When dealing with your taxes, it is important to be cautious of small mistakes that could break the rules and result in a tax audit, tax problems or some involvement by the IRS. However, the IRS is also responsible for following rules that are set for them as well.
Ratified in 2014, the IRS issued a Taxpayer Bill Of Rights which lists the rights of a Taxpayer by way of the tax code, giving a better understanding of what the IRS can and cannot do.
NerdWallet provides the following list of fundamental Taxpayer rights that you should be aware of when dealing with the IRS:
- The Right to Be Informed;
- The Right to Quality Service;
- The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax;
- The Right to Challenge the IRS’s position and Be Heard;
- The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum;
- The Right to Finality;
- The Right to Privacy;
- The Right to Confidentiality;
- The Right to Retain Representation; and
- The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System.
“The first principle here is, these aren’t rights that are granted by the IRS, but they’re simply recognized by the IRS, and they all come down from the law that’s either made by Congress or made by the courts,” says Fred Daily, a tax attorney in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Although taxpayers have the advantage to these rights, there are still limitations. They may help you defend yourself in a conflict, however, it is not effective when resolving problems with a specific IRS employee.
Read and explore more about your rights here – https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights.