IRS Issues

1. IRS Issues Main Line Association for Continuing Education Penn State Great Valley Conference Center October 16, 2014 Richard G. Furlong, Jr.Senior Stakeholder Liaison Small Business Self-Employed Division

2. Issue 1: Taxpayer Bill of Rights Ten broad categories: • Right to Be Informed • Right to Quality Service • Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax • Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard • Right to Appeal a Decision in an Independent Forum

3. Taxpayer Bill of Rights (cont.) Ten broad categories (cont.) • Right to Finality • Right to Privacy • Right to Confidentiality • Right to Retain Representation • Right to a Fair and Just Tax System

4. Begins when a return is filed without paying the debt in full Paying your taxes Options for paying in full Options if you can’t pay in full now Installment agreement Offer in compromise If you need more time to pay Issue 2: The Collection Process

5. Taxpayers can appeal most collection actions. Main options: Collection Due Process Collection Appeals Program Collection Appeals Options

6. Penalties Failure to file Failure to pay Interest Abatement The Collection Process

7. Issue 3: Online Payment Agreement Application • Streamlined • Less financial info required • Maximum time to pay 72 months • Immediate approval notification • Eligibility (all required returns filed) • Individuals less than or equal to $50,000 tax and penalties • Businesses less than or equal to $25,000 tax and penalties

8. Online Payment Agreement Application When applying online, be ready to provide: authentication information, tax return data and basic financial information.

9. Online Payment Agreement Application • Application fees (as of Jan. 1, 2014) • $120, standard agreement • $52, direct debit agreement • $43, applicant meets low income guidelines • Online system available • Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. ET • Saturday, 6 a.m. -10 p.m. ET • Sunday, 6 p.m. - midnight ET

10. Five basic requirements: Filed all returns Made all required estimated taxes payments Current with federal tax deposits Can’t pay full amount Not in bankruptcy Issue 4: Offer in Compromise

11. IRS may accept an offer on three grounds: Doubt as to liability Doubt as to collectability Effective tax administration Offer in Compromise

12. OIC Pre-Qualifier Tool The OIC Pre-Qualifier tool helps applicant s confirm eligibility and prepare preliminary proposals.

13. The completed offer package must include all of the following items: Form 433A or 433B Form 656 for each taxpayer $186 non-refundable fee Non-refundable payment Offer in Compromise Components

14. Issue 5: Notice of Federal Tax Liens • Claim against current and future rights to property • Once lien exists, controlled by IRC §6322 • Date of origin becomes assessment date • Exists until liability is satisfied or becomes unenforceable by lapse of time • IRS not required to file Notice of Federal Tax Lien for tax lien to attach

15. Filing criteria: Generally, the IRS will not file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien if the unpaid balance of assessment is less than $10,000. Payoff amount: Call 800-913-6050 Appeal: Within 5 business days of filing. IRS will send a Notice of Your Right to a Collection Due Process Hearing. Notice of Federal Tax Liens

16. Release of lien IRS has cleared both the lien for the debt and the public NFTL IRS Publication 1450 Withdraw of lien Removes NFTL from public records Does not mean federal tax lien is released or taxpayer no longer liable for amount NFTL - IRS Actions

17. Discharge of lien Removes a lien from specific property IRS Publication 783 Subordination of lien Allows a creditor to move ahead of the government’s priority position IRS Publication 784 NFTL - IRS Actions (cont.)

18. Process used by IRS to help taxpayers when they disagree with the results of an IRS audit of their tax returns, or returns created for them by the IRS because they did not file tax returns as authorized by the Internal Revenue Code 6020(b). Issue 6: Audit Reconsideration

19. Step 1: Review examination report and attachments; determine which items you feel are incorrect Gather documentation needed to support your position Verify supporting documentation is information that has not been presented before; ensure it’s for tax year in question Audit Reconsideration Process

20. Step 2: Make photocopies of documents and attach them to your letter explaining your request for reconsideration If available, attach copy of examination report, Form 4549, along with new documentation supporting your position Include a daytime and evening telephone number and the best time for us to call you Audit Reconsideration Process

21. Issue 7: Information Document Requests • New guidelines to LB&I examiners and specialists when issuing an IDR during the information gathering phase on an examination • LB&I Directive of Information Document Requests (LB&I-04-0214-004) • Requirements for issuing IDRs • Three-step IDR enforcement process

22. Issue 7: Information Document Requests • LB&I requirements for issuing IDRs • Discuss the issue with taxpayers • How / why the information is necessary • One IDR for each issue • Customize IDR to fit taxpayer or industry • Provide draft and discuss IDR with T/P (generally, completed w/n 10 bus days) • Determine reasonable response date

23. Issue 7: Information Document Requests • LB&I IDR Enforcement Process, three graduated steps: • Delinquency notice • Pre-summons letter • Summons

24. November 2013, IRS began its fifth year of a hands-on effort to improve the accuracy and quality of filed tax returns and heighten awareness of preparer responsibilities Contacts are made through letters and visits Issue 8: IRS Letters to Tax Professionals

25. Letter 5105 Recommends recipient review all Sch C and preparer due diligence rules, as well as pay special attention to Sch C accuracy Letter 4810 Advises recipient that an IRS representative will contact them to schedule an educational visit to review their responsibilities in correctly preparing the Sch C IRS Letters to Tax Professionals

26. Letter 5271 Recommends the recipient review all Additional Child Tax Credit (Sch 8812) and preparer due diligence rules Letter 5272 Similar to Letter 5271, adding that recipient should pay special attention to ACTC accuracy where dependents have an ITIN IRS Letters to Tax Professionals

27. Letter 4911 Notifies recipient that IRS Return Preparer Office (RPO) is aware that they are not in compliance with their federal tax filing and/or payment responsibilities If matters addressed, no contact required IRS Letters to Tax Professionals

28. Issue 9: EIC Due Diligence • FY13 improper payments of earned income credit estimated between $13.3B - $15.6B • IRS is combating these errors with • Due diligence requirements • Due diligence compliance audits

29. Due diligence requirements: Complete/Submit eligibility checklist Compute the credit Knowledge Recordkeeping EIC Due Diligence

30. Consequences of not meeting due diligence requirements Penalties Suspension/expulsion from IRS e-file Disciplinary action by IRS OPR Injunctions EIC Due Diligence

31. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) was established in January 1999 in accordance with the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (RRA 98) to provide independent oversight of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) activities. Issue 10: Treasury Inspector General For Tax Administration

32. Allegations of violations affecting the integrity of federal tax administration and IRS programs Allegations of improprieties, false claims and fraud by outside contractors attempting to defraud the IRS by using deceptive methods Allegations of identity theft where any individual impersonated the IRS or an IRS employee What Should Be Reported to TIGTA

33. Complete online form By email: Complaints@tigta.treas.gov By phone: 800-366-4484 By fax: 202-927-7018 By mail: TIGTA Hotline P.O. Box 589 Ben Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0589 Reporting Complaints to TIGTA

34. Contact Information Richard Furlong, Jr. 215-861-1551 richard.g.furlong@irs.gov