Everyone should Know Your Legal Rights if You Get Audited. No one likes to receive notice of questions about their tax return from the IRS or a State’s Department of Revenue. So, if you find yourself in this situation, you should know your legal rights. Each Department of Revenue for each state and the federal government provide specific taxpayer rights.
State of Pennsylvania Taxpayers Bill of Rights
Pennsylvania taxpayers have a Bill of Rights that outlines standard processes and procedures that the Department of Revenue must follow. These ensure equal and fair treatment of all taxpayers.
These rights include:
- The Right to Quality of Service, including a customer service feedback survey
- The Right to Be Informed where you receive clear and understandable communication
- The Right to Confidentiality to retain the security and confidentiality of tax returns and other information
- The Right to Retain Representation by a CPA or attorney
- The Right to Challenge the Department’s Position and Be Heard with a specific appeal process
Federal Taxpayers Bill of Rights
Further, the IRS operates under a similar set of procedures that include additional taxpayer rights. Additionally, should you receive notification of a federal audit of your tax returns, you have the following rights:
- The Right to Be Informed so you know what you must do to comply with tax laws
- The Right to Quality Service that includes prompt, courteous, and professional assistance
- The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax where you only pay that amount legally due
- The Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard with a response from the IRS in a timely fashion
- The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum, including taking your case to court, if necessary
- The Right to Finality with guidelines on maximum timelines for audits, challenges, and debt repayment
- The Right to Privacy where any IRS action complies with the law and is no more intrusive than necessary
- The Right to Confidentiality in that the IRS will not disclose any information provided without taxpayer authorization
- The Right to Retain Representation, including assistance from a Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic if they cannot afford to retain representation
- The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System that considers circumstances that might affect a taxpayer’s ability to comply
However, just knowing your rights as a taxpayer doesn’t mean you will automatically know the best course of action during an audit. An experienced tax attorney advocating for you during the process can help relieve your stress and minimize your tax liabilities.
Help With All Matters of Tax
Finally, if you have questions or need to resolve a matter with federal or state tax auditors, RELAX. Likewise, as experienced tax attorneys, it’s our job to protect your interests throughout the audit and guide you to a resolution for your situation. Call our office today at 724-216-5180 or complete our online form to learn more.
