Tax Tips from the IRS

Taxpayer Bill of Rights: America’s taxpayers are entitled to a fair and just tax system

Tax fairness means the tax system is equitable to all citizens. This is not just a concept  - it is the law. The right to a fair and just tax system is one of 10 rights in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which clearly outline the fundamental rights of every taxpayer.

Here are a few things the IRS wants all taxpayers to know about what this right means:

  • Taxpayers have the right to expect the tax system to consider facts and circumstances that might affect their underlying liabilities, ability to pay, or ability to provide information timely.

  • Taxpayers have the right to receive assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service if they’re experiencing financial difficulty resolving their tax issues properly and timely through normal IRS channels.

  • Taxpayers who cannot pay their tax debt in full and meet certain conditions can arrange a payment plan with the IRS. This means the taxpayer will pay a set amount over time, generally monthly.

  • Taxpayers can submit an offer in compromise asking the IRS to settle their tax debt for less than the full amount if they:

    • Believe they don’t owe all or part of the tax debt.

    • Are unable to pay all the tax debt within the time permitted by law to collect.

    • Have factors such as equity, hardship, or public policy they think the IRS should consider in determining whether to settle the liability.


IRS warns taxpayers to stay vigilant as texting scams surge

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The IRS and the Security Summit partners warn everyone to be on the lookout for scams and schemes that could put sensitive tax data at risk, especially IRS-themed texting scams aimed at stealing personal and financial information.

So far in 2022, the IRS has identified and reported thousands of fraudulent domains tied to multiple text scams, known as smishing, targeting taxpayers. Recently, IRS-themed smishing has increased significantly.

Smishing campaigns target mobile phone users, and the scam messages often look like they're coming from the IRS, with fake messages, known as "lures," offering COVID relief, tax credits or help setting up an IRS online account. Recipients of these IRS-related scams can report them to phishing@irs.gov.

In the latest smishing activity, the scam texts ask taxpayers to click a link or call a telephone number where criminals will collect their personal or financial information. The IRS does not send emails or text messages asking for personal, financial information or account numbers.

Taxpayers should continue reporting these scams to the IRS. Their reporting allows the agency to report the scams to the appropriate service providers for action, protecting other taxpayers who might receive a variant of the same scam.

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