It can be extremely frustrating and even frightening to receive a notice from the IRS that there’s an issue with your tax return from a previous year, or maybe multiple years, that needs resolution. The notice may say that you need to provide additional documentation or that you owe back taxes and fines or penalties. It may be a notice of an impending audit.
What can be even worse is if you call the phone number provided on the notice and are not able to get through to a human being – let alone one who can help you. Even if you do reach a customer service representative (CSR), that person may not be qualified to answer your question and may have to refer you to their supervisor or another department. You may have no way of knowing if you’re receiving accurate information.
The IRS customer service phone lines have been notoriously understaffed for a long time. That problem was exacerbated roughly five years ago for obvious reasons.
Things could be getting even worse this year
Understaffing issues are bound to get worse very soon. Upcoming layoffs of thousands of IRS employees in the middle of tax season have been reported. This comes as part of the Trump administration’s massive downsizing of the federal workforce. It remains to be seen just how many people will be laid off, when and from what areas of the IRS.
Although answers to some common questions and concerns are available on the IRS website, these can be of little or no help if you’re calling about a specific notice regarding a past return, money owed or an audit.
Don’t try to navigate the IRS on your own
The lack of personnel and the difficulty in reaching someone who can help are among the many reasons why working with an experienced tax attorney can help if you have concerns. If the issue is something that can be resolved fairly easily, they can maneuver the behemoth agency and discuss the matter with someone who can actually help. If it’s a serious matter that needs resolution, having this experienced guidance can help you protect your rights and prevent things from getting worse while it’s being resolved.
Whatever your tax issue, if you’re not able to resolve it with the IRS, getting sound legal guidance can help you get this overwhelming weight off your shoulders and give you peace of mind that your tax issues are in good hands. Whether it’s your business or personal taxes, you deserve a chance to resolve a dispute when you make a good faith effort to do so. Reach out today for experienced tax dispute resolution assistance to get started.