Here are some tips to ensure your refund is timely received:

1. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund by using the “Where’s My Refund?” application available on the IRS website.

2. In most cases, your refund status will be available within 24 hrs of the IRS receiving your e-filed tax return and within 4 weeks of the IRS receiving your paper tax return.

3. Refunds are usually issued within 21 days, and you can elect to have the refund mailed to your last known address or deposited directly into your bank account.

4. For a faster refund, avoid common tax return errors such as an incorrect Social Security Number, Address, or Bank/Routing Number, if electing direct deposit.

5. Bear in mind, in some cases, delays can also be caused by periodic IRS fraud reviews or last-minute system updates due to tax law changes, such as the recent Fiscal Cliff legislation.

6. Taxpayers should also be aware their IRS refund can be subject to an automatic offset against back taxes or other federal or state debts.

7. Filing a late tax return can also mean surrendering your refund, as the IRS gets to keep any refund if the tax return was filed after three years from the original due date. The IRS refers to this as the “Refund Statute Expiration Date”, or RSED.

8. To check your refund status in the State of California, click here.

Tip: 6 Ways to Reduce Your Chance of an IRS Audit

For more information on refunds or another tax matter, contact us today for immediate assistance.

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAs are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips

1. Tax bill payments  If you get a bill from the IRS that shows you owe late taxes, you are expected to promptly pay the tax owed including any penalties and interest. If you are unable to pay the amount due, it may be better for you to get a loan to pay the bill in full rather than to make installment payments to the IRS. That’s because the interest rate and penalties the IRS must charge by law are often higher than what lending institutions may be offering.

2. Electronic Funds Transfer  You can pay your tax bill by electronic funds transfer, check, money order, cashier’s check or cash. To pay using electronic funds transfer, use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System by either calling 800-555-4477 or using the online access at www.eftps.gov.

3. Credit card payments  You can pay your bill with a credit card. Again, the interest rate on a credit card may be lower than the combination of interest and penalties the IRS must charge.

4. Additional time to pay  Based on your circumstances, you may be granted a short additional time to pay your tax in full. A brief additional amount of time to pay can be requested through the Online Payment Agreement application at IRS.gov or by calling 800-829-1040. There generally is no set up fee for a short-term agreement.

5. Installment Agreement  You may request an installment agreement if you cannot pay the total tax you owe in full. This is an agreement between you and the IRS to pay the amount due in monthly installment payments. You must first file all required returns and be current with estimated tax payments.

6. Apply Using Form 9465  You can complete and mail an IRS Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request, along with your bill using the envelope you received from the IRS. The IRS will inform you whether your request is approved, denied, or if additional information is needed.

7. Apply Using Online Payment Agreement  If you owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest, you can request an installment agreement using the Online Payment Agreement application at IRS.gov. You may still qualify for an installment agreement if you owe more than $50,000, but you are required to complete a Collection Information Statement, before the IRS will consider an installment agreement.

8. User fees  If an installment agreement is approved, a one-time user fee will be charged. The user fee for a new agreement is $105 or $52 for agreements where payments are deducted directly from your bank account. For eligible individuals with lower incomes, the fee can be reduced to $43.

9. Offer in Compromise  IRS is now offering more flexible terms with its Offer-in-Compromise (OIC) Program. An OIC is an agreement between a taxpayer and the IRS that settles the taxpayer’s tax debt for less than the full amount owed. An OIC is generally accepted only if the IRS believes, after assessing the taxpayer’s financial situation, that the tax debt can’t be paid in full as a lump sum or through a payment agreement.

10. Check withholding  Taxpayers who have a balance due may want to consider changing their Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, with their employer.

11. Fresh Start  The IRS has a program to help struggling taxpayers get a fresh start. Through the Fresh Start program, individuals and small businesses may be able to pay the taxes they owe without facing additional or unnecessary burden.

Tip: 10 Things to Know About the IRS Collection Process

For more information on how to address a tax liability, see our Back Taxes page, or contact us now for immediate assistance.

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAs are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips

Here are 10 things every taxpayer should know about TAS:

1. The Taxpayer Advocate Service is your voice at the IRS. Their primary responsibility is to facilitate an agreement between you and the IRS.

