Every year, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) helps thousands of people with tax problems. This story is only one of many examples of how TAS helps resolve taxpayer’s tax issues. All personal details are removed to protect the taxpayer’s privacy.
Sometimes taxpayers contact TAS for help with one issue and, in resolving that issue, multiple issues arise – some of them quite complex. In this case, a taxpayer contacted TAS for help with a payment agreement for overdue taxes spanning more than twenty tax years. In researching the taxpayer’s accounts, the case advocate noted some expired collection statutes. The IRS generally has ten years from the date the return is filed and assessed to collect the taxes.
The advocate sent a referral to the IRS and asked it to correct the statutes on the taxpayer’s accounts, but the IRS’s initial response was that the taxpayer’s statutes were correct. The advocate consulted with a technical advisor, found additional IRS guidance and sent another request to the IRS asking it to make the necessary account corrections. The advocate’s persistence, advocacy, and thorough research resulted in the taxpayer paying no more than the correct amount of tax. In this case, the taxpayer’s debt was rightfully reduced by more than $100,000.00.
If you need information on a specific tax topic, visit the TAS Get Help resource. It offers a step-by step guide on what you can do to settle some IRS issues on your own, what your taxpayer rights are and other options available to help you get resolution. Most issues can be resolved directly by working with the IRS. However, if you have tried, but are still unable to resolve an IRS issue, learn more about whether TAS can help you: TAS eligibility.
When working with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, each individual or business taxpayer is assigned to an advocate who listens to the problem and helps the taxpayer understand what needs to be done to resolve their tax issue. TAS advocates will do everything they can to help taxpayers and work with them every step of the way. Occasionally we feature stories of taxpayers and advocates who work together to resolve complex tax issues. Read more TAS success stories.
