National Taxpayer Advocate Report

Laurie Frederiksen on

We have a National Taxpayer Advocate whose job is to report to Congress each year about IRS issues affecting taxpayers and their dealings with the IRS.

"Federal law requires the National Taxpayer Advocate to submit an Annual Report to Congress that identifies at least 20 of the most serious problems encountered by taxpayers and makes administrative and legislative recommendations to mitigate those problems. Overall, this year's report identifies 22 problems, provides updates on four previously identified issues, makes dozens of recommendations for administrative change, proposes 13 recommendations for legislative change, and analyzes the 10 tax issues most frequently litigated in the federal courts."

The annual report came out yesterday. Here is a link to the press release summary of what was said.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=252284,00.html

If you are interested in more detail, here is a link to the more thorough Executive summary. (I think only government officials call a 68 page report a "summary")

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/irs_tas_arc2011_exec_summary.pdf

We're all on the paying side but it is interesting to read and understand more about the issues the receiving side is facing. It's a pretty comprehensive and probably accurate assessment of the problems the IRS has trying to administer the tax code.

Unfortunately, if all it ends up being is "Problem Identified, Item Closed" and no action really gets taken, I wonder what is truly the value of even doing it.

It is an opportunity however, if you feel strongly that the tax system should be changed. Contact your representatives in Congress and ask them what they will be doing to make sure the issues she has raised are addressed.

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Laurie Frederiksen
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