The IRS Taxpayer Advocate is the group to go to when you need IRS help and all else fails. When trying to resolve something with an IRS employee, and there is a disagreement, request to speak to the manager. If that fails, and you still think they are being unreasonable you can go to the supervisor, or the taxpayer advocates office. Let’s see how this works.
How The Taxpayer Advocate Works
You, the taxpayer, call the Automated Collection Service and are not getting anywhere with the ACS employee. Asking to speak to an ACS manager usually doesn’t work very well, and they often won’t call you back. So just hang up nicely, and call back immediately till you get someone who is at least somewhat reasonable. Then attempt to work out why you called. First verify the status of your case. Ask, is this an ACS case? Is the case in the queue being transferred to a revenue officer? If it is an ACS case, then ACS has control over it. If your case is waiting to be transferred to a revenue officer, the ACS employee can’t really take action on it, so don’t waste your time. They will try to ask questions and take control. They may try to get collection information from you. Just find out what you need, and hang up the phone. Make sure you call revenue officers immediately when you hear from them. They have a habit of levying accounts quicker than you think. Don’t give them bank or work information, even if they press for it. Just tell them you need about two weeks to get everything together. They will want to set up a meeting. Set it up two weeks from now. Preferably in their office if they will allow it. Another benefit when a taxpayer has a representative, is that the meetings are mostly in the representative’s office so the IRS doesn’t poke around your place! Spend the time leading up to the meeting getting your financial statements and back up information together. Look up the IRS table expense allowances for the expenses on the 433A, and put together a picture of your income and expense information and asset situation. Know ahead of time what assets the IRS will allow you to keep, and the likelihood of them allowing each expense deduction. If a taxpayer is properly prepared, they have a greater chance of getting what they want.
Right To Use The Taxpayer Advocate
If the taxpayer deals with a revenue officer, the same applies. Don’t allow them to brow beat you into submission. You have the right to hire a representative and have time before disclosing your financial information to them. They will try to get you to answer questions about marital status, business ID #’s etc. Even if you think the answers are easy and won’t hurt you, don’t give it to them. If you do, you establish a rapport that allows them influence over you for future questions. In addition you may give information you will want to retract later. Just keep insisting that you are you, and your social security number is yours, and your address is yours and for the rest you will get back to them with on the date of the meeting. If they don’t want to wait two weeks, you can agree to a meeting in one week with an agreement from the R.O. to an extension if necessary. If they expect you to meet sooner, ask for manager’s name and phone number (which you should do anyway from the start), so you can find out why you can’t have two weeks. The R.O. may change the date, or try to brow beat you into not calling. Tell them you are not calling to complain about the R.O. This is very important and should always be said when you ask for someone’s manager. Never get mad and say “give me your manager!”
