Most people only think about the IRS in April. But if you have IRS Tax Problems, you likely think about the IRS a whole lot more. But there is a part of the IRS that really is there to help. It's called the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate, an independent branch of the IRS that exists merely to assist taxpayers with hardships, including bureaucratic snafus.
The Taxpayer Advocate really is the best kept secret of the IRS. The Service is open to both individual and business taxpayers. The Taxpayer Advocate's representatives aren't intended to be the first point of contact but rather their job is to assist taxpayers when other avenues have failed. Unfortunately, this is quite common.
Typically the Taxpayer Advocate deals with taxpayers who are experiencing hardships or financial burdens stemming from an IRS Tax Problem. Sometimes it's best to use the Taxpayer Advocate if a taxpayer hasn't received a response from the IRS within a reasonable amount of time. This amount of time is usually 30 days.
One of the best features of using the Taxpayer Advocate is that the taxpayer has one person assigned to the case for the duration of their assistance. This is quite different than calling a 1-800 number and talking to whoever picks up the phone. It is quite frustrating to have to continually explain the circumstances of the particular case over and over again.
If you would like to contact the Taxpayer Advocate go to http://www.irs.gov and click on the Taxpayer Advocate link toward the bottom of the page. A word to the wise, the Taxpayer Advocate is not substitute for getting an IRS Problem Lawyer who is looking out for your best interests. An experienced IRS Tax Problem Attorney will often use the Taxpayer Advocate to help in a particular case because it is the most efficient way to get certain things done. IRS help is still best obtained from the services of a skilled Tax Problem lawyer so don't be tempted into taking the easy way out and use the Taxpayer Advocate for solving the whole IRS Tax Problem.
Comments on IRS Taxpayer Advocate can help with IRS Problems
I would like to know if there's anyway you could help me solve an issue concerning my income tax return. My employer haven't given me my w-2 form,and that's delaying me to file my income tax. I spoke with human resources everyday and they keep telling me i would receive it in the mail. It's been a week and i haven't receive anything yet. I even ask my supervisor to go to human resources to see what's the problem and he came back and said that they weren't able to find it,and that was on 02-01-2008. So i'm asking can you help me with this problem.
I,m trying to change the address on an existing ss-4,[employer identification number]]
Isubmitted achange of address on form 8822 which was rejected without a reason. I was told to resubmit it and don,t know how to proceed.
I just received 600 for a money back program, my husband and I filed as joint married and was told 1200 dollars. Why would they only send half.
Dyan,
You're going to need to give them a call to find out why you got less than you expected. If you can't get a straight answer, file a form 911 with your Local Taxpayer Advocate office. You can find the fax number to your local office on the irs.gov website. Good luck!
I have a short sale on my home and an end buyer title search showed $18000 in tax liens from 2000 to 2007 due my illnesses I hauent been able to pay taxes. I have recd a tax lien release on 4 of the liens which totalled 6049.00. I have an appt. to receive a call from a tax payer advocate on the 19th of Nov. Can an advocate assist me in getting the remaining liens released so I can continue with the short sale instead of filing bankruptcy? What questions should I be ready to ask?
I realize now that I didn't answer this comment. I'm really sorry about that. The answer is that the Taxpayer Advocate really should be able to help you with the liens.
I had a problem with my 2003 tax return when an accountant did a bad job that caused an audit. I was glad for the audit because with all my receipts and documents I was able to reduce the tax liability. The problem i am having now is that I no longer own a business and a six figure income had dropped to a "keeping head at level of water" income. The IRS Collection agent has been reeking havoc in my life, they have been filing bogus returns on my behalf, including business reurns 940 and 941, (again….I do not currently own or operate a business). These false returns, S. freeman IRS Agent No. 58-10933, has been filing for me have even been questioned by other agents which I have met with at the central irs office in my town. Agent Freeman, obviously got a big commission off the taxes I overpaid for 2003 but, I did own and operate a business at that time.
