Resolving your tax issues with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) just got a little bit easier – assuming you have an internet connection. The IRS has announced that the Office of Appeals will pilot a new “web-based virtual conference option” for taxpayers and their representatives.
Each year, the Office of Appeals hears appeals from more than 100,000 taxpayers attempting to resolve their tax disputes without going to court. Here’s how the process works.
In the event of a dispute, including an audit or exam, the IRS will give you the right to explain your position and will eventually issue a determination letter. This is not the same as a bill. The letter will note any proposed adjustments to your account, along with a brief (and I mean brief) explanation. The letter will also include a form for you to sign if you agree with the result (this is true even if you can’t afford to pay the amount due). If you disagree with the result because you think the decision is wrong based on your facts and circumstances, you can request an appeal in writing. The details, including when and where to send the appeal, will be spelled out in a letter mailed to you from IRS explaining your rights.
However, not all matters are subject to appeal. You can’t appeal if the notice you received from the IRS is merely a bill with no mention of the appeals process; you simply can’t pay what you owe; or you did not provide all information to support your position to the examiner during the audit. In any of those events, other alternatives are available (click here for more info on how to deal with a tax bill that you can’t pay in full).
Normally, you can expect to hear back within 60 days after the Office of Appeals receives your request. Keep in mind, though, that due to reduced resources, IRS has been slow to respond to many requests of late and response times may vary.
To move your case along, an Appeals Officer will reach out to you and schedule a time to talk. In previous years, the only options to discuss your case were by phone or in person: that made it difficult for folks who wanted a face-to-face conversation but couldn’t make the trip to an IRS office. With the new pilot program, taxpayers can communicate over the web using a secure screen-sharing platform. This technology offers more features than just a video or Skype conference (you may have used similar technology at work) and is intended to help taxpayers resolve their disputes more efficiently.
“Taxpayers who choose the web-based option will be able to get face-to-face service remotely,” said IRS Chief, Appeals Donna Hansberry. “In the future, the technology may give taxpayers greater options in engaging with Appeals and could allow us the flexibility to serve taxpayers virtually from any location using mobile devices or computers. We hope this is one more option to enable IRS employees to provide timely, efficient and effective service to taxpayers,” said Hansberry.
The new pilot program will kick off today, August 1, 2017.
