It’s that time of the year again in the world of taxation when two things occur:
- The indefatigable Nina Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate, tells Congress what the IRS must do to improve its service and comport with its stated mission; and
- Congress yawns.
Ms. Olson delivered this year’s version of her mid-year report to Congress yesterday.
I have only perused the 131 page tome, but I suspect Ms. Olson was able to cobble it together rather quickly just by cutting and pasting large chunks of last year’s missive.
I have said it before, here, here and here, Nina Olson is a godsend for taxpayers.
Now if only we could get Congress to take her seriously.
Here are three key areas of this year’s report. I have emphasized in bold italics the language that indicates Ms. Olson has unsuccessfully made these same recommendations to Congress before:
Taxpayer Services
The Advocate’s report expresses concern that the momentum to implement and refine the TAB recommendations has abated. It recommends that the IRS reinvigorate its efforts to pursue cross-functional, research-driven service improvements.
Momentum has abated! IRS must reinvigorate its efforts!
Oversight of Tax Return Preparers
The Advocate reiterates her long-standing recommendationthat the government do more to protect taxpayers by regulating unenrolled federal tax return preparers, including by requiring initial testing and continuing professional education, and recommends that the IRS step up enforcement actions against preparers who fail to perform due diligence or consciously facilitate noncompliance.
Reiterates long-standing recommendation!
Offers in Compromise
For the past nine years, the Advocate has expressed concern about the effectiveness of the IRS’s offer in compromise (OIC) program, a program designed to enable financially struggling taxpayers to pay what they can afford and make a fresh start. The Advocate believes the IRS requires taxpayers to provide too much information with the initial application, thereby deterring taxpayers who legitimately qualify for the program from applying for it.
For the past nine years!
Can you blame taxpayers for thinking this is all just posturing?
6 responses so far ↓
1 National Taxpayer Advocate’s Report to Congress: Once a Year, Taxpayers Talk Back — and Congress Listens | RapidTax Blog // Jul 2, 2009 at 10:41 am
[...] can read the whole taxpayer advocate’s report to Congress online. Peter Pappas has a more cynical [...]
2 John // Jul 2, 2009 at 11:12 am
Thanks for posting this! I took a more optimistic view, with a list of ten positive steps the IRS is taking, which will make life better for taxpayers soon:
http://www.rapidtax.com/blog/?p=78
3 Peter // Jul 2, 2009 at 11:16 am
John,
My pleasure.
They will make life better for taxpayers only if they are implemented.
4 CPA or Unenrolled Preparer? Tax Code Requires Good Books and Records // Jul 4, 2009 at 6:00 pm
[...] [...]
5 I Heart Nina Olson // Jan 6, 2010 at 5:53 pm
[...] National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson, Delivers Report, Congress Pandiculates [...]
6 roffunsasia // Mar 5, 2010 at 6:01 am
The response to local and national disasters is great but it’s a damn shame that so many citizens take advantage of the sad situations.
I mean everytime there is an earthquake, a flood, an oil spill – there’s always a group of heartless people who rip off tax payers.
This is in response to reading that 4 of Oprah Winfreys “angels” got busted ripping off the system. Shame on them!
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08/19/crimesider/entry5251471.shtml
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