Taxes can be pretty nerve wracking. The prospect of facing an audit or possible charges from the IRS could be the reason your clients reached out to you in the first place. As a tax professional you provide a service to your clients and use your years of experience and knowledge in the tax field to put their minds at ease. However if that’s not enough then maybe it’s time to share some information with them. Taxpayers have specific rights when dealing with the IRS, rights that can’t be infringed. Below, we list and describe the 10 rights all taxpayers are guaranteed when dealing with the IRS.
The Right to be Informed
Your clients have a right to be informed about everything related to their tax account. Not only that, but if they do get in trouble with the IRS then they have the right to be informed about what laws and given instructions on how to comply.
The Right to Quality Service
Nobody likes dealing with poor customer service. Taxpayers have the right to receive timely and professional assistance when dealing with the IRS. The IRS is obligated to communicate clearly with taxpayers and if service is not professional then taxpayers have the right to speak to a supervisor.
The Right to Not be Overcharged
This one seems rather obvious. Taxpayers have a right to only pay the amount they owe, including fines and interests, and not a cent more. The IRS then obligated to distribute that money into the correct areas.
The Right to Challenge the IRS
When the IRS makes a decision about a tax account the taxpayer has the right to challenge that decision and provide evidence to reinforce their claim. Once a taxpayer challenges a decision by the IRS and submits their evidence it is then the job of the Internal Revenue Service to seriously consider the challenge and look over the evidence. The IRS must then submit a response to the taxpayer explaining why they did or did not revise the decision.
The Right to Appeal
While the IRS is not part of the judicial system it still has a built in appeal process for taxpayers to use in the event they disagree with a decision made by them. The appeal process is somewhat complicated so as a tax professional you should learn all about it to better serve your clients. Learn about the IRS appeal process here.
The Right to Finality
The IRS is obligated to share the timeframe in which they will conduct an audit, the time a taxpayer has to file an appeal, or the amount of time the IRS has to collect a debt. This way taxpayers don’t have to be stressed about when the IRS will make a decision about their account.
The Right to Privacy
A taxpayer’s privacy is protected meaning the IRS has to respect due process as well as search and seizure protection.
The Right to Confidentiality
Any information a taxpayer provides to the IRS is protected and will not be released unless authorized by the taxpayer. If the information is somehow released then taxpayers have the right to take appropriate action against the party of the individual who is responsible.
The Right of Representation
To put it simply, taxpayers have the right to authorized representation when dealing with the IRS. We won’t go into more detail because our friends at SeQwens already wrote an article about the right of representation and who you, as a tax pro, should offer tax representation services.
For the full article click here.
The Right to a Fair Tax System
Above all, your clients have the right to expect the tax system to consider any and all facts and circumstances that might affect them. This includes their ability to pay fines and penalties, and their ability to provide information in a timely manner. Taxpayers also have the right to receive assistance from the TAS (Tax Advocate Service).
Give your clients peace of mind by informing them of the rights guaranteed to them by the IRS. You can also set their minds at ease by letting them know you are using the best professional tax software on the market, SFP Works. SFP Works is the new standard for professional tax software, it does more and costs less than similar software on the market. Sign up for a free demo when you click here.
You can also read all about our software by downloading our digital brochure here.
