In this note we summarize the studies and recommendations of the calorimeter simulation task force (CaloTF). The CaloTF was established in February 2008 in order to understand and reconcile the discrepancies observed between the CMS calorimetry simulation and the test beam data recorded during 2004 and 2006. As the result of studies by the CaloTF a new version of Geant4 was developed and introduced in the CMS detector simulation leading to significanly better agreement with test beam data. Fast and flexible parameterizations describing showering in the calorimeter are introduced both in the Full Simulation (with a Gflash-like approach) and in the Fast Simulation. The CaloTF has developed a strategy to rapidly tune the CMS calorimeter simulation using the first LHC collision data when it becomes available. The improvements delivered by the CaloTF have been implemented in the software release CMSSW 2.1.0
