IRS Seeks Input On Reducing Taxpayer Burden

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

13 June 2006

The US Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Taxpayer Burden Reduction last week began soliciting recommendations from members of the public on ways to reduce taxpayer burden, defined as the time and money taxpayers spend to comply with their federal tax obligations.

The Office of Taxpayer Burden Reduction encourages tax professionals, business owners and others to submit their proposals for ways to reduce burden by using referral Form 13285A, entitled 'Reducing Burden on America’s Taxpayers'.

Established in early 2002, the Office of Taxpayer Burden Reduction provides direction and leadership for burden reduction efforts, such as simplification of forms and publications and streamlining of internal procedures. The office’s project managers work with specialists from all divisions and functions of the IRS and consult with outside experts, such as tax professionals, business groups and state and federal agencies.

This year, several initiatives coordinated through the Office of Taxpayer Burden Reduction designed to help ease taxpayers’ burden in complying with federal tax laws are underway.

They include:

• AMT Assistant for Individual Taxpayer;
• Streamlined Extension of Time to File;
• Simplified Tax Filing Requirements for Small Employers with Form 944; and
• Revised Schedule K-1 for Partnerships, S-corporations and Trusts.

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