Agent Freeman, has violated my rights, she has shown how desperate she is by filing all these returns for me when my returns have already been filed. I believe it is causing my original returns to be overridden with those she has filed. She has falsely given me an income of over 475,000, and now she is in the process of taking my home and my car to settle that false debt. The 940 and 941 alone, is giving me a false tax liability of at least 10,000.
Unbelievably, we had a city shutdown due to temperatures below freezing, and all schools, clinics, agencies were closed. This woman showed up at my door step, like the police, and was here to collect those false taxes. She clearly knows that my business closed 4 years ago, and now I am barely working. She is bullying me, and wants me to come down to her office on a late evening after hours, with copies of all of my returns. My returns are currently being processed at the addresses of the irs in which I was told to mailed them. This Freeman woman wants to get her hands on these and continue to destroy my life……HELP!!!
Kim, this is the type of case that screams out for representation. Perhaps the IRS Revenue Officer is being overaggressive. It's really hard to know for sure based upon your comment. Please allow me to explain….when a taxpayer doesn't understand the system and the Revenue Officer doesn't take the time to explain what he or she is doing and why (or they simply don't view that as a function of their job description. It's really unfortunate because I believe that the Revenue Officers that really take the time to explain what is going on and then helping the taxpayer to facilitate compliance end up collecting the most money anyway.
It's hard to say and all cases are different, but it seems to me that what you really need is a liason between you and the Revenue Officer. Our plan would be to demonstrate that you have been out of business for quite some time, get those Substitute for Returns nullified and then either have you placed in hardship status or assist with the filing of an Offer in Compromise. There are simply so many details that we still don't know despite your excellent summation in your comment.
I feel your pain and frustration. It doesn't have to end up being a financial disaster but I do suggest that you get professional help as soon as possible.
How do i go about finding out if my husband, soon to be ex. has already filed our taxes without me?
Krystal,
You could try calling the IRS at (800) 829-1040 and asking but they will likely indicate that they can't speak with you about "his" account. You could take the safe route and file Married Filing Separately on your own though.
The IRS filed a 944 on my behalf for 2007 and entered in an amount that they decided I owed (a guestimation so to speak). I spoke with an agent in 2009 and resolved this matter. A revenue officer showed up at my house two weeks ago and insisted I give him a check for the amount of payroll taxes I failed to pay for 2007 based on that form that was filed. I explained everything to him and he still wanted money and I refused to give it to him. Two days later I got a letter from the IRS Collections Department indicating that I owed a totally different amount of money. When I spoke to the original revenue officer that showed up at my house (out of the blue wanting money) he read to me from the computer \\\\"Tax payer has been released of liability to file the forms requested–nothing is due at this time.\\\\" He got angry and said that was a mistake and refused to cooperate with me threatening me with an audit, wage garnishment, levy of my assets etc. I am still being held liable for a form that I did not have to submit and a debt that I do not owe. How is it even possible for the IRS to do this tax payers? Why would they do this? How do I get representation when I barely have enough money to pay my bills now?
Not an unusual situation. You may want to contact the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate. They may be able to help you.
