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As part of the TAS Report to Congress the study addresses two research questions regarding taxpayers attitudes. The first question: “How do attitudes towards paying taxes vary among different types of taxpayers?” For this question, the focus is on a comparison of self-employed taxpayers (audited and unaudited) and wage earners (who did or did not experience either IRS ID theft processing procedures or who experienced the IRS questioning the legitimacy of their refund return).

The second research question is: Do attitudes among audited self-employed taxpayers vary in accordance with the type of audit and the outcome of the examination?” As wage income is usually subject to third-party reporting, wage earners tend to have relatively few opportunities for tax noncompliance in comparison with self-employed taxpayers (Kleven et al., 2011). However, it is unlikely that opportunity alone drives tax compliance behavior. Personal beliefs, social norms, and past experiences with the IRS shape taxpayer attitudes. Personal experiences might be particularly relevant for taxpayers who have been victims of tax fraud involving ID theft or who have been suspected of tax fraud. Solving these cases frequently delays legitimate refund claims substantially, which imposes financial hardship on taxpayers, potentially erodes trust in the IRS, and might adversely impact voluntary compliance. Against this background, analyzing the attitudes of different occupational groups will contribute to an understanding of the determinants of tax noncompliance.

Written by Nina Olson | Posted in TaxConnections • Taxpayer Attitudes

Nina Olson- Need Help From The Taxpayer Advocate Service

Every year, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) helps thousands of people with tax problems. This story is only one of many examples of how TAS helps resolve taxpayer’s tax issues. All personal details are removed to protect the taxpayer’s privacy.

TAS is an advocate for protecting taxpayers’ rights. This success story is an example of how TAS’s advocacy protected a taxpayer’s fundamental Right to a Fair and Just Tax System by negotiating with the IRS to withdraw a tax lien.

A taxpayer had an IRS balance due, but paid the tax bill. After the taxpayer paid the IRS balance, the IRS filed a Notice of Federal Tax Lien which jeopardized the taxpayer’s employment. Although the IRS released the lien, it remained a matter of public record. The IRS refused to withdraw the lien even though the IRS filed it after the taxpayer paid the balance in full. TAS got involved and negotiated with the IRS on behalf of the taxpayer to successfully obtain a lien withdrawal.

Written by Nina Olson | Posted in National Taxpayer Advocate • Taxpayer Advocate Services