TAS Tax Tip: 2022 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum will be held virtually
Each year the IRS sponsors the Nationwide Tax Forum. The event is a series of tax education sessions for tax professionals. The 2022 Virtual Tax Forum started July 19, and runs through August 18 with webinars offered every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
These events feature the latest information from the IRS, news about tax law changes, the chance to meet with software vendors and the opportunity to attend 30 different seminars presented by IRS employees and members of professional associations.
The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) invites tax professionals who are attending this year’s forum to sign-up and participate in our focus group sessions on “IRS On-Line Accounts” and “Responding to IRS Correspondence Audit Notices.” Your knowledge and innovative ideas shared during these discussions helps TAS improve taxpayer services on these issues. Visit our virtual booth at the IRS Nationwide Tax Forum to learn how you can take part and make a difference by sharing your hands-on experience during the TAS focus group events each Tuesday and Wednesday, July 19 – August 16, 2022, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST.
At this year’s Forum, the Taxpayer Advocate Service will present a seminar that will focus on:
Advocating for Taxpayers Who Receive Collection Notices
The IRS is required by statute to send certain notices to taxpayers before it can collect taxes the IRS believes are owed. By the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to:
- identify the most common notices the IRS sends to request payment of taxes or to propose enforced collection action through liens and levies;
- understand the effect of the IRS’s temporary suspension of these notices; and
- advise their clients about the options for responding to these notices.
If you have any questions, please feel free to Contact us.
What if you find out the IRS already closed their initial audit?
If you receive a tax bill for an additional tax amount the IRS assessed (added to your account) or a change in a credit you claimed and you disagree with the subsequent amount the IRS says you owe, see our Audit Reconsideration Get Help page for next steps you can take.
You may request audit reconsideration if you:
- Did not respond to or appear for your original audit,
- Moved and did not receive correspondence from the IRS,
- Have additional information to present that you did not provide during your original audit, or
- Disagree with the assessment from the audit.
You can also see Publication 3598, What You Should Know About the Audit Reconsideration Process, for more details on what you need to do to resolve the issue.
What can I do if I need further help dealing with the IRS audit process?
If you need or want assistance in dealing with an IRS audit or reconsideration, you have the right to representation. This means you can hire an attorney, certified public accountant (CPA), or enrolled agent to represent you before the IRS. Know that:
- Taxpayers have the right to retain an authorized representative of their choice to represent them in their dealings with the IRS.
- Taxpayers who are heading to an interview with the IRS may select someone to represent them. Taxpayers who retain representation don’t have to attend with their representative unless the IRS formally summons them to appear.
- In most situations, the IRS must suspend an interview if a taxpayer requests to consult with a representative, such as an attorney, certified public accountant or enrolled agent.
- Any attorney, CPA, enrolled agent, enrolled actuary, or other person permitted to represent a taxpayer before the IRS, who’s not disbarred or suspended from practice before the IRS, will need to submit a signed written Power of Attorney to represent a taxpayer before the IRS before the IRS can discuss your case with them.
We recommend that you learn about the credentials and qualifications of tax representatives before choosing one. You can also use the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications to help you find tax professionals in your area who currently hold professional credentials recognized by the IRS.
You may be eligible for free representation (or representation for a nominal fee) through a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. In order to qualify for assistance from an LITC, generally a taxpayer’s income must be below a certain threshold (the income ceilings for the 2022 calendar year can be found on the page link above), and the amount in dispute with the IRS is usually less than $50,000. Each clinic will determine if you meet the income ceilings and other criteria before it agrees to represent you. See Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List, to find a LITC near you or by calling the IRS toll-free at 800-829-3676.
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