Tools for Tax Return Preparers 

Need assistance in figuring out where your client is in the tax return process, examination or collection process, or what to do when your client receives a notice?  The Taxpayer Roadmap can guide you through these processes from beginning to end, including appeals and litigation. Use this tool to look up a notice or letter and receive guidance on next steps. To look up a specific notice, go to Notices from the IRS and input the notice number. 

For help with a tax issue, visit the Get Help page and find information on filing returns, refundable credits, refunds, small business information, international issues, interacting with the IRS in the examination and collection process, and more. TAS also provides Tax Tips on current issues such as the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), IRS notices, and filing season reminders. If you want to keep current with the latest news and information, follow the National Taxpayer Advocate’s (NTA) blog, or you can subscribe to email updates. 

Make sure your clients receive the credits for which they’re eligible  

To make sure your clients receive all the child-related and other credits for which they are eligible, refer to the resources available on the TAS website. 

• In the Get Help – Credits section of the TAS website, you’ll find information on the eligibility rules and tax law changes for claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit, as well as education and home credits. 
• The National Taxpayer Advocate has also written about issues identified with the EITC in the Annual Reports to Congress and provided recommendations: 
• The IRS Inappropriately Bans Many Taxpayers from Claiming EITC  
• Study of Two-Year Bans on the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit 

TAS hosts events throughout the year to assist tax return preparers. Attend one of our local Pre-Filing Season Awareness Events to get tips to avoid common return preparation errors and help avoid unnecessary processing and refund delays this filing season. In addition, TAS hosts Problem Solving Day events throughout the year where you can meet with TAS employees in person. Events are added throughout the year, so check back often to see when your Local Taxpayer Advocate will be hosting an event in your area. 

If your client hasn’t been able to resolve their tax problems with the IRS, use our TAS Qualifier Tool to help determine if TAS can assist you. If you have identified a problem that affects more than one of your clients that may be a systemic, policy, or procedural issue with the IRS, then use the Systemic Advocacy Management System (SAMS) to report it to us.

Resources to help your client with their ERC claim

The ERC – sometimes called the Employee Retention Tax Credit – is a refundable tax credit for businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers should be wary of ERC advertisements that advise them to “apply” for money by claiming the ERC when they may not qualify (see TAS Tax Tip – Don’t Fall Victim to an ERC Scheme). If you need help figuring out if you’re eligible to claim the ERC, use the Employee Retention Credit Eligibility Checklist.  

Amid rising concerns about a flood of improper ERC claims, the IRS announced an immediate moratorium through the end of 2023 on processing new claims. Visit TAS Tax Tip: Waiting on an ERC Refund for additional information. 

If your client filed a claim requesting a refund for an ERC and would now like to withdraw that claim, go to frequently asked questions (FAQs) for ERC for information regarding eligibility, withdrawing an ERC claim, recordkeeping, and scams. Visit TAS Tax Tip: Resolving an Improper ERC Claim for additional information.