Status: Closed
Completion Date: 3/31/2024

Quarterly Update:
1st Quarter: During the first quarter, TAS and the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) developed the Most Serious Problem (MSP# 5- Return Preparer Oversight) for inclusion in the NTA 2023 Annual Report to Congress (ARC). The TAS preliminary recommendations with IRS initial comments and the final recommendations outlined for IRS response through the ARC tracking and report card process are expected to occur during the second and third quarter of Fiscal Year 2024.

2nd Quarter: During the second quarter, the Congressional Affairs Program conference was conducted and Local Taxpayer Advocates (LTAs) met with their congressional offices. LTAs will continue to meet with congressional staff as necessary to discuss the status of open cases and educate about current tax issues. Also, the National Taxpayer Advocate included as a Most Serious Problem, MSP# 5- Return Preparer Oversight, in the NTA 2023 Annual Report to Congress (ARC).

All actions completed. This Objective is closed.

Status: Closed
Completion Date: 09/30/2024

Quarterly Update:
1st Quarter: TAS continued using proactive outreach and education during the second quarter by developing and publishing four pre-filing season outreach products to educate taxpayers about how to avoid return processing refund delays. During the first quarter, we published emerging tax issue information on the Employee Retention Credit moratorium and withdrawal process. Also, we continued to focus on taxpayers’ understanding of these items by using plain language in all our products and incorporating visuals where possible.

We began preparing for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day and for potential outreach partnerships with IRS’s Stakeholder Partnerships, Education, and Communication office and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/Tax Counseling for the Elderly locations. We partnered with the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic program office and Veterans Affairs to reach out to military and low-income, underserved populations to educate about the EITC, the Child Tax Credit, and the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Further, TAS continued to partner with IRS on their outreach through our web and digital platforms especially in the areas of tax benefits and Community Assistance Visits.

2nd Quarter: During the second quarter, TAS continued using proactive outreach and education to broaden relationships with taxpayers. These included developing publications to advise each Congressmember about emerging tax issues particular to the members’ state/district, developing and publishing social media campaigns including a series of events through a “Wednesday Wisdom” campaign to highlight tax tips for taxpayer, partnering with external stakeholders on Problem Solving Days, hosting case resolution days, partnering with external stakeholders (including United Way, Veteran Affairs, etc.), participating in EITC Awareness Days and Taxpayer Experience Days, and increased the publics’ awareness of the TAS website during outreach events.

3rd Quarter: During the third quarter, TAS continued conducting proactive outreach and education to broaden relationships with taxpayers. We educated congress members and the public regarding IRS’ performance during the filing season, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, basic taxpayer responsibilities, and many other key topics through multiple media channels. We partnered with IRS, congress, libraries, and other community based organizations to conduct problem solving days and provide case resolution rooms at tax conventions. Also, we reached out to underserved communities through partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including the Mexican US Consulate, US Citizens & Immigration Services, Veterans Affairs, Salvation Army, United Way, and other community organizations.

4th Quarter: During the fourth quarter, we educated congressmembers and the public about the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, basic taxpayer responsibilities, Earned Income Tax Credit eligibility criteria, collection alternatives, identity theft, avoiding tax scams and return preparer misconduct, the taxpayer roadmap, tax benefits for seniors and the military, ITIN application and renewal process, and eligibility for Low Income Taxpayer Clinics. Also, our Local Taxpayer Advocates (LTSs) and their continued to reach underserved communities through partnerships with IRS and external stakeholders at 233 outreach events, which included problem solving days providing direct assistance on account-related issues. Case Advocacy partnered with Amish leaders, IRS & Indian Tribal community leaders, Veterans Affairs, and other organizations that have established relationships within taxpayers in underserved populations including: rural, disabled, and refugee individuals. Lastly, we promoted Problem Solving Days via the TAS website and social media. LTAs disseminated Publications 5831 and 5426 to increase taxpayer and tax practitioner awareness about the TAS website, taxpayer roadmap, and self-help resources, including paying taxes, interacting with IRS during an audit, and Tax Tips. All actions are complete and this objective is closed.

Status: Closed
Completion Date: 09/30/2024

Quarterly Update:
1st Quarter: Work on this activity will begin later in Fiscal Year 2024.

2nd Quarter: Work on this activity will begin later in Fiscal Year 2024.

3rd Quarter: The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) program office held six webinars for organization interested in applying for an LITC grant and we held calls with several organizations to answer questions regarding the grant application process. As a result, the program office successful recruited seven new organization that will receive a six month grant effective July 1, 2024. These include the Puerto Rico Tax Foundation, (San Juan, PR), and Misericordia University, (Dallas, PA) and both will serve underserved communities.

The program office is also working with TAS’ Research group to develop a more robust definition of the underserved population for the LITC program by analyzing the demographic characteristics of underserved, underrepresented, and rural communities to identify areas of the country where low-income taxpayers experience more interactions with the IRS. Additionally, we are identifying areas where other populations exist that the IRS has identified as being underserved including the elderly, disabled individuals, rural populations, and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) taxpayers.

4th Quarter: All actions are complete and this objective is closed.

Status: Closed
Completion Date: 10/01/2023

Quarterly Update:
1st Quarter: The Taxpayer Advocate Service continually participates on cross functional teams. This objective is closed.

Status: Closed
Completion Date: 09/30/2024

Quarterly Update:
1st Quarter: TAS continued promoting the Taxpayer Roadmap during the quarter and began developing new tax tips to publish throughout Fiscal Year 2024. Further, we collaborated with the Digital Assets team to recommend updates to the Roadmap. To improve the usefulness of the Roadmap, we added 17 new notices and letters for taxpayer use.

2nd Quarter: During the second quarter, TAS continued to collaborate and update communications to include updating the Name, Image, Likeness, Get Help page, and launching 17 new stops on the Taxpayer Roadmap. During the third quarter, we will develop videos for internal IRS employees to highlight the Taxpayer Roadmap.

3rd Quarter: TAS continued promoting the taxpayer roadmap through multiple opportunities. We reviewed, refreshed, and relaunched all TAS Tax Tips and promoted them through TAS’ social media platforms.

4th Quarter: During the fourth quarter, as part of our communication strategy, we produce on average three new Tax Tips per month and point to Roadmap items/notices as resources when applicable. We will continue to coordinate Roadmap recommendations between the IRS’s and TAS’s Digital Assets teams for standard language and update information on certain topics. All actions are complete and this objective is closed.