Taxpayers won a major victory this week with the IRS. Until now, IRS agents could show up to a taxpayer’s home or business unannounced to collect unpaid taxes. This could be incredibly jarring for these taxpayers, especially if they were unaware that there was an issue with their balance. IRS Commissioner Werfel announced that this practice will be largely discontinued as part of an effort to reduce public confusion and enhance overall safety measures for taxpayers and IRS agents. National Taxpayers Union applauds this policy change for the IRS as it makes the entire process more transparent and less confusing for taxpayers.
NTU President Pete Sepp issued the following statement,
The IRS ending most unannounced revenue officer visits is a win for taxpayer rights, taxpayer privacy, and sound tax administration. Government agents showing up unannounced is a waste of resources and an intimidating and confusing event for taxpayers who may not know why IRS employees are showing up unannounced at their homes. It is in the best interests of tax dispute resolution to make sure both the taxpayer and the government have a clear understanding of each other’s positions and actions, This directive from the IRS to staff is a welcome sign that the Service is not only recognizing the spirit of taxpayer protections, but also the practical realities of how and where to put government resources.
Instead of unannounced visits from government agents, taxpayers with outstanding balances can now expect to receive letters from the IRS to schedule appointments on when agents can follow up. Taxpayers can now choose the time and place that they have a face-to-face meeting with government agents. The IRS did however also mention that unannounced visits could still happen in exceptionally rare circumstances. These include serving summonses or subpoenas and certain asset seizure enforcement. At the end of the day though, this is a victory for taxpayers as the IRS mostly eliminates this burdensome and needlessly intimidating policy.
If you would like to speak with NTU President Pete Sepp about the IRS’s policy changes, please contact Kevin Glass, NTU Vice President of Communications, at 703-299-8670 or at kglass@ntu.org.