2. TAS assistance is free and tailored to meet your needs.

3. You may be eligible for TAS help if you’ve tried to resolve your tax problem through normal IRS channels and have gotten nowhere, or if you are facing (or your business is facing) an immediate action from the IRS that will adversely affect you.

4. The worst thing you can do is nothing at all.

5. TAS helps individual and business taxpayers whose tax problems are causing financial difficulty, which could include the cost of hiring professional representation, such as a tax attorney, CPA, or Enrolled Agent.

6. If you qualify for TAS help, you’ll be assigned one advocate who will do everything possible to get your problem resolved.

7. There is at least one local Taxpayer Advocate office in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. You can obtain the number of your local Taxpayer Advocate from your local phone book, in Pub. 1546, Taxpayer Advocate Service – Your Voice at the IRS and on the IRS website at IRS.gov/advocate. You can also call TAS toll-free at 1-877-777-4778.

8. As a taxpayer, you have rights that the IRS must abide by when working with you. The TAS tax toolkit website at www.TaxpayerAdvocate.irs.gov can help you understand these rights.

9. TAS also handles tax problems that may have a broad impact on more than just one taxpayer. You can report these “systemic” issues to TAS through the Systemic Advocacy Management System at IRS.gov/advocate.

10. You can get updates on hot tax topics by visiting the TAS YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/TASNTA and the TAS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YourVoiceAtIRS, or by following TAS tweets at www.twitter.com/YourVoiceatIRS.

Tip: Disagree with an IRS action? File an appeal.

For more information on the Taxpayer Advocate Service, or for immediate assistance with your tax matter, contact us today. 

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAs are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips

The following is a list of the most commonly claimed tax deductions and should be used as a general guide, only.  Certain deductions are subject to IRS limitations and/or conditions, therefore taxpayers are strongly encouraged to discuss their unique tax situation with a qualified tax professional.

Work Deductions

• Unreimbursed employee business expenses: travel, phone, meals
• Work-related education expenses
• Continuing professional education expenses
• Professional dues
• 50% of self-employment tax
• Health insurance premiums, if self-employed
• Special work clothing, such as uniforms

Home Deductions

• Mortgage interest
• Real estate taxes
• Home office expenses
• Job-related moving expenses
• Points paid on a new home loan or refinance

Investment Deductions

• Interest expense
• Travel to manage investment property
• Capital losses
• Loss for worthless investments, bad debt
• Investment-related publication subscriptions
• Contribution to traditional IRA, Keogh, SEP, SIMPLE, or 401(k) plan

Personal Deductions

• Health insurance premiums
• Fees for tax planning and preparation
• State and local income taxes
• Personal property taxes
• Foreign taxes paid
• Charitable contributions
• Mileage or expenses incurred for charitable work
• Casualty and theft losses
• Student loan interest
• Alimony paid

For more information on tax deductions or another tax matter, contact us today for immediate assistance. 

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAs are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips 

1. Beware of your deductions. The IRS computer system may flag your tax return if your “deduction to income” ratio is unusually high. Individual and business taxpayers should only claim valid deductions on their return for a given tax year and use extra caution to avoid “double dipping” by claiming a deduction or credit twice on the same return. To learn what deductions you’re entitled to, and which ones to avoid, see here and Publication 529.

2. Claim proper exemptions. Ensure your personal exemptions are correctly calculated and claimed on your tax return. To determine the proper number of exemptions to claim, see Publication 501.

3. Ensure all of your tax filings reconcile. This includes all tax returns, documents, and other tax-related records sent to the IRS, Social Security Administration, and your State. If you’re an employee, be sure your Form 1040 matches the Form W2 filed by your employer with the aforementioned agencies. If you’re a business, all quarterly filings should reconcile perfectly with your annual tax return.

4. File on time. Filing late, or even worse, filing multiple tax returns late, may trigger an audit. High-income taxpayers that file multiple tax returns at the same time may be setting themselves up for review by the IRS. The IRS makes it easy to timely file your tax return using e-file.

5. Document. Document. Document. If you’re unsure if the IRS will understand your claimed exemptions, deductions or expenses, provide them with adequate documentation to substantiate your claim. Attach receipts, copies of canceled checks, or a letter of explanation to support your claim. The key here is to clarify any items on your tax return that may appear questionable to the IRS.

