The Wayfinding System creates a consistent yet effective way for all IRS offices to identify themselves without the use of individual logos. Letter : Public-use products sent directly to taxpayers. All letters must carry a signature and advise the taxpayer where to direct inquiries unless a contact stuffer is enclosed. Logo : A graphic mark or emblem commonly used by government agencies, commercial enterprises, private-sector organizations, and individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition.
Notice : A product the IRS sends if it believes a taxpayer owes additional tax, is due a larger refund, or if there is a question about a tax return or a need for additional information. Post : All cataloged published products must be available posted for users via the Intranet or Internet. Trained visual information and publishing specialists are authorized to post files to make them electronically available to users. Product : An item produced in electronic or hard copy format and used by external or internal users to request, capture, inform, instruct, or provide information.
Publication : A product that is primarily for public use but can also be used by IRS employees. A publication can be either tax or non-tax related. Publish : The act or result of creating a product and making it available to more than one person in print or electronic format.
Publishing cannot complete any requests without an approved PSR. Publishing Specialists. Stakeholder : All individuals and organizations that are actively involved in the completion of a publishing project. Visual Information Specialist : A trained graphic designer who is approved to develop and design printed and multimedia products. A visual information specialist is the subject-matter expert SME for all graphic design inquiries and requests and must be contacted upon the creation, revision, or obsolescence of an IRS design product.
A successful organization is built around a core set of values. These values influence behavior both internally with employees and externally with customers. Every interaction, and every communication, must be an expression of our values as an organization. By establishing a consistent connection with those served, the IRS can have a greater impact on its ability to influence interactions.
Honesty and Integrity. We uphold the public trust in all that we do; we are honest and forthright in all our internal and external dealings. Continuous Improvement. We seek to perform the best that we can today, while embracing change, so that we can perform even better in the future.
Openness and Collaboration. We share information and collaborate, recognizing that we are a team. Personal Accountability. We take responsibility for our actions and decisions and learn and grow from our achievements and mistakes. The Design Standards do not stifle design, but instead ensure that the IRS is clearly identified when a designer uses unique images and typography to draw attention to a product or service.
Applying these standards equips the IRS to maintain a consistent appearance in a variety of print and electronic communications. Although all IRS published products must reflect the IRS Design Standards, only approved visual information specialists can use and apply the standards to products. Document , One Look. One Voice. One IRS , provides an overview of the design standards.
Every IRS written communication presented to internal and external audiences provides an opportunity to affirm and strengthen knowledge and understanding of the unique character and mission of the IRS. The focus of graphic identity is very often a symbol or logo. However, an identity system is much more than the use of a symbol. A comprehensive graphic system is a structure for communicating and presenting information logically, clearly, and cohesively.
Adhering to commonly accepted standards is advantageous to the entire Service and allows the IRS to produce clear and understandable products in both print and electronic format. Implementation of standards develops greater awareness of the IRS and enables the agency to convey a distinct identity through its products and programs where appropriate.
IRS Design Standards increase efficiency to help all stakeholders save time, money, and resources when developing published products. Failure to comply with or knowingly violate IRS Design Standards, or using any logo in an unethical way, are subject to any of the legal ramifications denoted in IRM 1. All official logos and identity variations are cataloged to establish a library of IRS products for use by approved visual information specialists.
Treasury Directive 73—04 09—11— requires that appropriate controls be placed on the use of seals and other official insignia of the department and its bureaus.
One IRS , for additional information. Title 18 USC , enacted June 25, , governs the use of agency seals and insignias. The reselling of items bearing the IRS symbols to non-IRS personnel, the use of such an item to coerce a benefit, and the use of an item in a way that creates the appearance that the IRS endorses or sanctions a private activity are all examples of employee conduct that would violate the Standards of Ethical Conduct.
Seals and devices of the federal government, departments, bureaus, and independent agencies are not in the public domain, and cannot be used for other than official business without specific authorization of the agency involved. Per 18 U. Code, subsection , Whoever fraudulently or wrongfully affixes or impresses the seal of any department or agency of the United States, to or upon any certificate, instrument, commission, document, or paper or with knowledge of its fraudulent character, with wrongful or fraudulent intent, uses, buys, procures, sells, or transfers to another any such certificate, instrument, commission, document, or paper, to which or upon which said seal has been so fraudulently affixed or impressed, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
When end-users interact with an IRS product, the IRS has a commitment to ensure that the experience instills trust and consistency. To visually achieve this goal, all products must contain required design elements that support the concept of One IRS. These primary design elements include:. Optional style elements may originate from:.