We called to check status of our return. When we called they said they sent the first part of our return 4 days prior for the $5649 and the $8k is on hold untill the review is over or accepted and we would get a letter wanting more info.When they said they sent the $5649 4/3 and it was 4/10 we told them we didnt get it and didnt know it was on the way. They said that was for regular federal refund and tax, points, interest and ect, ect for refund. Come to find out they sent it to the old address because H&R Block didn't click the box for new address, which was dumb, hello they just did a home buyers credit but oh well. So she took our address on the phone nd noted the account. So they said to wait a couple weeks and see if it shows up back there or to us. Mean while we sent a 8822 change of address to IRS. They said they would issue a a new check when they get the form back and if they got the check back or would cancel old check and then send another and allow 30 days. A few days later we got a letter about the $8k home buyer credit they needed info. So I faxed it back in, with a copy of the 8822 address change form that I mailed in to another office, to get the first part of check issued again. Our previous forward address expired from old address 12/09. So I renewed the address change at Post office and had it forwarded again. So on 4/21 we got 2 letters back from IRS from 2 different states. The one about the $5649 to our correct address and they recieved the old check as returned and our new address and allow 30 days for the check to be mailed on 5/19, this was sent to our new address. The other letter the same day forwarded from our OLD ADDRESS from another IRS office in a different state said, I guess they handel the Home buyers tax credit. That letter said they recieved our additional info for the Home buyers credit allow 30 days for them to respond. We have two parts of the return happening at the same time. Then on 5/2 from a 3RD state from IRS we got another letter saying the same thing as the one from 4/21 that the check for $5649 was returned and they would issue another in 30 days. GET THIS they sent that one to our old address. So we called all three phone numbers from all 3 letters to ask why one has the new address and the other 2 didn't if they all claim to have the 8822 form. The guy didn't know how to answer but assured it is in the system as of 4/19 but the letters were sent 4/1 and 5/3. So who knows if it really is updated with all the IRS places. So today we call to see if the check for $5649 was sent 4/19 because we haven't seen it yet. HERE IS THE PROBLEM. They said they see where it ws set to be released on 5/19 but they didn't send it. They said they see they are going to send us a check for the full $13,649. we were like wow cool when? They said they didn't know because it was still in review for the $8k. I saked why they didn't just re send the new check? She didn't have an answer only that of above. How can they just decide not to send it make us wait and say they will just send it later with the $8k if your approved and make us wait. They said call back in 2-3 weeks and wit 45 days. Which is it 2-3 weeks or 45 days? Now what do we do. He is laid of work as of 11/09 and we need the money months ago. Do we call for supervisor or a tax advocate? How can they do this we filed mid Feb.
This sounds like a perfect case for the Taxpayer Advocate. I would recommend filing a form 911 immediately.
Update asked for tax advocate. within 48 hours a very nice helpful and understanding person called. She told us to fax over late utilities bills and car payments and tell why we needed our money right away. she got our fax and called right back to let us know with in minutes of sending it and is trying to get it done fast and hopes to call us back today or tomorrow. I can not believe how fast they respond. It was a blessing. Hoping for good news to have the first part of our return direct deposited in the next day or so. Gosh I hope it works. Then because they are involved they see you threw the whole return so hopefully she will get us news after this on the other part of the return for Home Buyers Credit. we have waited more than 30 days to hear back after they said 4/21 they recieved our info and will get back to us in 30 days. So maybe that part will be taken care of too sooner than we thought. We were not as worried and understood the review process for Home buyers credit and willing to wait. But now it maybe sooner than we thought. Here's to hoping on the Tax Advocate. I will update on results. I at this point would recomend them for real issues you couldn't resolve on your own after calls and letters plus waiting the correct time. Don't use them if you are just in a rush for a refund without going threw the correct channels of calls and proper wait time.
Update. They said we would hear back Thur or Fri just before Memorial day weekend. We didn't get a call until Tues. They seemed so nice last week and remembered us but by Tues she couldn't remember us we were just another case in their load I guess and the tone changed from nice to semi nice, impersonable and busy. They said they hoped to have it done or hear something that day Tues 6/1 and we hoped for a call by the end of the day. She said should be notified or taken care of by 6/7. It's Thurs 6/3 we haven't heard back. We went from excited to hoping something happens soon. We thought the way they talked we would have had the money released direct deposited by now.
Unfortunately, the wheels of government move very SLOWLY……
See Gulf oil spill for more vivid example…..
I should have received a "1099" for '09, but my
client keeps "putting me off"… blaming the delay
on his accountant. I kept good records, and filed
my '09 taxes on time, but I am concerned that
my client (and/or his accountant) may have
"inflated" my 1099 amount for his tax-return.
How can I find out if this happened ?
Simply calculate how much you received, make sure it's included on your Schedule C and SE and file your return. If they filed an inaccurate 1099 you will need to deal with it when the time comes.
