Guide To Your Rights As A Taxpayer: 3

(Series 3 of 3. Click here for post 1 and here for post 2.)

Civil

As with every other government entity, the IRS holds to an equal rights policy and doesn’t tolerate discrimination by anyone. This includes its employees, grantees, contractors, and/or subcontractors. “NO ONE shall be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination because of: race, color, sex, national origin, disability, reprisal, or age in programs or activities funded by the Department of Treasury – Internal Revenue Service.”

Help With Ongoing Special Issues

We have a Problem Resolution Program for taxpayers who have been unable to resolve their problems with the IRS. If you have a tax problem that you cannot clear up through normal channels, write to the Problem Resolution Office in the district or Service Center with which you have the problem. You may also reach the Problem Resolution Office by calling the IRS taxpayer assistance number listed in your phone book. There is also the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) available online. If the tax problem is causing or will cause you significant hardship, the Problem Resolution Officer will arrange for an immediate review of your problem. During the review, we will not take any enforcement action.

Hopefully this helps. It is better to know your rights before trying to deal with an entity like the IRS. Outside the rights afforded the taxpayer by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, there is actually a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (3 versions/revisions), which have been passed by congress in the last 20 years.