6. Stay in compliance. The chance of an audit due to random selection is very slim (less than 1%). With that in mind, the best way to  reduce your chance of an audit is to ensure the IRS isn’t given a reason to contact you. Maintaining compliance with your tax obligations is the best and most effective way to stay under the IRS radar.

Tip: What to Do If You Receive an IRS Notice 

For more information on IRS audits, visit our Audits page, or contact us today for immediate assistance. 

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAs are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips

The following is what the IRS calls the “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2013″, as reported on IRS.gov:

Identity Theft

Tax fraud through the use of identity theft tops this year’s Dirty Dozen list. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number (SSN) or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. In many cases, an identity thief uses a legitimate taxpayer’s identity to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund.

Combating identity theft and refund fraud is a top priority for the IRS, and we are taking special steps to assist victims. For the 2013 tax season, the IRS has put in place a number of additional steps to prevent identity theft and detect refund fraud before it occurs. We have dramatically enhanced our systems, and we are committed to continuing to improve our prevention, detection and assistance efforts.

The IRS has a comprehensive and aggressive identity theft strategy employing a three-pronged effort focusing on fraud prevention, early detection and victim assistance. We are continually reviewing our processes and policies to ensure that we are doing everything possible to minimize identity theft incidents, to help those victimized by it and to investigate those who are committing the crimes.

The IRS continues to increase its efforts against refund fraud, which includes identity theft. During 2012, the IRS prevented the issuance of $20 billion of fraudulent refunds, including those related to identity theft, compared with $14 billion in 2011.

This January, the IRS also conducted a coordinated and highly successful identity theft enforcement sweep. The coast-to-coast effort against identity theft suspects led to 734 enforcement actions in January, including 298 indictments, informations, complaints and arrests. The effort comes on top of a growing identity theft effort that led to 2,400 other enforcement actions against identity thieves during fiscal year 2012. The Criminal Investigation unit has devoted more than 500,000 staff-hours to fighting this issue.

We know identity theft is a frustrating and complex process for victims.  The IRS has 3,000 people working on identity theft related cases – more than double the number in late 2011. And we have trained 35,000 employees who work with taxpayers to help with identity theft situations.

The IRS has a special section on IRS.gov dedicated to identity theft issues, including YouTube videos, tips for taxpayers and an assistance guide. For victims, the information includes how to contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit. For other taxpayers, there are tips on how taxpayers can protect themselves against identity theft.

Taxpayers who believe they are at risk of identity theft due to lost or stolen personal information should contact the IRS immediately so the agency can take action to secure their tax account. Taxpayers can call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. More information can be found on the special identity protection page.

Phishing

Phishing is a scam typically carried out with the help of unsolicited email or a fake website that poses as a legitimate site to lure in potential victims and prompt them to provide valuable personal and financial information. Armed with this information, a criminal can commit identity theft or financial theft.

If you receive an unsolicited email that appears to be from either the IRS or an organization closely linked to the IRS, such as the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), report it by sending it to phishing@irs.gov.

It is important to keep in mind the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.  This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels.  The IRS has information that can help you protect yourself from email scams.

Return Preparer Fraud

About 60 percent of taxpayers will use tax professionals this year to prepare their tax returns. Most return preparers provide honest service to their clients. But, some unscrupulous preparers prey on unsuspecting taxpayers, and the result can be refund fraud or identity theft.

It is important to choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare your return. This year, the IRS wants to remind all taxpayers that they should use only preparers who sign the returns they prepare and enter their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs).

The IRS also has created a new web page to assist taxpayers. For tips about choosing a preparer, red flags, details on preparer qualifications and information on how and when to make a complaint, visitwww.irs.gov/chooseataxpro.

Remember: Taxpayers are legally responsible for what’s on their tax return even if it is prepared by someone else. Make sure the preparer you hire is up to the task.

IRS.gov has general information on reporting tax fraud. More specifically, you report abusive tax preparers to the IRS on Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer. Download Form 14157 and fill it out or order by mail at 800-TAX FORM (800-829-3676). The form includes a return address.