Imagery used in this IRM, a published product, or on any website related to IRS Design Standards must not be copied, altered, or in any other way used or reproduced in another published product.
Only an approved visual information specialist should apply such design elements to products. Policy prohibits use of the IRS logo, symbol, and seal on non-monetary specialty items Trinkets, gifts, giveaways, mementos, or other tangible products such as pens, mouse pads, mugs, glasses, and lanyards, etc.
The IRS logo, symbol, and seal remain the identities of the agency with strict usage guidelines for official IRS products only.
The IRS Eagle is describable from its three basic parts. The decorative olive branch fills out the left side of the symbol and represents peace and conciliation.
Justice, fairness, honesty, peace, and conciliation may be key messages that are reflected in some designs. Please click here for the text description of the image. The IRS Logo must appear on all published products with the following exceptions:. Co-branding with an approved endorsed logo, another federal agency, or approved vendor requires a specific wayfinding format.
On January 28, , the U. Department of the Treasury issued an executive order pertaining to the use of the IRS Seal for official purposes.
This executive order also defined special circumstances warranting the use of the official IRS Seal. The IRS Seal, like that of many other government agencies, does not have a distinct visual presence and is not immediately identifiable, particularly when reproduced at smaller sizes. Department of the Treasury seal. Treasury seal is in IRM 1. Department of the Treasury Seal and Flag.
The seal may not appear on promotional products such as bags, mugs, pens, tee-shirts, or other articles of clothing. BODs, divisions, branches, sections, other organizations, and program and project staff may not continue to design, alter, or use their own seals.
The U. Department of the Treasury has specific requirements for proper use of the Treasury seal and flag. Only an approved visual information specialist must apply design elements to products.
Contact the IRS Design Office at and work with an approved visual information specialist for the proper application of the Treasury seal or flag. Department of the Treasury is the primary owner of the content.
For additional information, see Figure 1. The Treasury seal is comprised of several elements. One element of the Treasury seal is a shield with a chevron of 13 stars representing the original 13 states. Justice, equity, authority, and trust may be key messages that are reflected in some designs. It is Department of the Treasury and IRS policy that the Treasury flag may fly in reception rooms and lobbies of buildings where Treasury bureaus and offices are the sole occupants.
The Treasury flag must fly, with the United States flag, on buildings or the grounds of buildings where Treasury bureaus and offices are the sole occupants. The Treasury Flag can never appear in print on an IRS product, as the Treasury flag is used for display only in buildings. Additional guidance on use of the Treasury flag appears in Treasury Directive 73—03, dated October 30, Official IRS fonts are clearly legible, professional in appearance, and must appear in all print publications to preserve the identity of the organization.
Identified standard fonts appear throughout the agency on various products to provide continuity and consistency in support of the design standards. Times Roman is legible and highly recommended for text-heavy documents or publications.
The Arial font is the official san serif font that may substitute for the Helvetica family of fonts in Web-based applications. Official IRS fonts are the extended Helvetica family of fonts. The extended Helvetica family of fonts includes Helvetica Condensed for a more technical, precise look or when space is a consideration, and Helvetica Rounded for applications that require a warm, friendly approach.
Publishing considers additional fonts for instances when visual impact, differentiation, or variety is desired. Alternate fonts must appear in headlines and prominent copy lines for impact. When creating materials for internal communications, products must follow the wayfinding system to simplify the identification of the origin of materials.
The wayfinding system has two basic configurations, as depicted in Figure 1. Configuration A uses only the BOD name. Do not begin a line with punctuation. Insert line breaks as naturally as possible, with no line exceeding 40 characters. It is at the discretion of the visual information specialist, giving consideration for the design concept, to provide a final color selection.
The intent was to ensure that the IRS maintained only one external graphic identity. Over time, many internal logos appeared inappropriately on products externally, such as fax coversheets, presentations, and e-mail signatures. As of January , no internal logos previously used to represent BODs or sub-organizations of the IRS may appear on any print or electronic published products for internal or external use. Product identification must appear on all official IRS products in hard copy and electronic format.
The Product Identifier distinguishes products and revisions from one another for cataloging and ordering purposes. The Product Identifier consists of several elements that are typically displayed on products in a single text line. The elements are:. Miscellaneous products may carry the requisition number in place of some of the information mentioned above. An approved visual information specialist places Product Identifiers in a consistent manner on products using graphic design techniques and in accordance with Document , One IRS: Design Standards and Guidelines.
