The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (“TAS”) is supposed to be “Your Voice” at the IRS. National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olsen’s recent speech is definitely reflecting our voice. She called the level of IRS customer service given to taxpayers “pitiful.” Olsen attributed the poor service to inadequate funding that has forced the IRS to automate many …
Posts Categorized: IRS
How to Best Help Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan
Following the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan, many are trying to figure out the most effective way to help. We’ll cut to the chase: it’s money. Often at times of disaster people want to donate new and used clothing, canned foods, and building supplies. Typhoon survivors need shelter, medicine, and food – NOW. They don’t …
Who's Protecting My Donation from a “Significant Diversion”?
Donors around the country are asking themselves that since The Washington Post published a series of articles reporting that more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations have reported a “significant diversion” of assets since 2008. A significant diversion is one that is more than the lesser of $250,000 or 5% of an organization’s gross receipts or total …
IRS Warns of Pervasive Phone Scam
You may encounter something even scarier than Halloween today. The IRS is warning about a sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers around the country. The scammers tell people that they owe money to the IRS and that it must be paid immediately using a debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, the …
Extending Time for Charitable Donations
Have you ever experienced the anxiety of making all of your charitable donations before December 31? The Charitable Giving Extension Act, introduced by House Ways and Means Committee member Mike Kelly (R-Pa), would allow you to focus on present giving during December. The Act would allow individuals to treat charitable donations made until April 15 …
Employee Benefits Follow-Up
Last week, our guest blogger Christine Roberts explained the impact the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act has on employee benefit plans. Since that blog, the IRS and U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) have both issued written guidance about this matter. Christine is back guest blogging with us this week to …