If you have ever received a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), you know that these notices can be somewhat confusing and may look more like legal documents than simple letters.
The IRS has created the Office of Taxpayer Correspondence that will use its resources to make IRS communication with taxpayers easier to understand. In the past, notices have had different appearances and used inconsistent language, creating unnecessary confusion for taxpayers. IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman has stated that this effort to revise taxpayer correspondence will continue.
On January 12, 2010, the IRS released nine “re-designed” notices that have been revised for “clarity, effectiveness and efficiency.” These nine types of notices account for approximately two million pieces of correspondence with businesses and individuals. To view these re-designed notices, visit www.irs.gov/notices.
The re-designed letters are specifically designed to use plain language, clearly indicate why the taxpayer is receiving the correspondence and what actions are available to the taxpayer. These notices will also direct the taxpayer to certain IRS web pages where the taxpayer can get additional information or possibly resolve the issue online.
The Service’s hope is that streamlining and clarifying the notices will help taxpayers resolve issues more quickly and “improve overall compliance.”
If you have received a notice and would like to discuss your options on how to proceed, please call our offices at (215) 665-3960 as ask to speak to one of our shareholders or email us at info@taxwarriors.com.