Success Story: 235 tax tip sessions held nationwide to help avoid refund delays

Every year the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) helps thousands of people with tax problems. This is only one of many examples of how TAS helps resolve taxpayer issues. Taxpayer advocates from coast to coast, including Puerto Rico, held a combined two hundred and thirty-five events just before the start of the tax filing season. These free tax sessions invited taxpayers to visit and get tax fili...

Treasury and IRS announce the appointment of Erin M. Collins as the National Taxpayer Advocate

The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have announced the appointment of Ms. Erin M. Collins to serve as the new National Taxpayer Advocate. Ms. Collins has a distinguished career in tax law, beginning as an attorney in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, where she worked for about 15 years. An alumnus of the University of California, Irvine, and the Southwestern School of L...

TAS Tax Tip: I got an IRS notice or letter- Now what do I do?

The IRS will send a notice or a letter for any number of reasons, including: A specific issue on your federal tax return or account; Explaining changes to your return or account, asking for more information, or requesting a payment. You can handle most of this correspondence without calling or visiting an IRS office or the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), if you follow the instructions in the...

TAS Tax Tip: Choosing the correct filing status for your tax return

Sometimes we see confusion about which filing status people should choose when filing their tax return. Did you know IRS.gov has an online application to help you decide? They do, it’s called What Is My Filing Status?What You'll Need to Determine Your Filing StatusTo use the What Is My Filing Status? tool, you will need to know:• Marital status and spouse's year of death (if app...

NTA Blog: The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is now recruiting volunteers

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from Acting National Taxpayer Advocate Bridget T. Roberts. Additional blogs can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is your voice at the IRS. We take this statement seriously, as demonstrated by the work we do to help taxpayers resolve their tax problems. We do more th...

Success Story: Taxpayer requests TAS assistance in challenging IRS audit disallowing EITC claim for her disabled child

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 issues. All personal details are removed to protect the privacy of the taxpayer. TAS advocated for a taxpayer who was audited by the IRS for two consecutive tax years. For numerous years, the taxpayer claimed Head of Household fili...

TAS Tax Tip: IRS 2019 Form 1040 changes for this tax filing season

Taxpayers and tax return preparers should be aware that the Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, changed again this year. Before you file a return, take a look at these filing-related resources and information to help you avoid errors and processing delays. Revised 2019 Form 1040 Last year there were six new numbered schedule forms to go with Form 1040; for this year there are three. F...

Acting National Taxpayer Advocate Bridget Roberts talks taxes with Federal News Radio

Acting National Taxpayer Advocate Bridget Roberts talks taxes with Federal News Radio host Tom Temin. Roberts discusses IRS challenges and top issues impacting taxpayers. “Everyday we are working to partner more and more with the IRS to try and come up with new and innovative ways to look at issues and solve problems before they impact taxpayers," says Roberts. The number one issue she sh...

NTA Blog: Local Taxpayer Advocates Deliver Key NTA Annual Report Messages to Members of Congress

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from Acting National Taxpayer Advocate Bridget T. Roberts. Additional blogs can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. This week, TAS’s Local Taxpayer Advocates (LTAs) are in Washington, D.C., presenting the National Taxpayer Advocate’s 2019 annual report to Senators and House Members whose loca...

Sharing Economy Tax Information

Many taxpayers work or engage in services that are considered to be a part of the gig or shared economy services. These services often originate through peer-to-peer interactions such as ride-share programs, room rentals, and other freelance work. Following the May 2016 hearing, Taxpayer Advocate Service worked with the IRS to create the information contained on the pages listed below to help y...