Source: United States Senator for Ohio Rob Portman
March 14, 2022 | Press Releases
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), a member of the Senate Finance Committee that oversees the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), joined his colleagues in a bipartisan and bicameral letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig that reiterates ongoing concerns and urges the IRS to provide much-needed relief as the agency struggles to address customer service and processing issues. The IRS’s lack of action is causing unnecessary confusion, especially with the current tax filing season already underway.
“We remain concerned that the IRS does not have a comprehensive plan to remedy the numerous problems affecting taxpayers, despite the fact that this filing season is already well underway,” wrote Portman and the lawmakers. “For example, there is continued confusion about which notices may be unilaterally suspended by the IRS, beyond the notices the IRS has already suspended, among other issues.”
In the letter, the lawmakers requested the IRS to specifically address which notices are statutorily required to be issued within a specific time, and why there are still certain notices that have not yet been suspended.
This letter is supported by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA),the Ohio Society of CPAs, National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), National Society of Accountants (NSA), National Conference of CPA Practitioners (NCCPAP), National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA), Latino Tax Pro, Diverse Organization of Firms Advocacy Committee, National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants (NSBCPA), Padgett Business Services, Prosperity Now, and National Society of Tax Professionals (NSTP).
“We appreciate Senator Portman’s leadership to address IRS service issues and to further suspend various taxpayer notices. Our members, and the taxpayers they serve, are in the midst of their third consecutive difficult tax season and further relief would be welcomed as soon as possible with deadlines quickly approaching.” – Scott Wiley, President & CEO of The Ohio Society of CPAs.
“Since the beginning of tax season, the AICPA, Members of Congress, and various organizations representing taxpayers and practitioners have urged the IRS to take significant and meaningful steps to mitigate the anticipated challenges of this tax season. The AICPA is grateful to Senators Menendez and Cassidy, along with Representatives Panetta, Spanberger, Higgins, Bilirakis, and Kelly, for their persistent efforts to get taxpayers essential relief as we approach the March 15th filing deadline,” said AICPA President & CEO, Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA. “The AICPA stands in support of the letter, signed by 100 members of Congress, to Commissioner Rettig urging him to respond to questions and concerns and offer clarification on notice suspensions. The tax season is well under way, and we hope the IRS will heed the widespread calls for meaningful relief and take the necessary steps to ease taxpayers’ burden and frustration.”
In addition to Portman, the Senate version of the letter was signed by Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Richard Burr (R-NC), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelley (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), James Lankford (R-OK), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), John Thune (R-SD), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Todd Young (R-IN).
Full text of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Commissioner Rettig,
We appreciate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the unprecedented backlog at the IRS. We remain concerned that the IRS does not have a comprehensive plan to remedy the numerous problems affecting taxpayers, despite the fact that this filing season is already well underway. For example, there is continued confusion about which notices may be unilaterally suspended by the IRS, beyond the notices the IRS has already suspended, among other issues.
Given that the IRS has not provided us with any additional information since your last correspondence dated February 8, 2022, we ask for responses to the following questions, no later than the close of business on Monday, March 14, 2022:
- Which remaining unsuspended notices does the IRS have the authority to suspend? Please explain why the IRS has left these remaining notices unsuspended.
- Is the IRS in the process of working to suspend additional notices? If so, when will that work be completed?
- Which notices are statutorily required to be issued within a specific time? Would the IRS suspend these statutory notices if the IRS had the legal authority to do so?
- Explain why the IRS has not suspended notice CP2000, Notice of Underreported Income?
- Notwithstanding the publication of Notice 2021-39, widespread controversy surrounding Schedules K-2 and K-3 remains, including recent additional instructions, the inability to electronically file, and lingering uncertainty surrounding many requirements. As such, is the IRS contemplating relief, such as delaying implementation to 2023?
- In early February, the IRS advised Congress that it was considering a systemic process to identify pending penalty abatement requests, and likewise evaluating penalty relief options. Has the IRS determined if it can provide penalty relief for taxpayers as previously offered by the IRS for the 2020 and 2021 tax year? If not, why not?
Thank you for your continued attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
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