IRS Appeal Rights

Are you in the middle of a disagreement with the IRS? One of the guaranteed rights for all taxpayers is the right to appeal. If you disagree with the IRS about the amount of your tax liability or about proposed collection actions, you have the right to ask the IRS Appeals Office to review your case.

IRS Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, explains some of your most important taxpayer rights. During their contact with taxpayers, IRS employees are required to explain and protect these taxpayer rights, including the right to appeal.The IRS appeals system is for people who do not agree with the results of an examination of their tax returns or other adjustments to their tax liability. In addition to examinations, you can appeal many other things, including:

• Collection actions such as liens, levies, seizures, installment agreement terminations and rejected offers-in-compromise
• Penalties and interest
• Employment tax adjustments and the trust fund recovery penalty

Appeals conferences are informal meetings. The local Appeals Office, which is independent of the IRS office that proposed the disputed action, can sometimes resolve an appeal by telephone or through correspondence.The IRS also offers an option called Fast Track Mediation, during which an appeals or settlement officer attempts to help you and the IRS reach a mutually satisfactory solution. Most cases not docketed in court qualify for Fast Track Mediation. You may request Fast Track Mediation at the conclusion of an audit or collection determination, but prior to your request for a normal appeals hearing. Fast Track Mediation is meant to promote the early resolution of a dispute. It doesn’t eliminate or replace existing dispute resolution options, including your opportunity to request a conference with a manager or a hearing before Appeals. You may withdraw from the mediation process at any time.When attending an informal meeting or pursuing mediation, you may represent yourself or you can be represented by an attorney, certified public accountant or individual enrolled to practice before the IRS.If you and the IRS appeals officer cannot reach agreement, or if you prefer not to appeal within the IRS, in most cases you may take your disagreement to federal court. But taxpayers can settle most differences without expensive and time-consuming court trials.For more information on the appeals process visit the Appeals page on this Web site. Information is also available in IRS Publication 5, Your Appeal Rights and How to Prepare a Protest If You Don’t Agree; Publication 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights and Claims for Refunds; Publication 1660, Collection Appeal Rights (for Liens, Levies, and Seizures); and Publication 3605, Fast Track Mediation. Download copies of IRS publications or call toll-free 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).Links:

• Tax Information for Appeals
• Tax Topic 151 – Your Appeal Rights
• Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer (PDF 21K)
• Publication 5, Your Appeal Rights and How to Prepare a Protest If You Don’t Agree (PDF 36K)
• Publication 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights and Claims for Refunds (PDF 105K)
• Publication 1660, Collection Appeal Rights (for Liens, Levies, and Seizures) (PDF 31K)
• Publication 3605, Fast Track Mediation (PDF 15K)

Learn Tax Planning and Preparation

Tax Preparation is just the first part of the Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) program. You will also learn how to advise businesses to structure their organization to reduce their tax burden. You will assist them to strategically place themselves in a position today to reap tax rewards next year. While tax preparation peaks around the tax return deadline, there is great money to be made all year long optimizing organizations to take advantage of tax benefits and exemptions.Learn More About Learning Tax Planning and Preparation With the Professional Tax Preparer (PTP) Program