Ray Nations wrote the following. this week, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson issued her 2014 Annual Report to Congress. Yes, the document is its usual doorstop size, but the 20-page preface is depressing enough for most appetites. In the preface, the NTA emphasizes four points:First, the budget environment of the last five years has brought about a devastating erosion of taxpayer service, harming taxpayers individually and collectively;Second, the lack of effective administrative and congressional oversight, in conjunction with the failure to pass taxpayer rights legislation, has eroded taxpayer protections enacted 16 or more years ago;Third, the combined effect of these trends is reshaping U.S. tax administration in ways that are not positive for future tax compliance or for public trust in the fairness of the tax system; andFourth, this downward slide can be addressed if Congress makes an investment in the IRS and holds it accountable for how it applies that investment.Olson further notes in her press release: IRSs diminished service expectations for FY 2015 are as follows:The IRS is unlikely to answer even half the telephone calls it receives, and levels of service may average as low as 43%.Taxpayers who manage to get through are expected to wait on hold for 30 minutes on average and considerably longer at peak times.The IRS will answer far fewer tax-law questions than in past years. During the upcoming filing season, it will not answer any tax-law questions except basic ones. After the filing season, it will not answer any tax-law questions at all, leaving the roughly 15 million taxpayers who file later in the year unable to get answers to their questions by calling or visiting IRS offices.Tax return preparation assistance has been eliminated. Clearly, the value that a tax expert adds this year is even higher than it has been in the past. Taxpayers will have a very difficult time reaching the agency. Pros are well advised to becoming better acquainted with IRS website and to build upon professional relationships theyve been nurturing with other enrolled agents.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 01:13:58 +0000
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