An official website of the U.S. GovtEvery year, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) helps thousands of people with federal tax problems. This story is only one of many examples of how TAS helps resolve taxpayers’ tax issues. All personal details have been removed to protect the taxpayer’s privacy and to comply with IRC § 6103.
TAS advocated for a taxpayer who did not receive his 2019 refund. The refund was held because the employer did not report the income to the IRS, so there was a discrepancy when the IRS compared the employer’s information against what the taxpayer reported on his return (Income Verification). The advocate explained why the refund was being held and requested the taxpayer’s last paystub or details regarding the taxpayer’s pay on company letterhead.
Since the taxpayer was unable to obtain his last paystub or income information on company letterhead, the advocate requested alternative documents to show proof of employment — a termination letter from the employer and Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage.
After providing the alternative documents to the IRS, the advocate requested the IRS release the refund. The IRS would not initially release the refund; however, TAS continued to challenge the IRS by showing that prior year returns, along with supporting documentation, verified the taxpayer’s employment with the company. As a result, TAS was able to successfully advocate for the release of the refund.
If you need information on a specific tax topic, visit the TAS Get Help resource. It offers a step-by step guide on what you can do to settle some IRS issues on your own, what your taxpayer rights are and other options available to help you get resolution. Most issues can be resolved directly by working with the IRS. However, if you have tried, but are still unable to resolve an IRS issue, learn more about whether TAS can help you with your tax issue.
When working with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, each individual or business taxpayer is assigned to an advocate who listens to the problem and helps the taxpayer understand what needs to be done to resolve their tax issue. TAS advocates will do everything they can to help taxpayers and work with them every step of the way. Occasionally we feature stories of taxpayers and advocates who work together to resolve complex tax issues. Read more TAS success stories.
