Taxpayer Advocate Service

Problem #10: APPEALS – Despite Some Improvements, Many Taxpayers and TaxProfessionals Continue to Perceive the IRS Independent Office of Appeals as InsufficientlyIndependent EXPLANATION OF THE PROBLEMThe lack of independence and operational efficiency in the IRS Independent Office of Appeals(Appeals) process undermines taxpayer trust and prolongs dispute resolution. When taxpayersare unable to resolve their issue in…

Problem #9: COMPLIANCE CHALLENGES FOR TAXPAYERS ABROADTaxpayers Abroad Continue to Be Underserved and Face Significant Challenges inMeeting Their U.S. Tax Obligations EXPLANATION OF THE PROBLEMTaxpayers abroad face vast difficulties in complying with their U.S. tax obligations. Many findthemselves trying to navigate a complex tax system they do not understand, and the IRS offerslimited assistance and…

Problem #7: ONLINE ACCOUNT ACCESS FOR TAXPAYERS AND TAXPROFESSIONALS Digital Services Remain Inadequate, Impeding Efficient Case Resolution and Forcing Millionsof Taxpayers to Call or Send Correspondence to the IRS EXPLANATION OF THE PROBLEMTaxpayers and tax professionals lack a comprehensive online account with integrated digitalcommunication tools to access tax information and services that are essential for…

Problem #6: DENTITY THEFT (Part II) Taxpayer Advocate Service – 10 Most Serious Problems Encountered by Taxpayers Problem #6: DENTITY THEFT (Part II) EXPLANATION OF THE PROBLEM With enough identifying information, a criminal can fraudulently file an individual or company’s tax return. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received about 2.8 million fraud and identity…

Problem #6: DENTITY THEFT (Part I) Taxpayer Advocate Service – 10 Most Serious Problems Encountered by Taxpayers Problem #6: DENTITY THEFT (Part I) WHY THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR TAXPAYERS Individuals who are victims of tax-related identity theft are waiting an average of nearly 19 months for the IRS to process their returns and…

Problem #5: RETURN PREPARER OVERSIGHT Taxpayer Advocate Service – 10 Most Serious Problems Encountered by Taxpayers Problem #5: RETURN PREPARER OVERSIGHT WHY THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR TAXPAYERS Tax return preparers prepare over half of the individual income tax returns filed on an annual basis. Taxpayers, the IRS, and our voluntary tax system rely…

Taxpayer Advocate Service – 10 Most Serious Problems Encountered by TaxpayersProblem #4: Telephone and In-Person Service (Part II) WHY THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR TAXPAYERS Taxpayers who need face-to-face service can make an appointment to visit Taxpayer AssistanceCenters (TACs) for free tax help to address their tax questions and receive support if they facelanguage…

Taxpayer Advocate Service – 10 Most Serious Problems Encountered by TaxpayersProblem #4: Telephone and In-Person Service (Part I) WHY THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR TAXPAYERSWhen taxpayers call the IRS, they expect and deserve quality service without suffering long waittimes. In 2023, telephone service was considerably better; however, it is still not providing thelevel of…

Problem #3: Transparency (Part II) What Is Transparency, and Why Does It Matter? “Transparency” is the government’s obligation to share with citizens the information they need tomake informed decisions and hold officials accountable for the conduct of the people’s business.Government accountability means that public officials have an obligation to explain theirdecisions and actions to citizens.…