NTA Blog: Protecting the Rights of Taxpayers Who Rely on IRS “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs)

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins. Additional blogs can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. Consider this: In the course of preparing your federal income tax return, you are wondering whether a particular expense is deductible. You go to the IRS website and find a “Frequently Asked Qu...

National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins releases her first Objectives Report

National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins has released her first report to Congress, identifying taxpayer challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the IRS’s implementation of the Taxpayer First Act as priority issues the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) plans to focus on in the coming year. The report also analyzes ...

NTA Blog: Keep an Eye on Your Mailbox: Millions of Backlogged Notices Are Being Mailed Over the Next Few Months, Some Reflect Expired Action Dates. But Don’t Panic, See Inserts Providing Extended Due Dates

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins. Additional blogs can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. En Español As the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 emergency, IRS campuses are reopening and employees have begun processing the work backlog, including notices.  During the...

Blog de la NTA: Vigile su buzón: se enviarán por correo millones de avisos pendientes durante los próximos meses, algunos reflejan fechas de acción vencidas. Pero no se asuste, vea los insertos que proporcionan fechas de vencimiento extendidas

Suscríbase al Blog de la NTA y reciba actualizaciones sobre las últimas publicaciones del blog de la Defensora Nacional del Contribuyente Erin M. Collins. Se pueden encontrar blogs adicionales en www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. In English A medida que el país continúa lidiando con la emergencia COVID-19, las oficinas del IRS están reabriendo y los emplead...

TAS Tax Tip: Understanding upcoming filing and payment due dates for individual taxpayers

  Most federal tax return filing and payment deadlines are postponed from April 15 to July 15, 2020. These postponements are automatic and apply to all taxpayers. You do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify, unless you need an extension to file beyond the July 15. To help individual taxpayers better understand exactly what this all means, for the Form 1040 file...

TAS Tax Tip: Spread the word & help millions of qualified homeless and low-income families receive their Economic Impact Payment

 Many Americans who qualify for an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) are not aware of, and may potentially miss out on, this economic assistance under the CARES Act. While many taxpayers do not need to take action in order to receive any EIP to which they are entitled, there are other taxpayers who will need to take some action in order to receive an EIP. Thus, the IRS needs your help to sprea...

TAS Tax Tip: Certain Medicaid Waiver Payments May Be Excludable From Income

  Information is available on how to take account of Medicaid waiver payments when determining the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). See Publication 596, Earned Income Credit (EIC), for more information or use the IRS’ interactive EITC Assistant, which is also in Spanish (Asistente EITC). See the 2019 Instructions for Schedule 8812 for more ...

TAS Tax Tip: Some Economic Impact Payments are coming as prepaid debit cards in plain envelopes

 The IRS warns taxpayers that their Economic Impact Payments (EIP) may be coming as prepaid debit cards in plain envelopes from “Money Network Cardholder Services.” The Visa name will appear on the front of the card; the back of the card has the name of the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A. So be very careful not to throw the envelope away thinking it is junk mail – open ...

TAS Tax Tip: Private Debt Collection Information for Taxpayers

  In an effort to assist taxpayers during the COVID 19 pandemic, the IRS announced the People First Initiative on March 25, 2020. The IRS will not be assigning any new accounts to private collection agencies (PCAs) from April 1 through July 15, 2020. Accounts currently assigned to PCAs will remain there and PCAs may continue contacting taxpayers. As a reminder, taxpayers may request at an...

Alert: Provide your bank account information by noon (ET) on May 13, for faster delivery of the Economic Impact Payment

This is a special alert for taxpayers who did not request direct deposit on tax returns, can provide bank account information by noon Wednesday, May 13  to get payments faster. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urged people to use the Get My Payment tool by noon Wednesday, May 13, for a chance to get a quicker delivery of their Economic Impact Payment. In the statement, the IRS advised...