An official website of the U.S. Gov An official website of the U.S. GovNational Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins appeared live on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal call-in program on Tuesday, February 13. National Taxpayer Advocate Collins discussed her 2023 Annual Report to Congress, including some of the most serious problems facing taxpayers. She also addressed challenges facing the IRS, the improvements the IRS has made since the pandemic, and answered viewer questions about the tax filing season and other hot button tax topics.
TAS Pre-Filing Season Awareness Event. Several dates and times available. Please check back often for updates.
Before you file your federal tax return join us at a local event– it’s free! Let your Local Taxpayer Advocate teach you important tax tips to avoid tax processing & refund filing delays. Follow these tips so you can file with confidence.
If you cannot attend an event you can view all TAS Tax Tips online!
Join us at one of our Pre-Filing Season Awareness Events before you file your federal tax return – it’s free! Or visit our website to see all our Tax Tips.
Want to get the latest tax news, learn more about taxpayer rights, and upcoming TAS events while looking at cute dogs and pop culture references? Look no further than TAS Social Media. Follow, like and share our content to help spread the work on how we advocate for taxpayers!
The National Taxpayer Advocate applauds Congress for enacting the Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act (H.R. 998) — a long-overdue reform that strengthens taxpayer rights, improves transparency, and ensures fairness in IRS communications. It was announced earlier today that the President has signed the bill into law, marking a significant milestone for taxpayer protections.
It is that time of year again – school is out and so are report cards. It is also time for TAS to publish its report card for the IRS. Each year, I submit the National Taxpayer Advocate Annual Report to Congress (ARC) with recommendations for administrative actions the IRS can take to resolve problems encountered by taxpayers. The IRS is statutorily required to respond to our recommendations. TAS’s recommendations, the IRS’s responses, and TAS’s comments on the responses are then incorporated into the Annual Report to Congress Report Card. Of the 77 administrative recommendations I made in the 2024 ARC, the IRS has agreed to implement 42 (or 55%) of the recommendations in full or in part. I appreciate the IRS’s efforts to incorporate TAS’s recommendations on behalf of taxpayers to improve tax administration.
In the coming weeks, I will address the IRS’s responses to recommendations I made regarding specific most serious problems (MSPs) included in my 2024 ARC. This blog highlights the IRS responses to some of my Criminal Voluntary Disclosure Practice (VDP) recommendations.
Earlier this month, the IRS posted information on IRS.gov that will come as welcome news to persons seeking to become “Acceptance Agents” for purposes of assisting individuals who need to obtain an Individual Taxpayer identification Number (ITIN) to file a tax return or be claimed as a dependent on a tax return. This development will also benefit individuals who wish to use an “Acceptance Agent.” The IRS did not issue a press release to publicize the development, so I want to take this opportunity to highlight it.
Notice LT16 You Have Unpaid Taxes or Unfiled Returns
Free File: Any taxpayer with adjusted gross income of $69,000 or less can find free commercial software products at Free File: File Your Taxes Online for Free. Free File Fillable Forms: This program has a free electronic filing option and does not have age, income or residency restrictions.
This filing season, many taxpayers will — for the first time ever — receive a Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions. The IRS now requires certain payment apps and online marketplaces to send you this form if you received more than $5,000 total for the sale of goods or services, regardless of the number of transactions, through their platform in 2024. For similar sales in 2023, the minimum thresholds for Form 1099-K reporting were more than $20,000 in receipts and more than 200 transactions. This substantial drop in the reporting thresholds could result in millions more taxpayers receiving Forms 1099-K this filing season than in prior years. The key purpose of the form is to ensure that individuals and businesses report their income accurately. The IRS uses this form to track payments that might otherwise go unreported or underreported, particularly those made outside of traditional payroll systems. It is important to remember, whether you receive a Form 1099-K or not, the income from the sales of goods or services is taxable, and you will need to include it on your tax return.
Over the last year, the IRS has added new features and tools to Individual Online Account that can help taxpayers during this filing season. You should consider signing up for your IRS online account as you prepare to file your tax return.
