NTA Blog: IRS Fraud Detection - A Process That is Challenging for Taxpayers to Navigate with an Outdated Case Management System Resulting in Significant Delays of Legitimate Refunds Part 1

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. Additional blogs from the National Taxpayer Advocate can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. As we approach the filing season, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss an issue that affects many taxpayer returns, namely the IRS processes for identifying ...

Know how getting married changes your tax situation

When you get married, your tax situation changes. Your marital status as of Dec. 31 determines your tax filing options for the entire year. If you’re married at year-end, you have two filing status choices: filing jointly with your new spouse, Married Filing Jointly, or filing separate from your spouse, Married Filing Separately Most married couples file jointly because it is simpler an...

NTA Blog: As the IRS Redesigns Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, Stakeholders Raise Important Questions

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. Additional blogs from the National Taxpayer Advocate can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. The IRS is redesigning Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. The changes to this form will affect nearly every employee and employer, potenti...

NTA Blog: Thanksgiving

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. Additional blogs from the National Taxpayer Advocate can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. So that our staff can enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends, we are taking a break this week from posting our blog. We want to wish each and every o...

NTA Blog: Veterans Face Challenges in Claiming Refunds for Taxes Improperly Withheld from Disability Severance Pay

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. Additional blogs from the National Taxpayer Advocate can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. With having celebrated Veteran’s Day this week, it is worth reflecting on the continuing challenges military taxpayers face. Background In December 2016, lawma...

Success Story: Taxpayer Advocate Service’s persistence reduces tax debt

Every year, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) helps thousands of people with tax problems. This story is only one of many examples of how TAS helps resolve taxpayer’s tax issues. All personal details are removed to protect the taxpayer’s privacy. Sometimes taxpayers contact TAS for help with one issue and, in resolving that issue, multiple issues arise – some of them quite c...

NTA Blog: When Evaluating its Pilot Program on the Participation of Counsel and Compliance in Conferences, Appeals Should be Transparent and Should Consider Both Objective and Subjective Data

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. Additional blogs from the National Taxpayer Advocate can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. Over the years, I have expressed significant concern with the continuing erosion of taxpayers’ right to appeal an IRS decision in an independent forum. (IRC &s...

The 2018 Nationwide Tax Forums a Success for TAS

Each year, the IRS sponsors the Nationwide Tax Forums, a three-day series of tax education and networking conferences for tax professionals in cities around the country. The 2018 Tax Forums featured the latest information from the IRS, news about tax law changes, a chance to meet with software vendors, and the opportunity to attend seminars presented by IRS and TAS employees in addition to memb...

NTA Blog: Now is the Perfect Time for the IRS to Make Improvements to the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number Program

Subscribe to the NTA’s Blog and receive updates on the latest blog posts from National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson. Additional blogs from the National Taxpayer Advocate can be found at www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/blog. For years, I’ve been writing about the problems with how the IRS runs the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) program.  ITINs are required fo...

National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson honored in Accounting Today’s top 100 list

Accounting Today magazine honored National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson by selecting her for its annual list of Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. According to the magazine, the honor is “a clear-eyed assessment by our editors of the individuals who are having the biggest impact on the current state and the future direction of the profession.” As part of its selection...