Archive for the ‘Taxpayer Advocate’ Category

IRS Prepared Tax Returns: Are They a Good Idea?

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Recently, I have been asked for my thoughts on the IRS’ proposal to pre-filled tax returns. Under a proposed system, the IRS would pre-fill taxpayers’ returns with the data employers and financial institutions have already reported. I came across a Forbes article titled: “Are IRS Prepared Tax Returns the Solution to our Tax Woes?“ that presented a decent overview of what such a system would mean for taxpayers, tax preparers and
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IRS Budget Cuts Hurt Offshore Tax Collection

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

I recently wrote a post for the Tax Matters blog about a newly released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showing IRS budget cuts forcing the furlough of 100,000 employees therefore reducing the ability to audit taxpayers at the same rate. A Huffington Post article titled: “Offshore Tax Havens: Sequestration Damages IRS Battle with Tax Evasion“ provides additional GAO report information shining a light on how the sequester/IRS budget cuts will
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New Tax Resolution Services Commercial Advises Tax Relief

Monday, April 29th, 2013

For fifteen years, I have helped resolve IRS tax issues for good people who made past tax mistakes and got into trouble with the IRS. These folks got the the tax relief they needed because they hired expert tax representation capable of handling cases such as theirs. A new Tax Resolution Services commercial for The Blaze TV reminds taxpayers who owe back taxes how important hiring certified tax representation to handle
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IRS Commends NATRC on Tax Resolution Industry Improvements

Friday, April 26th, 2013

Many of us who have worked tirelessly to restore the credibility of the tax resolution industry were pleased to hear our efforts commended by the IRS’ Office of Professional Responsibility (“OPR”). Yesterday’s press release mentioned news of the OPR’s review of the National Association of Tax Resolution Companies (NATRC) code of conduct, and how it was commending the organization in a follow up letter for establishing meaningful standards for its
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IRS Apologizes for Costly Star Trek Training Video

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

Sometimes the government does things that make you want to shake your head. This post is about one of those instances. The Today Show reported in a segment titled “Live Long and Squander?” that the IRS is under fire for two training videos in particular a “Star Trek” parody the Agency thought would be good for employee training. NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports that a congressional committee was angry about the
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Tax Resolution Services-The Story of Michael Rozbruch

Monday, February 25th, 2013

This episode of the national network television show, TaxMan highlights the story of yours truly, Michael Rozbruch. I thought consumers out there should get to know me a little bit and understand my background. I also wanted to convey my reasons for wanting to resolve people’s tax problems and why I started Tax Resolution Services, Co. fifteen years ago and have never looked back. (Below the video are some main
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2013 IRS Report-Increased Collection over Last Decade

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

The 2013 IRS Update courtesy of Robert Mackenzie at Arnstein and Lehr LLP was released this January. This report covers the most recent IRS (2011) statistics on topics related to tax resolution issues.  I was especially intrigued by the report’s statistics and information over the previous decade including yearly comparisons of IRS levies, tax liens and IRS seizures from years 2001 – 2011. Here is an example of how these
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Taxes Turn 100-A Brief Look at the 16th Amendment

Friday, February 8th, 2013

On February 3, 2013, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution authorizing the federal income tax turned 100. The 16th Amendment has certainly had its share of controversy, especially in its early years. A Forbes article titled, “Guess Who Turned 100 This Weekend?“ highlights the history and tumultuous beginning of our tax system. Here are some of the interesting facts Forbes presents:
The Federal Income Tax is Born
On February 3, 1913, Delaware became
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Reasons to Hire a Tax Professional over Tax Software

Monday, January 28th, 2013

Last week I was quoted in The Fiscal Times article “Tax Hell: New Laws, New Reasons to Hire an Expert” by Steve Yoder. The article mentions Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson’s recent report to Congress that is critical of the burden the current tax system places on taxpayers, specifically on tax return preparation. Olson laments that the tax code is so complex, its burden essentially “requires” taxpayers to use their own
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Tax Relief Weekly News Round-Up

Friday, January 18th, 2013

Happy Friday! Here are the top tax and tax relief topics reported in this weeks news:

Qualified Tax Resolution Representation
I wrote a post this week highlighting the need for consumers to hire qualified tax representation after reading a Forbes article titled: “Representation before IRS.” I agree with author Stephen J. Dunn assertions that not all tax professionals are qualified to handle tax controversies going before the IRS. Taxpayers needing help
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Taxpayer Advocate Report Calls for Overall Tax Reform

Monday, January 14th, 2013

Last week, the National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina E. Olson, released her 2012 annual report to Congress where she suggested the need for tax reform as the priority number one for the tax administration. Other important tax problems Olson mentions are the following:

How the IRS is not adequately funded to properly serve taxpayers and collect taxes due to chronic underfunding.
How the IRS has not been affective in assisting victims of tax-related
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Beware of More IRS Tax Scam Emails

Thursday, October 25th, 2012

Tax scams and identity theft have wreaked havoc on both ordinary citizens and the IRS. As a result, taxpayers are advised to stay alert to prevent tax problems brought on by such scams by not giving out personal information online.  Earlier this month, I wrote a blog post about a Better Business Bureau tax scam warning aimed at electronic filers. While thieves are becoming more adept at making correspondence look
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IRS May Report Tax Debt to Credit Bureaus

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

If you thought you could hide under the radar with your tax debt, think again. Because the government is hurting for revenue, lawmakers in Washington are getting more creative in collecting back taxes. Their latest consideration: report IRS tax debt to credit agencies. Accounting Today recently published an article titled, IRS May Report Tax Debts to Credit Bureaus that discusses the serious thought and consideration Congress has been giving this
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IRS Allowed Fraud When they Rushed to Issue ID Numbers

Friday, August 10th, 2012

The IRS is currently in the hot seat after a scathing Treasury Department report shows they rushed too quickly to issue identification numbers to non-U.S. residents then didn’t detect the millions in tax fraud this hurried pace caused. In their recent article: IRS Allowed Fraud in Rush to Issue ID Numbers, Audit Says, Bloomberg reports that the Treasury audit highlighted an IRS Agency emphasis on processing applications, while also creating
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S-Corp Business Audits Up-Says IRS Watchdog

Thursday, July 26th, 2012

The government is focused on narrowing budget gaps and trying to find revenue from wherever it can. In recent years, the IRS has set its sights on small business and upped S-Corporation audits believing there was a good chance to collect on their non-tax compliance. However, a Reuters article titled Small business audits often find no more taxes due-IRS watchdog reports that IRS watchdog, Russell George criticized the high number
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