A Great Resource to Keep in Mind | Tax Tip of the Week | No. 172

New Guidelines From the Taxpayer Advocate Service

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service charged with assisting taxpayers who are experiencing economic harm, who are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, or who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should.Taxpayers may be eligible for assistance if:• They are experiencing economic harm or significant cost (including fees for professional representation);• They have experienced a delay of more than 30 days to resolve a tax issue; or• They have not received a response or resolution to their problem by the date promised by the IRS.The service is free, confidential, tailored to meet taxpayers' needs, and available for businesses as well as individuals. There is at least one local taxpayer advocate in every state. Recently, the TAS released this statement: “…..the TAS, however, cannot help all six million to 12 million taxpayers who may be having problems at any given time.  We must focus on cases where we can add the most value.”  The statement went to list the four categories that will be the focus of TAS for the foreseeable future: 1. Situations where a taxpayer is experiencing some financial difficulty, or hardship, and the IRS needs to move faster than it usually does under their normal procedures.  An example of this would be to expedite the removal of a federal tax lien on a pending home sale.2. Where many different IRS units and steps are involved, and the case needs a “coordinator” or “traffic cop” to make sure everyone does their part.3. Where a taxpayer has tried to resolve a problem through normal IRS channels but those channels have broken down.4. Where a taxpayer is presenting unique facts or issues (including legal issues), and the IRS is applying a “one size fits all” approach and is not listening to the taxpayer. Our firm has used the services of the TAS in the past.  At times, they can be very helpful in resolving difficult tax situations. If you are experiencing any IRS issues let us know.  There are means available to resolve just about any issue.

You can contact us in Dayton at 937-436-3133 and in Xenia at 937-372-3504.  Or visit our website.

Rick Prewitt - the guy behind TTW...until next week.