Hiding Income Offshore

Over the years, numerous individuals have been identified as evading U.S. taxes by hiding income in offshore banks, brokerage accounts or nominee entities, using debit cards, credit cards or wire transfers to access the funds. Others have employed foreign trusts, employee-leasing schemes, private annuities or insurance plans for the same purpose.

The IRS uses information gained from its investigations to pursue taxpayers with undeclared accounts, as well as the banks and bankers suspected of helping clients hide their assets overseas. The IRS works closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute tax evasion cases.

While there are legitimate reasons for maintaining financial accounts abroad, there are reporting requirements that need to be fulfilled. U.S. taxpayers who maintain such accounts and who do not comply with reporting and disclosure requirements are breaking the law and risk significant penalties and fines, as well as the possibility of criminal prosecution.

Since 2009, 38,000 individuals have come forward voluntarily to disclose their foreign financial accounts, taking advantage of special opportunities to comply with the U.S. tax system and resolve their tax obligations. And, with new foreign account reporting requirements being phased in over the next few years, hiding income offshore will become increasingly more difficult.

At the beginning of 2012, the IRS reopened the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) following continued strong interest from taxpayers and tax practitioners after the closure of the 2011 and 2009 programs. The IRS continues working on a wide range of international tax issues and follows ongoing efforts with DOJ to pursue criminal prosecution of international tax evasion. This program will be open for an indefinite period until otherwise announced.

The IRS has collected $5.5 billion so far from people who participated in offshore voluntary disclosure programs since 2009.

“Free Money” from the IRS & Tax Scams Involving Social Security

Flyers and advertisements for free money from the IRS, suggesting that the taxpayer can file a tax return with little or no documentation, have been appearing in community churches around the country. These schemes promise refunds to people who have little or no income and normally don’t have a tax filing requirement – and are also often spread by word of mouth as unsuspecting and well-intentioned people tell their friends and relatives.

Scammers prey on low income individuals and the elderly and members of church congregations with bogus promises of free money. They build false hopes and charge people good money for bad advice including encouraging taxpayers to make fictitious claims for refunds or rebates based on false statements of entitlement to tax credits. For example, some promoters claim they can obtain for their victims, often senior citizens, a tax refund or nonexistent stimulus payment based on the American Opportunity Tax Credit, even if the victim was not enrolled in or paying for college. Con artists also falsely claim that refunds are available even if the victim went to school decades ago. In the end, the victims discover their claims are rejected. Meanwhile, the promoters are long gone. The IRS warns all taxpayers to remain vigilant.

There are also a number of tax scams involving Social Security. For example, scammers have been known to lure the unsuspecting with promises of non-existent Social Security refunds or rebates. In another situation, a taxpayer may really be due a credit or refund but uses inflated information to complete the return.

Beware: Intentional mistakes of this kind can result in a $5,000 penalty.

Impersonation of Charitable Organizations

Another long-standing type of abuse or fraud is scams that occur in the wake of significant natural disasters.

Following major disasters, it’s common for scam artists to impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-intentioned taxpayers. Scam artists can use a variety of tactics. Some scammers operating bogus charities may contact people by telephone or email to solicit money or financial information. They may even directly contact disaster victims and claim to be working for or on behalf of the IRS to help the victims file casualty loss claims and get tax refunds.

They may attempt to get personal financial information or Social Security numbers that can be used to steal the victims’ identities or financial resources. Bogus websites may solicit funds for disaster victims. As in the case of a recent disaster, Hurricane Sandy, the IRS cautions both victims of natural disasters and people wishing to make charitable donations to avoid scam artists by following these tips:

• To help disaster victims, donate to recognized charities.
• Be wary of charities with names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. Some phony charities use names or websites that sound or look like those of respected, legitimate organizations. IRS.gov has a search feature, Exempt Organizations Select Check, which allows people to find legitimate, qualified charities to which donations may be tax-deductible.
• Don’t give out personal financial information, such as Social Security numbers or credit card and bank account numbers and passwords, to anyone who solicits  a contribution from you. Scam artists may use this information to steal your identity and money.
• Don’t give or send cash. For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card or another way that provides documentation of the gift.

Call the IRS toll-free disaster assistance telephone number (1-866-562-5227) if you are a disaster victim with specific questions about tax relief or disaster related tax issues.

