The IRS has implemented the ‘Taxpayers Bill of Rights’ and is taking steps to make sure all tax payers know about it. The Bill of Rights was created to make your rights as a taxpayer more visible and easier to find the fundamental information needed available on the IRS.gov website.
According to the IRS Newswire, on June 10, 2014 ‘Congress passed multiple pieces of legislation with the title of ‘Taxpayer Bill of Rights’. However, most taxpayers do not believe they have rights before the IRS and even fewer can name their rights’.
They believe the list of core taxpayer rights the IRS is announcing today will help taxpayers better understand their rights in dealing with the tax system. ‘The Taxpayer Bill of Rights contains fundamental information to help taxpayers,’ said IRS Commissioner John A. Koskinen. ‘These are core concepts about which taxpayers should be aware. Respecting taxpayer rights continues to be a top priority for IRS and its employees, and the new Taxpayer Bill of Rights summarizes these important protections in a clearer, more understandable format than ever before.’
10 Provisional Highlights to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights
- The Right to Be Informed
- The Right to Quality Service
- The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax
- The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard
- The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum
- The Right to Finality
- The Right to Privacy
- The Right to Confidentiality
- The Right to Retain Representation
- The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System
The information contained in the Taxpayers Bill of Rights is crucial for you to read and understand. It is an educational tool that can be found on the IRS website. This is a great time for the IRS to roll out this information as tax season came to an end and some taxpayers will be receiving follow up correspondences from the 2014 filing season. Since 2007, adopting a Taxpayer Bill of Rights has been a goal of National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson, and it was listed as the Advocate’s top priority in her most recent Annual Report to Congress. The bill will be available in English, Spanish, and an updated versions will soon be available in Chinese, Korean, Russian and Vietnamese. This is a clear reminder that the IRS takes their responsibility to treat taxpayers fairly seriously.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights will serve as an important educational tool. The IRS.gov plans to have the Taxpayer Bill of Rights highlight in many different forums and venues, making it easy for the public to find.