Did you know that there is a Taxpayer Bill of Rights that is designed to protect you from being taken advantage of by the Internal Revenue Service? After receiving a detailed proposal from National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, the IRS adopted an official Taxpayer Bill of Rights. It was a long time in coming.
Moreover, do you realize that the Taxpayer Bill of Rights applies to all taxpayers in their dealings with the IRS? Grouping the existing tenets of the tax code into ten fundamental rights, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights does a good job in making an overly complex, overly long, and overly legalistic document into a clear, understandable, and acces
sible tool for taxpayers.
TRI Supports the Taxpayer Bill of Rights
Since the Tax Resolution Institute is on the side of the American taxpayer, doing everything we can to help you find workable tax resolution outcomes that protect your financial security, we fully support the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Covering a wide range of topics and issues, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights lays out what taxpayers can expect when working with the IRS on a personal tax matter.
Given the importance of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, we want to help you understand your rights as an American taxpayer. The Tax Resolution Institute believes that every American taxpayer should be properly informed. After all, the more you know in advance, the better chance you have of a positive outcome. As a result, here is a short outline of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, so you know your rights when dealing with the IRS.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights and You
1) The Right to Be Informed
You have the right to know what you need to do to comply with tax laws. This right includes, but is not limited to, clear explanations of the law and IRS procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices, and correspondence. You also have the right to be informed of IRS decisions promptly about your tax accounts. If needed, you have the right to receive clear explanations of the outcomes.
2) The Right to Quality Service
You have the right to receive prompt, courteous, and professional service whenever you deal with the IRS. Also, you have the right to be spoken to in a way they can easily understand, to receive clear and easily understandable communications from the IRS, and to have a way to file complaints about inadequate service.
3) The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax
You have the right to pay only the amount of tax legally due. Also, you have the right to have the IRS apply all tax payments properly.
4) The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard
You have the right to raise objections and provide additional documentation in response to formal IRS actions or proposed actions. You have the right to expect that the IRS will consider such timely objections and documentation promptly and fairly. You also have the right to receive a response if the IRS does not agree with their position.
5) The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum
You have the right to a fair and impartial administrative appeal of most IRS decisions, including many penalties. After such an appeal, you have the right to receive a written response regarding the Office of Appeals’ decision.
6) The Right to Finality
You have the right to know the total amount of time you have to challenge the IRS’s position as well as the maximum amount of time the IRS has to audit a particular tax year. Moreover, you have the right to know when the IRS has finished an audit.
7) The Right to Privacy
You have the right to expect that any IRS inquiry, examination, or enforcement action will comply with the law. Any such collection action should be no more intrusive than necessary. Furthermore, you have the right to have your due process rights respected, including search and seizure protections. You also have the right to a collection due process hearing when applicable.
8) The Right to Confidentiality
You have the right to expect that any information they provide to the IRS will not be disclosed unless authorized by you or by law. In addition, you have the right to expect the IRS to investigate and take appropriate action against its employees, return preparers, and others who wrongfully use or disclose your return information. Indeed, you have the right to have your confidential information not be abused.
9) The Right to Retain Representation
You have the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent you in your dealings with the IRS. For the Tax Resolution Institute, this is a very important right. By having us by your side, a positive income is infinitely more likely.
10) The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System
You have the right to expect the tax system to consider facts and circumstances that might affect your ability to pay, or ability to provide information timely. If you have underlying liabilities, they should be taken into consideration. In addition, you have the right to receive assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you are experiencing financial difficulty or if the IRS has not resolved their tax issues properly and timely through its normal channels.
Regarding the last part of “The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System,” although it sounds good in theory, it does not work in practice. The Taxpayer Advocate Service has a small staff that is overwhelmed by requests by countless thousands upon thousands of taxpayers. The queue alone is almost unimaginable. If people actually were waiting on line, it would go on for blocks and blocks. Thus, it makes sense for you to work with a tax resolution professional.
The Tax Resolution Institute Can Help
Indeed, the Tax Resolution Institute can help if you are willing to take the first step and pick up the phone. If your tax case does not fall within our parameters, we will direct you to a service provider or resource that makes sense for you. To learn more, please call TRI today at (800) 401-5926. You are one step away from starting a positive process.