Earlier today, Senator Mike Crapo, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden, the committee’s ranking member, jointly released a discussion draft of a broad and sweeping bill titled the Taxpayer Assistance and Service, or “TAS,” Act. The … Read More
NTA Blog
Identity Theft Awareness and Update on IRS Processing of Identity Theft Victim Assistance Cases
Identity theft is a constant threat that can happen to anyone. As the saying goes: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. With the annual filing season beginning this week, it is a good time to highlight … Read More
Happy Holidays from the Taxpayer Advocate Service!
Season’s greetings from everyone at the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)! ’Twas the night before tax season, and all through the land, tax professionals were working, each with pen in hand. The forms were all sorted with numbers just right, who … Read More
25 Years of Making a Difference: Celebrate and Join the LITC Movement!
NTA Blog: 25 Years of Making a Difference: Celebrate and Join the LITC Movement! This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) grant program. Since 1999, LITCs have been changing lives, leveling the … Read More
Doing the Best You Can for Your Community This Giving Tuesday
Like many of you, I am looking forward to spending time this holiday season surrounded by family and loved ones. Our to-do lists are long and there is important work to get done, but I hope that all of you … Read More
Help Us Fix “Big Picture” Tax Problems and Advocate for Change
Report Tax Issues That Affect Multiple Taxpayers Using TAS’s Systemic Advocacy Management System The mission of the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) covers what I often refer to as three pillars of service: Protecting taxpayer rights; Helping taxpayers resolve problems with … Read More
It’s That Time of the Year Again: Remember to Renew Your Preparer Tax Identification Number
All Paid Return Preparers Must Have a Preparer Tax Identification Number A Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) generally is required for anyone who is paid to prepare or help to prepare all, or substantially all, of a federal tax return, … Read More
IRS Proposed Regulations on Third Party Contacts Unfairly Erode Taxpayer Notice Requirements
Proposed regulations permitting the IRS to shorten third-party notice requirements in certain circumstances erode important taxpayer protections and could result in a taxpayers bearing the consequences for IRS-caused delays. Background The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA 98) … Read More
A Grave Error: Don’t Allow “Ghost Preparers” to Turn Your Taxes Into a Horror Story
Preparing your taxes doesn’t have to be scary, but this spooky season I would like to share an example of how things can go frightfully wrong. Imagine this terrifying scenario: Someone offers to prepare your tax return, promising a big … Read More
IRS Hears Concerns from TAS and Practitioners, Makes Favorable Changes to Foreign Gifts and Inheritance Filing Penalties
Spoiler Alert: The IRS has ended its practice of automatically assessing penalties at the time of filing for late-filed Forms 3520, Part IV, which deal with reporting foreign gifts and bequests. And… By the end of the year the IRS … Read More