IRS Patrol IRS Announces Streamlined and Simplified Notices to Taxpayers
YouTube Video: Received a Letter from the IRS?
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service [on January 11th] unveiled its first redesigned notices that are part of an on-going effort to improve the way it corresponds with taxpayers.
The nine new notices are among the first to be reviewed and revised for clarity, effectiveness and efficiency. The agency also will create an office that ensures the effort to improve communications is on-going and permanent.
“One of my priorities is to ensure that we have clear and simple communication with taxpayers. In the past, our notices often looked more like legal documents and not an effort to communicate clearly. The differences between the old and new notices are like night and day. They show the potential of our on-going effort in this area,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
In July 2008, Shulman appointed the Taxpayer Communications Taskgroup to review IRS correspondence. The task group found that IRS notices have different looks, messages and do not use consistent language. Because of this, some notices are creating unnecessary confusion for taxpayers.
Nine notices will feature the new design format beginning in January. These notices account for approximately 2 million pieces of correspondence with individuals, businesses and exempt organizations. A revised web page is available at www.irs.gov/notices.
The new format includes a plain language explanation of the nature of the correspondence, clearly states what action the taxpayer must take and presents a consistent, clean design. The new format also guides taxpayers to appropriate pages on IRS.gov where they can find accurate and relevant information quickly and easily.
By reducing the potential for confusion, these notices will improve the taxpayers’ ability to get problems resolved quickly, and improve overall compliance.
Shulman also announced this important work will be made a permanent part of the IRS through a new office to oversee improvements to taxpayer correspondence. The new office, called Office of Taxpayer Correspondence, will be directed by Jodi Patterson, who led the initial effort.
Tax preparers are already seeing some of this effort. In March, the IRS reduced to 2 from 13 the number of inserts included to tax preparers as part of notice CP 161, which is mailed to business taxpayers who underpay their taxes. There are approximately 2.3 million CP 161 notices sent annually.
Related Items:
Things to Know If You Receive an IRS Notice
More great tips from the IRS summer series.
Every year, the IRS sends millions of letters and notices to taxpayers. Many taxpayers will receive this correspondence during the late summer and fall. Here are eight things every taxpayer should know about IRS notices – just in case one shows up in your mailbox.
Don’t panic. Many of these letters can be dealt with simply and painlessly.
There are number of reasons the IRS sends notices to taxpayers. The notice may request payment of taxes, notify you of a change to your account or request additional information. The notice you receive normally covers a very specific issue about your account or tax return.
Each letter and notice offers specific instructions on what you are asked to do to satisfy the inquiry.
If you receive a correction notice, you should review the correspondence and compare it with the information on your return.
If you agree with the correction to your account, usually no reply is necessary unless a payment is due.
If you do not agree with the correction the IRS made, it is important that you respond as requested. Write to explain why you disagree. Include any documents and information you wish the IRS to consider, along with the bottom tear-off portion of the notice. Mail the information to the IRS address shown in the upper left-hand corner of the notice. Allow at least 30 days for a response.
Most correspondence can be handled without calling or visiting an IRS office. However, if you have questions, call the telephone number in the upper right-hand corner of the notice. Have a copy of your tax return and the correspondence available when you call to help us respond to your inquiry.
It’s important that you keep copies of any correspondence with your records.
For more information about IRS notices and bills, see Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process. Information about penalties and interest charges is available in Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax for Individuals. Both publications are available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Links:
Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process
Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax for Individuals
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