NTA Blog: The NTA Reimagines the IRS with a Dramatically Improved Taxpayer Experience: Part Two

September 15, 2022 – Last month, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA22), which provides the IRS with supplemental funding of nearly $80 billion over the next ten years. The legislation provides about $3.2 billion for taxpayer services, $4.8 billion … Read More

NTA Blog: The NTA Reimagines the IRS with a Dramatically Improved Taxpayer Experience: Part One

September 14, 2022 – Last month, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA22), which provides the IRS with supplemental funding of nearly $80 billion over the next ten years. More than half the funding has been earmarked for tax law … Read More

NTA Blog: Improving Services to Taxpayers With Visual Disabilities

September 08, 2022 -Millions of U.S. taxpayers are visually impaired and unable to read print material in a standard font size. As a result of a settlement agreement between the IRS and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) on … Read More

NTA Blog: Good News: The IRS Is Automatically Providing Late Filing Penalty Relief for Both 2019 and 2020 Tax Returns. Taxpayers Do Not Need to Do Anything to Receive this Administrative Relief.

August 24, 2022 -Taxpayers need not do anything to receive this administrative relief. The IRS is automatically removing (abating) failure-to-file penalties for 2019 and 2020 returns. Bottom Line: What Does this Mean for Taxpayers? Taxpayers need not do anything to … Read More

NTA Blog: IRS.gov – How Usable Is It? (Part Two)

August 11, 2022 – In my previous blog post , I discussed the challenges taxpayers face when searching for information on IRS.gov. In this post, I will examine how the visual layout of IRS.gov adds unnecessary complexity and how duplicative, … Read More

NTA Blog: IRS.gov – How Usable Is It? (Part One)

August 9, 2022- I would like to zoom out and look at the larger picture – the usability of IRS.gov. In this two-part series, I will discuss three aspects of IRS.gov: the search engine, visual layout, and website content and … Read More

NTA Blog: IRS Deputy Commissioners Respond to Taxpayer Advocate Directive on Scanning Technology; National Taxpayer Advocate Appeals Decision to IRS Commissioner

August 4, 2022 – Throughout my tenure as the National Taxpayer Advocate, I have appreciated the ongoing exchange of ideas and information with my IRS colleagues as we work collaboratively to improve the taxpayer experience, including accelerating the payment of tax … Read More

NTA Blog: Do You Need to Electronically Sign a Tax Form That Cannot Be E-Filed? Make it Digital.

June 30, 2022 – For the more than 40 forms that cannot be e-filed, the IRS permits paper filing of those forms with an electronic or digital signature through a temporary policy through October 31, 2023. While the IRS makes no … Read More

NTA Blog: Beginning Today, Some of Our Nation’s Most Vulnerable Taxpayers Will Automatically Have Their Accounts Excluded From Assignment to Private Collection Agencies

June 24, 2022 – Since 2018, TAS has been urging the IRS to stop assigning to private collection agencies (PCAs) the accounts of taxpayers who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). In 2019, Congress passed … Read More

NTA Blog: Apply for a rewarding career with Taxpayer Advocate Service. You too can make a meaningful impact on peoples’ lives every day.

June 8, 2022 – After several decades of working in the tax controversy arena, both in the private sector and with the Office of Chief Counsel, I am amazed at how many people have never heard of or availed themselves … Read More