Tax Tip 2024-18: All taxpayers have the right to quality service from the IRS

Useful Links:

IRS.gov

Help For Hurricane Victims

News Essentials

What’s Hot

News Releases

IRS – The Basics

IRS Guidance

Media Contacts

Facts & Figures

Around The Nation

e-News Subscriptions

The Newsroom Topics

Multimedia Center

Noticias en Español

Radio PSAs

Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts

The Tax Gap

Fact Sheets

IRS Tax Tips

Armed Forces

Latest News

IRS Resources

Contact Your Local IRS Office

Filing Your Taxes

Forms & Instructions

Frequently Asked Questions

Taxpayer Advocate Service

Where to File

IRS Social Media

Issue Number: Tax Tip 2024-18

All taxpayers have the right to quality service from the IRS

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights defines 10 fundamental rights of every taxpayer. One of these rights is the right to quality service. Let’s take a closer look at the right to quality service and what it means for taxpayers.

Right to quality service

Taxpayers have the right to:

• Receive prompt, courteous and professional assistance from the IRS.
• Be spoken to in a way they can easily understand.
• Receive clear and easily understandable communications from the IRS.
• Speak to a supervisor about inadequate service.

What taxpayers can expect

When taxpayers interact with the IRS, they can expect IRS representatives to:

• Listen objectively. They will consider all relevant information prior to giving the taxpayer an answer.
• Answer questions promptly, accurately and thoroughly
• Give the taxpayer information on recourse options and applicable appeal rights.
• Treat people with courtesy.
• Generally, only contact taxpayers between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• Provide the taxpayer with information about how to get help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service in all statutory notices of deficiency.
• Provide information about options for legal help if someone is eligible for assistance from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

IRS representatives will not:

• Contact the taxpayer’s employer if they know the employer doesn’t allow such contact.
• Make aggressive phone calls that threaten arrest or prison time.

Taxpayers can find answers to most tax questions on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can also contact the IRS directly by calling the number on the top right corner of all notices and letters.

More information

• Taxpayer Advocate Service
• Publication 556, Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, and Claims for Refund
• Forms and Publications About Your Appeal Rights
• Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process

Subscribe to IRS Tax Tips

Back to top