NATP signs coalition letter stating the IRS should take more action to provide taxpayer relief
The National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), as part of the Tax Professionals United for Taxpayer Relief Coalition, sent a letter to the Oversight subcommittee acknowledging recent steps taken by the IRS to provide relief to taxpayers, but argues additional action is still needed.
The letter, sent Feb. 16, 2022, to Oversight Subcommittee Chair Bill Pascrell and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Rice, restates the coalition’s requests for the Treasury and the IRS to immediately:
- Temporarily discontinue automated compliance actions until the IRS is prepared to devote the necessary resources for a proper and timely resolution of the matter
- Align requests for account holds with the time it takes the IRS to process any penalty abatement requests
- Offer a reasonable cause penalty waiver, similar to the procedures of first-time abate (FTA) administrative waiver, without affecting the taxpayer’s eligibility for FTA in future tax years
- Provide taxpayers with targeted relief from both the underpayment of estimated tax penalties and the late payment penalty for 2020 and 2021 tax years
The letter was sent in response to an Oversight subcommittee hearing with the National Taxpayer Advocate on Feb. 8, 2022, about taxpayers’ challenges.
“The IRS has addressed some of the requests NATP and the coalition made, but we are still concerned about the unresolved issues taxpayers and preparers are facing this tax season, which is arguably the most complicated season yet,” said Scott Artman, CPA, CGMA, NATP executive director. “Taxpayers and preparers are still without a detailed and comprehensive plan from the IRS as to how to mitigate problems and solve outstanding issues.”
The letter to the Oversight subcommittee ends urging the committee to continue working with the IRS toward a fair but meaningful resolution to the host of issues raised by taxpayers and advocates.
The National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) is the largest nonprofit organization that works exclusively for tax professionals. We serve members through education, advocacy and community, providing the tools they need to navigate the tax code and the insights the media can trust.
Looking for a tax expert? Tom O’Saben, EA, director of tax content and government relations at NATP, is available for phone or video interviews to discuss federal tax topics, including tax law change and its implications, taxpayer issues, tax preparer regulation and more. To schedule an interview with O’Saben, contact [email protected] or [email protected].