If you think the IRS is mean, you may be surprised to learn that they have the Taxpayer Bill of Rights to protect you. This bill rolled out in 2014 and it provides you with your rights in an easy to understand language. For most taxpayers this gesture is comforting.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights
- You have the right to be informed
- You have the right to quality service
- You have the right to only pay the correct amount of taxes
- You have the right to challenge the IRS and be heard
- You have the right to appeal an IRS decision
- You have the right to finality
- You have the right to privacy
- You have the right to confidentiality
- You have the right to retain representation
- You have the right to a fair tax system
For a more detailed version of these rights click here.
What this Means for Taxpayers
The IRS wants taxpayers to know that they will keep them informed and provide high quality service. You can see that they want taxes to be easier for you because they have been making tax documents easier to understand over the years. You also can do your entire tax process online now so you don’t have to learn all of the rules and publications while trying to write everything out by hand.
It may have taken over twenty years for these changes to come about, but many taxpayers are glad that they are here. The bill of rights for taxpayers does consider tax evasion a crime still, but the IRS supports tax avoidance, which is 100% legal. Keep the Taxpayer Bill of Rights in mind when you file your taxes this year.
Image credit: Becky McCray