Finally god the first part of the return releases 6/15. Then They finally sent the home buyers credit on 7/6. The tax advocate helped and got things moving fast. In 40-50 days all was resolved. I am happy now. Um I thinking of this year changing my W-$ to up my my exempts. This way I get more money threw the year vs a nice return at the end that I have to wait for. I am tired of them. The TAX ADVOCATE WE AD WAS AWSOME.
I\'m late filing 2006, 2009, and 2010 and trying to find an accountant to help file these returns. I also need advice on how to approach a serious problem! My boss is personal friends with the Deputy Director of the I.R.S. and my boss doesn\'t like me. I overheard him asking the Deputy Director to take a personal interest in me and come after me with all his power!!!. I am now scared that the I.R.S. is going to try to make a legal case over these unfiled tax returns. I guess I\'m an idiot when it comes to these things but isn\'t that conspiracy to trump charges as a personal favor for a friend? I\'m scared I\'m going to go to jail over this!!!
This is just a case of needing to get your returns filed as soon as possible. We may be able to help you with this. if you don't take erroneous and/or aggressive positions on your returns, I don't think the IRS is going to be all that interested in you. As far as the Deputy Director is concerned, it's hard to comment on that but it doesn't sound legit.
I have to file a injured spouse form every year with my taxes and efile. This year I am in bad shape financially and cannot wait the 8-14 wks for my money.
I called the taxpayer advocate line and they said that I qualify for their services under financial hardship and a advocate will call me in 3 days.
My question is what should I expect from their service? Do they have the means to expedite my return and if so how fast can they get the refund issued.
Thanks for your help with my question.
This year i have had a BIG problem with my refund. There is nothing special about my tax return, i owe no money, just filed with liberty tax on a EZ form…i picked the 8 to 15 day and that was back on Jan. 20th…that was 27 days ago, and i have called the IRS many times and never given an answer, and each time they say something different like maybe this Friday, Maybe this Friday…anyways i have no ideal when im going to be getting it and cant seem to find anything out…should i seek help?
Is the Tax Advisory Group the same thing as the Taxpayer Advocate?
I am writing in behalf of my daughter and her husband. They bought a home last year (settlement was June 1) and filed for the homeowners tax credit. They have yet to receive the refund, despite providing all documentation promptly. Many times. They filed the form 911 and were assigned a tax advocate. They were told that the refund should be disbursed within 4-6 weeks after the required documentation was received. Again, all forms were faxed as requested, and the agent acknowledged receipt of all requested documentation via phone message (a week after they were faxed). Now they received a letter stating that the documentation was incomplete and that if the required documents were not received by March 1st the case would be closed. Any suggestions?
The IRS says I owe more than 25,000 for past taxes which now means I must include my wife's income in any negotiations to pay. We have only been married for just under four years and she was not responsible for my tax problems before or after our marriage. I would not be over the 25,000 mark if the four years we were married were taken out of the equation – or if the years pryor were.
Thoughts?
Darrin, it's too long a story to tell, but any info much appreciated: I was accepted on 1-16 and now the refund seems to have been frozen, after speaking to an IRS Agent in Kansas City. I'm thinking of contacting the Taxpayer Advocate but have neither a W-2 or child care receipts and cannot get them. Further complications are that I no longer live at the address I filed under and there is no forwarding. Also, I don't have a phone where TA can contact me.
I cannot pay April's rent without a release of my refund. Can something, anything, possibly be done anyway? (How I wish more business could be conducted by e-mail without the need for the dreaded telephone!)
Thank you!
when using a tax advocate (i'm waiting on their call back) do they ask for the w-2 (since I no longer have mine) or do they already have that info?
they should be able to pull it up
Hello. I have been working with a tax advocate in the past few weeks due to the fact that i efiled on jan 20th 2012 and i still have not received my tax return. He said that they needed a schedule se form filled out, which is the self employment tax form. I sent him the proper paperwork in just a few days. he told me that he received the form that was needed by the IRS. I just want to know how long will it be before i receive my tax return. He said by March 23rd 2012. should i go by his date or just wait
That date sounds about right.