False/Inflated Income and Expenses

Including income that was never earned, either as wages or as self-employment income in order to maximize refundable credits, is another popular scam. Claiming income you did not earn or expenses you did not pay in order to secure larger refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit could have serious repercussions.  This could result in repaying the erroneous refunds, including interest and penalties, and in some cases, even prosecution.

Additionally, some taxpayers are filing excessive claims for the fuel tax credit. Farmers and other taxpayers who use fuel for off-highway business purposes may be eligible for the fuel tax credit. But other individuals have claimed the tax credit although they were not eligible. Fraud involving the fuel tax credit is considered a frivolous tax claim and can result in a penalty of $5,000.

False Form 1099 Refund Claims

In some cases, individuals have made refund claims based on the bogus theory that the federal government maintains secret accounts for U.S. citizens and that taxpayers can gain access to the accounts by issuing 1099-OID forms to the IRS. In this ongoing scam, the perpetrator files a fake information return, such as a Form 1099 Original Issue Discount (OID), to justify a false refund claim on a corresponding tax return.

Don’t fall prey to people who encourage you to claim deductions or credits to which you are not entitled or willingly allow others to use your information to file false returns. If you are a party to such schemes, you could be liable for financial penalties or even face criminal prosecution.

Frivolous Arguments

Promoters of frivolous schemes encourage taxpayers to make unreasonable and outlandish claims to avoid paying the taxes they owe. The IRS has a list of frivolous tax arguments that taxpayers should avoid. These arguments are false and have been thrown out of court. While taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities in court, no one has the right to disobey the law.

Falsely Claiming Zero Wages

Filing a phony information return is an illegal way to lower the amount of taxes an individual owes. Typically, a Form 4852 (Substitute Form W-2) or a “corrected” Form 1099 is used as a way to improperly reduce taxable income to zero. The taxpayer may also submit a statement rebutting wages and taxes reported by a payer to the IRS.

Sometimes, fraudsters even include an explanation on their Form 4852 that cites statutory language on the definition of wages or may include some reference to a paying company that refuses to issue a corrected Form W-2 for fear of IRS retaliation. Taxpayers should resist any temptation to participate in any variations of this scheme. Filing this type of return may result in a $5,000 penalty.

Disguised Corporate Ownership

Third parties are improperly used to request employer identification numbers and form corporations that obscure the true ownership of the business.

These entities can be used to underreport income, claim fictitious deductions, avoid filing tax returns, participate in listed transactions and facilitate money laundering, and financial crimes. The IRS is working with state authorities to identify these entities and bring the owners into compliance with the law.

Misuse of Trusts

For years, unscrupulous promoters have urged taxpayers to transfer assets into trusts. While there are legitimate uses of trusts in tax and estate planning, some highly questionable transactions promise reduction of income subject to tax, deductions for personal expenses and reduced estate or gift taxes. Such trusts rarely deliver the tax benefits promised and are used primarily as a means of avoiding income tax liability and hiding assets from creditors, including the IRS.

IRS personnel have seen an increase in the improper use of private annuity trusts and foreign trusts to shift income and deduct personal expenses. As with other arrangements, taxpayers should seek the advice of a trusted professional before entering a trust arrangement.

See: Recent IRS Investigations

For more information on the tax scams and how Landmark Tax Group can protect you and your assets, contact us today. 

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAS are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips

For tax year 2012, personal exemptions and standard deductions will rise and tax brackets will widen due to inflation. By law, the dollar amounts for a variety of tax provisions, affecting virtually every taxpayer, must be revised each year to keep pace with inflation and recent tax legislation. The Fiscal Cliff  tax deal also makes permanent a number of tax provisions unique to this year’s tax filing season. Here are some things you should know when filing taxes this year:

