The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) has announced a significant change to its decades-long practice of conducting unannounced visits to taxpayers’ homes and businesses.
Effective immediately, the agency is putting an end to this practice to ensure the safety of its employees and taxpayers alike.
Instead, individuals will receive mailed letters to schedule meetings, except in a few rare circumstances.
The decision to halt unannounced visits comes as a relief for taxpayers who have long feared the unexpected arrival of IRS agents.
Such visits have often caused anxiety and stress, with some individuals becoming vulnerable to potential scam artists impersonating the IRS.
By shifting to a scheduled meeting approach, the IRS aims to alleviate this anxiety and provide taxpayers with a more organized and secure interaction process.
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel expressed the agency’s commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of both taxpayers and IRS employees.
The change in policy is seen as the right move at the right time, putting an end to the uncertainty surrounding unannounced visits while ensuring a safer and more comfortable experience for all parties involved.
With the additional funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS will have the means to increase its staff and bolster compliance efforts.
The agency will focus on chasing high-income earners who may be avoiding taxes and using improved analytics to address serious tax issues more effectively.
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IRS Puts an End to Unannounced Visits
The IRS aims to collect revenue without adding stress through unannounced visits, putting a stop to scammers impersonating the agency.
Apart from benefiting taxpayers, the policy change also prioritizes the safety of IRS employees. In recent years, the agency’s workforce has faced increased risks and attacks due to false and inflammatory rhetoric about the IRS.
The decision to end unannounced visits will help protect employees and create a safer work environment.
Under the new approach, if IRS agents need to meet with a taxpayer, they will send an appointment letter, known as a 725-B, via mail. This will provide taxpayers with ample time to prepare necessary documents, ensuring a smoother and more efficient resolution of issues.
The elimination of unannounced visits will also reduce the burden of multiple future meetings, streamlining the process and enhancing the taxpayer experience.
While unannounced visits will no longer be the norm, there will be rare exceptions. In cases involving summons, subpoenas, or sensitive enforcement activities that require the seizure of assets at risk of being placed beyond the government’s reach, unannounced visits may still occur.
However, the IRS emphasizes that such situations are infrequent, amounting to a small fraction compared to the previously common practice of unannounced visits.
Overall, the shift towards scheduled meetings marks a positive step in the IRS’s efforts to provide a safer, more efficient, and less stressful experience for taxpayers.
By embracing improved procedures and focusing on compliance, the agency aims to foster greater trust and transparency in its interactions with the public.
As the IRS continues to adapt and refine its practices, it remains committed to fulfilling its crucial role in collecting revenue while safeguarding the well-being of all parties involved.
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Source: USA Today