Any other designated official who wishes to place or edit identifiers on products must seek approval from the IRS Design Office or the director of the Publishing function. If Publishing approves an exception, then the designated official must provide the IRS Design Office with a new file to ensure the proper file management. External Product Identifiers appear on items created for the public and include the external website address.
External products include:. Internal Product Identifiers appear on items created to communicate with IRS staff and include the intranet website address. Internal products include:. For one-sided printing, we center the product identifier at the bottom front of a product as shown in Figure 1. The IRS Product Identifier must appear on products made from substrates other than paper such as computer disks and packaging. For published products created prior to , Publishing must apply a current Product Identifier to any reprints or revisions for that product as time and budgetary constraints allow.
Publishing must update products produced with Product Identifiers prior to to meet current standards should they be submitted for reprint or revision. Four other color pairs are allowed for use as a secondary color treatment for any business operating division and their offices.
A third level of color treatment consists of tonal ranges established from a preset color palette. Selections from the third level can appear in conjunction with IRS Blue or the secondary level of colors at the discretion of the approved visual information specialist. External color usage is defined as materials and communication that represent the IRS to the public and external partners. The primary identifying color, PMS C blue, and the accent color, Process Cyan must appear on all materials and communications for external use.
Publishing must select, from the full IRS color palette, additional colors that best convey the purpose and message of the material and communication. Internal color usage is defined as the colors used on materials and communications between IRS business operating divisions. The identifying color, PMS C blue, and the accent color Process Cyan, may appear in materials and communication for internal use.
Optional: For times when internal differentiation is needed, the business operating division must use their own branch quadrant color from the IRS Color System. This can include the appropriate BOD pair and tonal palette, along with the identifying blue color, for the material or communication.
Additional colors that best convey the purpose and message of the material and communication must be part of the full IRS color palette. Only approved visual information specialists can appropriately apply the IRS Color System to published products. Section of the Rehabilitation Act of requires federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology to make accessible all information provided to individuals with no disabilities to those with disabilities or impairments.
The agency must ensure that all readers, viewers, and users of IRS products, internally and externally, with disabilities have comparable access to and use of information and data provided to individuals without disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The Design Office is not responsible but may assist with identifying when graphic content needs to be made Section compliant.
Visual information specialists, publishing specialists, and the Alternative Media Center will work to make applicable products Section compliant. Ultimately, the approved visual information specialist will determine the appropriateness of use with consideration for existing guidelines and the overall concept of the design.
An iconic shape derived from the outline of the IRS Eagle Symbol for use as a graphic element is illustrated below in Figure 1. The shape can appear in creative ways such as:.
A library of icons uses the iconic shape as a frame for consistency. These icons are universal in nature and can represent any office throughout the IRS.
Icons bring an added dimension of illustration to a layout and can help attract attention to any object or element. Icons should clearly support the intended message and should be easily translated and understood.
Only approved visual information specialists can apply the IRS iconic shape as described above. Use clean, uncluttered, graphic photography with bold or monochromatic color whenever possible. Subject matter must emphasize diversity, collaboration, innovation, knowledge, thoughtfulness and other key descriptors of the IRS.
Lighting must be clean and without heavy shadows for a friendly and engaging look. Refer to IRM 1. Any photography provided must be high resolution, include the requirements described above, and compliment the overall concept of the design. A visual information specialist will determine if provided photography is appropriate for use. IRS standardized templates are available for use to create efficiency and ensure a professional and consistent look across a wide range of publications and materials.
Templates are available for the most commonly requested materials for conferences, events, and meetings. Products including, but not limited to, tent cards and name tags have templates that will allow the user to fill in text. Contact the IRS Design Office for instructions on how approved visual information specialists will format charts and graphs.
To maintain clarity and consistency throughout the organization, all charts created for use in IRS materials must follow the format of the examples shown here. We provided specifications for three-colored options for your use; adherence to the color hierarchy and values shown will ensure maximum readability.
Illustrations include non-photographic images, sketches, drawings, and clip art, whether created by hand or electronically. Contact the IRS Design Office for instructions on how visual information specialists will format approved Illustrations.
A sample appears below in Figure 1. Denso Wave originally designed the codes for use in the automotive industry, because the code is easily interpreted by scanner equipment.