• Your 2012 Individual Federal Income Tax Return is due by April 15, 2013.
• For an automatic 6-month extension of time to file, submit Form 4868 to the IRS. Caution: Although Form 4868 allows you more time to file, it does not extend the time to pay your taxes. Filing or paying after the due date may result in penalties and interest.
• If you expect to owe on your tax return, see 11 Tips for Taxpayers Who Owe Money to the IRS
• If you had insufficient federal tax withholding this year, you can determine the correct amount of withholding for next year using the IRS Withholding Calculator.
• For most taxpayers, the first-time homebuyer credit expired in 2011. Only some military and intelligence personnel can still claim the credit. For more information, click here.
• The personal and dependent exemption amounts have increased to $3,800, up $100 from 2011.
• The standard deduction has also increased for 2012. The 2012 amounts are: Single $5,950, Head-of-household $8,700, Married Filing Joint $11,900, Married Filing Separately $5,950. The IRS estimates approximately 66% of taxpayers take the standard deduction, rather than itemizing deductions.
• To claim a deduction for business use of your vehicle, use the standard mileage rate of 55.5 cents for each business mile driven.
• The alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption is increased to $50,600 single and $78,750 married.
• The tax rate on ordinary income for taxpayers earning over $400K (or $450K married) increases from 35% to 39.6%.
• Capital gains and dividends now have a top tax rate of 20%
• The estate tax exemption remains at $5M per person, however the top rate increased to 40%.

Tip: 6 Ways to Reduce Your Chance of an IRS Audit

Missed the filing deadline? Contact us now for a FREE tax analysis and immediate assistance with your unfiled tax returns!

Our former IRS Personnel and CPAs are available to answer all of your tax-related questions.  

More Tax Tips

2. The IRS may take enforced collection, such as issuing a levy or seizing your assets, to resolve your liability. Timely communication with the IRS  is critical in preventing such actions from occurring.

3. A “Notice of Federal Tax Lien” may be filed in your name, or your business’s name, attaching to any and all assets you currently own or acquire after the lien has been filed. The IRS uses the tax lien as a means of protecting the government’s interest.

4. If you disagree with your tax liability or certain IRS case action, you have a right to dispute it by asking to speak with a manager or exercising your various appeal rights.

5. You can appeal most IRS collection actions both before and after the action takes place.

6. One of your most important rights as a taxpayer is your right to have a tax professional represent you in front of the IRS. A qualified tax professional, such as an IRS-licensed Enrolled Agent, will guide you through the collection process while simultaneously advocating on your behalf and protecting your interests. At all levels of the IRS, you have a right to representation while addressing your tax matters.

7. Individual taxpayers must be in filing compliance for the IRS to consider collection alternatives, such as an offer-in-compromise.

8. Business taxpayers must be in compliance with filing and federal tax deposits for the IRS to consider collection alternatives, such as an installment agreement.

9. Depending on the matters involved, your collection case may remain open anywhere from a couple of months to several years.

10. Your collection case may be placed in “uncollectible” status if the IRS determines you don’t have the ability to pay the tax at this time. Penalties and interest continue to accrue while in uncollectible status.

Tip: How the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) Can Help You

To learn more about the IRS Collection process, or for immediate assistance with your tax matter, contact us today. 

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAs are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips

1. Immediately review the Notice to determine the nature and reason for the communication. Is the IRS simply confirming a recent change you made to your tax account, or is the IRS notifying you of its intent to levy your bank account unless you respond within 30 days?

2. Determine if a time frame to respond is given. Many IRS Notices and Letters require a 10-day or 30-day response.

3. Check the IRS website for more information on your Notice or Letter number (i.e. CP501, L1058). The Notice or Letter number can usually be found in the upper right-hand corner of each page. An explanation and list of common IRS Notices and Letters can be found here.

4. Most IRS correspondence contain a contact phone number on the top of the first page that you can call to respond. Whenever responding to the IRS, it is best to always contact the specific office or employee that issued the correspondence to you. By providing your Taxpayer Identification Number and Notice/Letter number, you should be able to secure enough information about your account that will allow you to make an informed decision on how to proceed.

Tip: 11 Tips for Taxpayers Who Owe Money to the IRS

For help with your IRS Notice or Letter, contact us today for immediate assistance.

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAS are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips

To find a TAC nearest you and to determine which services your TAC provides, click here.

You may wish to schedule an appointment with your TAC to prevent a long wait.

Tip: What To Do When You Receive an IRS Notice

For more information on TACs or for immediate assistance with your tax matter, contact us today. 

Consultations with our former IRS Personnel and CPAs are always FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

More Tax Tips