Our mission is to protect the rights of individuals and businesses to get the best possible tax resolution with the IRS.

Pinterest Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter
Tax Relief Center
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ:
We have recently become aware of companies and/or organizations who are calling people using the generic name "Tax Relief Center" for their phone solicitation activities. TaxReliefCenter.org does not make these automated calls to consumers and it is our policy not to engage in this form of marketing.If you have received such a call, please let us know by emailing [email protected] so that we may report this unauthorized activity.
Additionally, the IRS does not use email, text messages or social media to discuss tax debts or refunds with taxpayers. The IRS initiates most contacts with taxpayers through regular mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. There are special circumstances when they may reach out via phone regarding overdue tax bills or delinquencies, but almost always only after they’ve already sent a letter first.
UPDATE: Recently we have learned of instances where consumers are also getting automated calls regarding “unpaid taxes”. Do not respond to these calls as the IRS will typically send letters or notices via U.S. mail. So, if any company or organization calls claiming you have unpaid taxes, DO NOT respond to these unsolicited calls.

What Is The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service And How Can It Help Me?

by

Are you behind on your taxes? Worried that you won’t be able to pay taxes coming up? The Taxpayer Advocate Service can help.

In this article:

  1. Need Help with Your Tax Troubles?
  2. What Is the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service?
  3. When Is an IRS Taxpayer Advocate Necessary?
  4. How Can a Taxpayer Advocate Help You?

Taxpayer Advocate Services: Unsung Heroes for the American Taxpayer

 

Need Help with Your Tax Troubles?

Dealing with tax issues can be frustrating, confusing, and frightening.

Do You Qualify For IRS Back Tax Relief? Take The Quiz Now!

The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service is made up of individuals who are knowledgeable about the inner workings of the IRS but aren’t directly employed by the IRS. These professionals can advise you regarding your best options.

What Is the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service?

confident advisor meeting customer | What Is The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service And How Can It Help Me? | taxpayer advocate service
A taxpayer advocate is a member of an independent government office that provides help to citizens who have encountered issues with the IRS.

The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service is entirely separate from the IRS itself and is outside of its chain of command, ensuring that a taxpayer advocate will remain a neutral third party during disputes.

Over the years, the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service has become one of the easiest ways to achieve solid customer service when dealing with the IRS. While the advocate service is not technically a part of the IRS, the service is empowered more to easily conduct research and information regarding your personal tax situation.

Consequently, it can review and analyze your current situation more quickly than the IRS, which may be otherwise backlogged.

In general, both the IRS and the IRS advocate program want to help citizens pay their taxes and pay them on time. Communicating with an advocate service early on is the best way to avoid paying hefty penalties.

RELATED: How To Fix Tax Payment And Tax Return Errors

When Is an IRS Taxpayer Advocate Necessary?

Are you unsure regarding whether you need a taxpayer advocate? While anyone who needs help with their current tax situation can consult with an advocate, there are some situations more well-suited than others:

  • If you have a lien being filed against your property or if your wages are being garnished. This is the type of situation that usually needs to be resolved quickly; a taxpayer advocate can help.
  • If you owe a significant amount of money. Once you owe a certain amount of money to the IRS, it becomes very important to contact them as soon as possible. Otherwise, the situation can quickly get worse.
  • If your tax problem spans multiple offices. If you’ve been bounced around from department to department in the IRS, contacting a taxpayer advocate can help you drill down to the right department to contact.
  • If you know you aren’t going to be able to pay your bill. A taxpayer advocate service can negotiate on your behalf, if you need to go on a payment plan or if you need some additional time to pay.
  • If you have a unique or complex situation. The advocate service is often applied to situations that are unique; if you’ve found yourself in a tax situation that you’ve never heard of before, an advocate service can help.
  • If you’ve been trying to fix a single problem for a long time. Sometimes it can be difficult to get a situation resolved unless you get someone on the phone who can fix it for you.

In general, a taxpayer advocate may be necessary any time you’re having difficulties getting things done with the IRS — or if you’re having a hard time getting in touch with them at all.

Most importantly, a taxpayer advocate is a neutral party who attempts to find the best solution for everyone involved, rather than taking the side of the IRS.

There are times, however, when an advocate service may not be strictly necessary.

Do You Qualify For IRS Back Tax Relief? Take The Quiz Now!

If you just have a simple question regarding your taxes — or you haven’t contacted the IRS yourself yet — you may want to give the IRS a chance to resolve the situation before you turn to the advocate program.

How Can a Taxpayer Advocate Help You?

A taxpayer advocate can review your current situation and give you the appropriate options, such as either paying off the IRS on a payment plan or filing for an amended return to correct issues.

Further, a taxpayer advocate can connect you with individuals in the IRS who have the authority to help you with some of your problems, making it much faster to resolve a problem.

Taxpayer advocates often work with individuals who are currently experiencing unique problems, or those who have experienced exceptional circumstances — such as having a string of medical problems within a single year. A taxpayer advocate will consider your full story and attempt to help where they are able.

Workers within the IRS are often able to use their own judgment when it comes to things such as waiving fines and penalties or extending a due date. Sometimes the IRS may not listen — in that situation, a taxpayer advocate can help.

If you’ve never been late on your payments or never experienced a problem with the IRS before, they are more likely to be lenient.

Further, taxpayer advocate service reviews can be used to potentially identify issues with an individual’s return, which includes issues that will ultimately benefit the individual.

When the IRS corrects a tax return, it is not always a negative: sometimes the error comes out on the side of the client. If you feel you may have issues with your tax return, you can consult with the service.

 

If you think a taxpayer advocate service is necessary for your situation, you can call the taxpayer advocate service phone number to find out more at 1-877-777-4778.

A taxpayer advocate will be able to identify issues with your tax returns, help you correct these issues, and ensure that you have done everything on your side to address any problems. Working with an advocate will show that you are attempting to resolve your problems and that you’re working with the IRS.

Have you ever been in a situation when you needed a taxpayer advocate service? Tell us about how they helped you with your taxes in the comments section below.

Up Next: What Is An IRS Tax Transcript And How Can I Get A Copy

What Is The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service And How Can It Help Me? https://help.taxreliefcenter.org/taxpayer-advocate-service/