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

Register to attend the free IRS Webinar: Understanding the Gig Economy on February 20, 2020. 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 Serv...

TAS assistance offered at local Problem Solving Days

  The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) will conduct Problem Solving Day events in communities throughout the country in the coming months and year. During these events, TAS employees from a local office will be available to assist taxpayers in person with tax problems they have not been able to resolve with the IRS. Generally, TAS can assist taxpayers whose problems with the IRS are causin...

TAS Tax Tip: How to Confirm the Identity of a Field Revenue Officer If They Come Knocking at Your Door

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has begun conducting face-to-face meetings with individual and business taxpayers as a part of a special compliance effort entitled Revenue Officer Compliance Sweep (ROCS). This is an extremely high priority effort where IRS field revenue officers (RO’s) will be working to resolve compliance issues, including missing tax returns and taxes owed, with a s...

TAS Tax Tip: Federal tax return filing options and help

Tax return filing season for federal taxes is almost here. The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) has information to help you find tax return filing options and help. Options for Filing a Tax Return Each year, most people who work are required to file a federal income tax return. If you must file, you have two options: Filing a paper tax return, or Filing an electronic tax return (often called el...

TAS Tax Tip: Tax Pro Tips for working with the Taxpayer Advocate Service

Whether its during filing season or after, we get lots of questions about when to come to the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), how we can help, and what information you may need to have ready to talk to us when you do need assistance. The following tips will help answer those questions. When to Contact Us The Taxpayer Advocate Service works in two main ways: helping with individual taxpayer pr...

TAS Tax Tip: Before you file that federal tax return: Stop and follow these tips to help avoid unnecessary delays

The Taxpayer Advocate Service wants to help you avoid delays this filing season, including refund delays. If you missed attending one of our local events and you prepare your own tax return, whether it’s through software or on paper, STOP and follow these tax tips (English/Spanish), or watch our video, before you file that federal tax return. Be aware of tax software that imports prior y...