Taxpayers Can Now Lodge Systemic Tax Issues With IRS Via The Internet

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

14 May 2004

The Internal Revenue Service announced on Tuesday that taxpayers can now use the internet to bring systemic tax issues directly to the attention of the National Taxpayer Advocate.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service. Its role is to assist taxpayers in resolving issues with the IRS, recommending changes that will prevent future problems.

Commenting on the news, the Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson, noted: "Individuals who have identified systemic issues that affect taxpayers on an ongoing basis will find it both easier and faster to use this new system".

"This will improve our ability to be responsive to taxpayers and speed the process of addressing their ongoing concerns," she added.

TAS opens advocacy projects on systemic issues that affect individual taxpayers, business taxpayers or both. In contrast with taxpayer-specific cases, systemic issues affect segments of the taxpayer population — locally, regionally or nationally. The issues require study and analysis, and may require administrative or legislative solutions.

The advocacy projects developed from these issues are designed to accomplish four fundamental goals: protecting taxpayer rights; easing or preventing taxpayer burden; ensuring equitable treatment of taxpayers or; providing essential services to taxpayers.

To submit suggestions for advocacy projects, taxpayers previously were required to complete IRS Form 14411, “Systemic Advocacy Issue Submission Form,” online and then e mail or fax the submission.

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