Your Rights as a Taxpayer Maine Revenue Services

your rights as a taxpayer

But they are not necessarily a tool for things like resolving problems with a specific employee, for example. Other options for taxpayers include filing a complaint with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, which is an IRS watchdog, or turning to the courts. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which the IRS adopted in 2014, summarizes taxpayer rights scattered throughout the tax code, making it easier to understand what the IRS can and can’t do.

your rights as a taxpayer

Can the IRS seize your property without due process?

your rights as a taxpayer

At the Department of Revenue our top priority is to treat each and every taxpayer fairly, professionally, and courteously. To this end, quality customer service is part of every employee’s job. We expect our staff to interact with taxpayers in a polite and respectful manner while working to answer your questions or resolve any problems as quickly as possible. What the IRS cannot do is issue a levy without first going through the collection process that gives you notice and informs you of your right to a hearing. If this happens, you may be able to have the levy released and any proceeds returned to you.

About Us – Taxpayer Advocate Service – National Taxpayer Advocate

About Us – Taxpayer Advocate Service.

Posted: Fri, 11 Dec 2020 19:26:08 GMT [source]

Department of

  • The police have been granted greater powers to restrict peaceful protests.
  • MRS’s decision to decline a settlement offer is not subject to review under 36 M.R.S. § 151.
  • In fact, this right is one of ten outlined in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
  • The Taxpayer Bill of Rights includes the right to have your financial situation taken into account, such as your ability to pay (Right No. 10).
  • To appeal to the Magistrate Division, you must file a form and pay a filing fee.
  • The best course of action, however, is to address any adjustments or debts with the IRS before it comes to risking a levy.

If you don’t agree with the tax bill or notice you received, begin communicating with the IRS as soon as possible, and take action to minimize any fees or penalties. The notice you got should include information for how to pay and how to challenge or provide more information. Of course, we know from Taxpayer Right No. 9 that you’re entitled to representation from a tax attorney, enrolled agent or certified public accountant (or advice from the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic). If you can’t pay the amount requested, then you may have options for installments, delayed payment or even a compromise. Generally, MRS will mail you and, if applicable, your authorized representative a decision on reconsideration letter within 90 days of receiving your petition. Typically, when you owe unpaid taxes, the IRS will send you a bill.

  • The Taxpayer Bill of Rights ensures U.S. taxpayers aren’t powerless when dealing with the IRS.
  • Written communication by MRS prior to a notice of assessment is generally not considered a “determination” within the meaning of 36 M.R.S. § 151 (e.g., demand to fi le notice).
  • We strive to provide a website that is easy to use and understand.
  • This publication outlines your rights during examinations, appeals, collections, and refunds.
  • For the current tax season, the IRS said it improved the tracking services by providing more detailed answers when people make their queries.

Taxpayer Bill of Rights 1: The Right to Be Informed

For a complete listing of the FTB’s official Spanish pages, visit La página principal en español (Spanish home page). A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Christina Taylor is senior manager of tax operations for Credit Karma.

Maine Revenue Services

your rights as a taxpayer

Because they’re intended to help low-income taxpayers who have a tax issue with the IRS, Low Income Taxpayer Clinics have ceilings for income and dispute amounts. If you can’t afford to pay someone, the IRS must make you aware your rights as a taxpayer that you might be able to get help from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. And if you do pay for someone to represent you in a disagreement with the IRS, and you win in court, you might be able to recover some of the costs.

  • We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence.
  • This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks.
  • If you can’t afford to pay someone, the IRS must make you aware that you might be able to get help from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.
  • One of the basic principles of the American workplace is that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.
  • The Right to Privacy — This right requires the IRS to be as unobtrusive as possible when conducting an inquiry, examination or enforcement.

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If MRS denies your refund request, you may ask for reconsideration under the same procedure used for assessments and determinations. The Right to Confidentiality — Unless you or the law authorize it to do so, the IRS can’t share your tax information with third parties. Plus this right makes confidential the communications between you and any tax professional authorized to practice before the IRS if you’ve hired one to represent you. MRS must waive certain penalties (e.g., failure-to-file or failure-to-pay penalties) on a showing of reasonable cause or if reasonable cause is otherwise apparent.

The Right to Finality — This right ensures that you know and understand how much time you have for challenging an IRS position in addition to understanding the timeline for an IRS audit. Quick Action by the Taxpayer Advocate Service means confidence in your taxes. Human rights abuses are happening right now – start a monthly gift today. The IRS operates a phone line for refund data, although it says it’s aimed at people who don’t have internet access.

  • America’s taxpayers have specific rights when they interact with the IRS.
  • Whether or not a meeting is held, you may work with MRS to resolve the matter through correspondence, informal discussion, payment plan, or a settlement offer.
  • For your specific appeal timeframe, please reference your notice.
  • To safeguard the confidentiality of your tax information, please provide MRS with a document, which must be signed by you, authorizing MRS to communicate with your duly authorized representative regarding your tax matter.
  • You may stop a meeting at any time if you want to consult with your authorized representative.
  • Plus you have protections under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights that apply when you’re facing a tax levy.

And if you suspect you’ll have some trouble paying any taxes you might owe, be sure to file your return on time, even if you’re not making a payment — the IRS could also ding you for filing a late return in addition to not paying on time. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights includes the right to have your financial situation taken into account, such as your ability to pay (Right No. 10). So if you know you’re going to owe more in taxes than you can pay by Tax Day, explore your options. To help taxpayers understand their rights, here they are, along with links where people can go for more information.

Here’s how to track the status of your 2024 tax refund

The Department encourages taxpayers to work through normal and existing channels to have questions answered or problems addressed. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.

The right to challenge the IRS’s position and be heard

One of the basic principles of the American workplace is that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. A cornerstone of that promise is the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) requirement that when most workers work more than 40 hours in a week, they get paid more. The Department of Labor’s new overtime regulation is restoring and extending this promise for millions more lower-paid salaried workers in the U.S.