Saint Louis MO: Taxpayer Advocate Service. Friend or Foe.

I represent taxpayers in the greater St. Louis area and the State of Missouri. Without fail there always are situations where taxpayers and the IRS hit the wall and can't resolve there differences. The Taxpayer Advocate Service also known as "TAS" is an independent organization within the IRS that acts as a voice for taxpayers. It is available for both businesses and individuals who are having financial hardships and the IRS is not cooperating dealing with taxpayers who really need the help.

TAS is willing to help when either taxpayers have tried all reasonable and normal procedures within the IRS and have hit the wall or the system is failing the taxpayer. The TAS has the ability to get to the proper person inside the IRS to get things right.

Please note that taxpayers need to make every effort to resolve there issue with the Collection division first.

These steps include the following:

1.Speak with the Collection Division

2.Speak with the Group Manager

3.Exercise any appeal rights has (CDP or Equivalent Hearing)

4.Collection Appeals Process.

If you or your respresentive have followed all the above steps and nothing is getting resolved either by negotiation or someone not following the rules at the IRS then it might be time to contact TAS.

This representive was contacted not too long ago by a taxpayer who was being pressured by the IRS to make payment arrangements that were designed in my estimation for the taxpayer to failure. I determined that the only potential resolution was to go to TAS and we were successful in getting an arrangement that was workable and saved the taxpayer money and the embarrasment of a wage garnishment.

This might sound silly but the form to request TAS intervention is called 911, which is a request for assistance. It is faxed to the local office and the taxpayer should be contacted within 48 hours.

If you or someone you know are having IRS issues please feel free to contact me @ 636-397-2759 or email me @steveshapiroea@gmail.com. Enrolled agents are federally licensed by the Treasury Department and can represent taxpayers at all admistrative levels of the IRS.

                                                                           Steve Shapiro, EA

                                                                          Arch Tax Resolution

                                                                            620 S. Benton St.

                                                                           St. Charles, MO 63301

                                                                         www.archtaxresolution.com

                                                                          www.steveshapiroea.com