Accounting Solutions Ltd.

IRS Found To Provide Inaccurate Advice To Taxpayers Almost Half Of The Time

The Taxpayer Inspector General For Tax Administration (TIGTA) examined the in-person advice being provided to taxpayers on a nationwide basis at the Taxpayers Assistance Centers (TAC). The report shows that TAC staff provided incorrect advice about the tax laws during nearly half of TIGTA's visits.

The report can be found at the following web address...

https://www.oversight.gov/reports/audit/limited-testing-showed-taxpayer-assistance-centers-did-not-always-provide-accurate

TIGTA inspectors made 91 unannounced site visits to 82 of the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers around the country, and found the following...

1. The inspectors did not receive full assistance during 30 of the 91 visits due to incomplete or inaccurate responses to tax law questions, denial of entry by security, or unexpected TAC closures.

2 - In the 61 visits where TIGTA inspectors received assistance, TAC employees provided incorrect tax law guidance during 28 of those visits (46%).

3 - TAC employees, through brief interactions, did not provide complete or accurate responses to TIGTA's tax law questions in 19 instances. The 19 instances involved brief interactions where TAC employees, such as front desk greeters, did not thoroughly review the required prompts to answer the tax law questions.

4 - TIGTA inspectors were denied entry by a security guard in nine instances. The TACs were unexpectedly closed in two instances.

"If the IRS does not follow its procedures when assisting taxpayers at TACs, there is a risk that taxpayers will experience unnecessary burden, including receiving incorrect information that could lead to inaccurate tax returns, or not receiving the assistance they need," said the report.

Let me leave you with this...

This is frightening...

TAC's were set up so that people who had questions, or needed help preparing their returns could walk in, sit down with an IRS Employee, and get something done correctly. Now TIGTA inspectors are finding that they dish out inaccurate advice 46% of the time.

So let's say that this happened to you. You go to a TAC for help, then sign and send in your return based on bad advice. You then get a notice changing your liability with demands for additional tax, interest and penalties.

What do you do?

Do you send a letter back to the IRS explaining that this is what their people told you to do? What do you think that would accomplish? How far do you think that would get you?

How about nowhere.

Do you walk back into that same TAC and complain? Again, what do you think that would accomplish? How far do you think that would get you?

Same answer. Nowhere.

New hires at the TACs earn between $40,736 and $48,662 annually depending on their background and where they work. Do you know what you can get in my business for $45K a year?

I don't know because all of my people make way more than that, but at the IRS you get the wrong answer almost half the time.

The person who completes and signs your income tax return is important. Choose wisely.

And please do yourselves a favor. Don't walk into a Taxpayer Assistance Center.

If you're having difficulties with your accounting or tax work, please contact us today.

We're all going to get through this. Let's get through it together...

Accounting Solutions Ltd. stands ready to complete our mission and purpose of protecting you, your family, and your business. Whether you need Payroll Services, Accounting and Tax Work, Tax Planning, or Tax Representation, you have but to ask. I'm here and I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Chris Amundson
President
Accounting Solutions Ltd.
773-267-7500
888-310-0300

www.AccountingSolutionsLtd.com

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