The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)

You should know that you have help available, while dealing with the IRS. The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is the separate department of the Federal Government that is NOT part of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), even though it is located at an IRS office in major cities of the US.

It is a part of the government that helps taxpayers who have not been treated properly or who are about to lose property or assets from the IRS due to levies, seizures, garnishments, and liens. This might be the last line of defense between you and the IRS, if you do not have a Certified Public Accountant, Enrolled Agent, and attorney representing you.

Taxpayer advocates can stop collection actions under certain conditions, so you can think of them as the “knight in shining armor” coming to your rescue if you follow their rules. The department helps you help yourself. Though there are limits to the TAS abilities, but they can do far more than you can do yourself!

The Taxpayer Advocate Service lists some great tips to educate taxpayers on the type of help it offers:

1. The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS and is your voice at the IRS.

2. They help taxpayers whose problems are causing financial difficulty. This includes businesses as well as individuals.

3. You may be eligible for our help if you’ve tried to resolve your tax problem through normal IRS channels and your issues are still unresolved, or you believe an IRS procedure just isn’t working as it should.

4. As a taxpayer, you have rights that the IRS must respect. The IRS has adopted a Taxpayer Bill of Rights that includes 10 fundamental rights that every taxpayer has when interacting with the IRS.

Taxpayer Bill of Rights

• The Right to Be Informed.
• The Right to Quality Service.
• The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax.
• The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard.
• The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum.
• The Right to Finality.
• The Right to Privacy.
• The Right to Confidentiality.
• The Right to Retain Representation.
• The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System.

The TAS Tax Toolkit at TaxpayerAdvocate.irs.gov can help you understand these rights and what they mean for you. The toolkit also has examples that show how the Taxpayer Bill of Rights can apply in specific situations.

5. If you qualify for TAS help, you’ll be assigned to one advocate who will be with you at every turn.

6. The IRS has at least one local taxpayer advocate office in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. You can call your advocate, whose number is in your local directory, in Publication 1546, Taxpayer Advocate Service — Your Voice at the IRS, and on our website at irs.gov/advocate. You can also call us toll-free at 1-877-777- 4778.

7. The TAS tax toolkit at https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov has basic tax information, details about tax credits (for individuals and businesses), and lots more.

8. TAS also handles large-scale or systemic problems that affect many taxpayers.

9. You can get updates at:

www.facebook.com/YourVoiceAtIRS

Twitter.com/YourVoiceatIRS

https://www.youtube.com/tasnta

10. TAS is here to help you because when you’re dealing with a tax problem. The worst thing you can do is nothing at all

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