Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the Internal Revenue Service. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights takes the multiple existing rights embedded in the tax code and groups them into 10 broad categories, making them easier to find and understand. A list of your rights as a taxpayer and IRS obligations to protect them can be found in IRS Publica
tion 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer. Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws. They are entitled to clear explanations of the laws and IRS procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices and correspondence. They have the right to be informed of IRS decisions about their tax accounts and to receive clear explanations of the outcomes.
•Certain notices must include the amount (if any) of the tax, interest, and certain penalties you owe and must explain why you owe these amounts.
•When the IRS fully or partially disallows your claim for refund, it must explain the specific reasons why.
•Help Understanding Your Notice or Letter is available at IRS.gov
•If the IRS proposes to assess tax against you, it must provide you in its initial letter, which allows for review by an independent Office of Appeals, an explanation of the entire process from examination (audit) through collection and explain that the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to assist you.
•Taxpayers can access IRS forms and publications at IRS.gov or call toll-free 1-800-829-3676 to have them mailed to you.
•In addition to web-based resources at IRS.gov, the IRS also uses several social media tools to provide you with helpful tax information including Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr and the IRS2Go mobile app.
