (not a toll-free number) or 
via email to: carolyn.e.davis@m1.irs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If transmitters are using the XMODEM, 
YMODEM, or ZMODEM file transfer protocols, they are using asynchronous 
and not bisynchronous protocol, and therefore are not affected by this 
notice. In addition to offering asynchronous connectivity, the IRS also 
is capable of receiving data via TCP/IP on 56kbs and ISDN lines. Other 
high-speed alternatives are also being considered. Concurrent with this 
action, the IBM Series/1 minicomputers will be decommissioned at the 
same time. All of the above returns/forms will be transmitted to the 
Austin Service Center in Austin, TX and to the Tennessee Computing 
Center in Memphis, TN for the 2000 e-file season.

    Approved:
Carol Stender-Larkin,
Acting National Director, Electronic Program Operations, Electronic Tax 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-15571 Filed 6-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P