Vonage announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. Reflecting the company's previously stated plans to increase investment in its strategic growth initiatives, Vonage reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $32 million.

Will the Internal Revenue Service soon be conducting tax audits with taxpayers via videoconference?

It's possible, but, for the moment, the agency is concentrating on offering tax preparation assistance at a few centers outfitted with computers that are videoconferencing enabled. Users can go to centers in Colorado Springs, Colo., Fresno, Calif., and Utica, N.Y., log in, ask their question, and then can talk face-to-face with an IRS agent. The program currently is limited to tax questions and issues with refunds. The IRS said it's too early to speculate on the success of the program, or on its future, but said the program has allowed it to "maximize our current resources, by expanding hours of service in remote locations and balancing the workload in high-traffic areas."

And virtual audits? "The initial focus of virtual delivery is on taxpayer service. We're still in the middle of the pilot and still assessing the results," the IRS said in a statement. "It's premature to speculate about future steps."

But the independent Taxpayer Advocate Service wants the IRS to expand the program to allow users to use videoconferencing instead of having to travel to an IRC office for an audit. It says videoconferencing also could replace the correspondence audit the agency has begun using, which asks taxpayers for more information by mail.

The IRS pilot program is scheduled to end in May.

For more:
- see this CNN article

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