Each code is a unique pattern of black squares on a white background, with larger squares at three corners. The white border is part of the code. The Service uses QR codes to expand on the IRS strategic goal of improving service to make voluntary compliance easier, and the objective to provide taxpayers with targeted, timely guidance and outreach.
A QR code contains information in both vertical and horizontal directions, unlike a one-dimensional bar code that contains data in one direction only. Using two directions enables QR codes to carry up to several hundred times the amount of data, when compared with one-dimensional bar codes. Audiences scan the QR code using mobile device cameras, and the stored information in the code directs them to a website, video, text, contact information, and more.
Audiences need a QR reader application on their mobile device to detect the QR code. QR codes appear on a variety of published products to allow the user to easily access Web content i.
Examples of published products include an office poster, a bus shelter ad, a tax publication, or a form. The codes must be in context with the advertising or marketing promotion, e. The printed product must also reference the target URL. This allows individuals the ability to access the same content using a Web browser. Ideally, the target URL should be a mobile-optimized Web site. A mobile-optimized Web site recognizes the device you are viewing the site with i. While it is optimal to have a QR code direct the audience to a mobile-enabled site, the priority should be to direct the audience to the information they can use.
The QR code design may incorporate a message encouraging the customer to use the QR code. This is especially important for IRS. When directing the audience to a shorter URL — such as www.
This will minimize time for the website to load once the QR code has been scanned. Content at the target URL must be easy to understand and written for the target audience. The entire reason to use a QR code is to connect with individuals first, then provide an easy way to access more details if they choose. Publishing has created four unique QR code styles. The IRS Design Office visual information specialist will make the final decision on size, location, color, and style.
Clear space must surround the QR code for the QR code to be read correctly. The four configurations of QR codes are listed below and are illustrated in Figure 1. An approved visual information specialist must create all QR codes used on cataloged products.
Publishing will create and maintain all QR Codes produced for cataloged products. QR codes must pass reading and testing against more than one QR reader application. These QR codes do not need approval from, and will not be created by, Publishing.
Official logos may either be graphic, as in symbols or icons, or composed to include the name of the organization as in a logo or wordmark. All logos must be clear, readable, and reproducible in one color and never altered from the artwork created by the IRS Design Office. Internal Endorsed Logo : An internal endorsed logo is an official logo that has Servicewide implication for all employees and does not include the name of the BOD or other internal organization.
Internal logos must never appear on external published products and should only be used internally. External Endorsed Logo : An external endorsed logo is an official logo that is a non-departmental, section or organization identifier used on Treasury and IRS products; therefore, they do not include the name of the BOD or other internal organization. An IRS Endorsed Logo is an internal or external logo for high-visibility, non-departmental, or non-sectional, non-organizational programs.
Business operating divisions, divisions, branches, sections, and organizations may not continue using old internal logos. Only initiatives that have the signature of the IRS Commissioner may be considered to receive an internal endorsed logo and will be granted on a limited basis.
IRS external endorsed logos are used for initiatives with presidential, congressional, or Treasury mandates and most or all could receive an external endorsed logo.
Endorsed logos are used on Treasury and IRS products in conjunction with one of the identities designated below:. Official U. Published material from the Department of the Treasury for endorsed programs need not adhere to the IRS identity guidelines, as they follow the Department of the Treasury design guidelines.
Several criteria apply to all endorsed logos. No other business unit, organization, or entity within the IRS, or party contracted by the IRS, may design, develop, or produce logos independent of IRS guidelines or procedures. If a logo is in use and has not been sanctioned as an official endorsed logo, then Publishing will send a memorandum to an executive in the affected business unit requesting discontinued use of said logo. If the requested logo is approved, then the requesting office must work closely with the IRS Design Office, in accordance with the minimum established criteria for a new or revised endorsed logo.
An affiliated employee organization is an organization that holds or hosts events or meetings on a regular basis for employees of the IRS. An affiliated employee organization may design and use their own logo on their own products. You may either enter your zip code or select a state. Information about each Provider is stored in the database as a long string of text or a "record" with each element of the record separated by a delimiter e.
The delimited text files contain "records" grouped by state or the District of Columbia. These text files can be imported into database software packages and used to create mailing lists. Existing IRS e-file participants can also use it to update their application to opt in or out of the locator service.
This is done by selecting "yes" or "no" on the Firm Information page of the application. Download delimited text files by state or District of Columbia for creating mailing lists using data base software packages. See "Downloading Delimited Text Files" below.
Zip Code:. Electonic Return Originator - Any - Yes. Service Bureau - Any - Yes.
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