Have a Tax Issue With the IRS? You Could Always Take Them to Court
What would you do if the IRS makes a decision you don’t agree with? For example, let’s say you file a tax return and send it in expecting to receive a refund of $1,500. However, a few weeks later, instead of receiving your refund, you get a letter in the mail informing you that you made a mistake and you will only be receiving $1,100. You’d be upset for sure, but most people probably figure there’s nothing they can do about it.
Actually, that’s not the case. Did you know that if you disagree with the IRS on your return you could ask them to change their decision? That sounds like a futile move, right? Why would they change their mind? There is another option, though. If you really feel that you have been treated unjustly you can take the IRS to the United States tax Court. That doesn’t sound very fun, either, but it is an option.
The good news is that the U.S. Tax Court is not affiliated with the IRS. That means the IRS is in the same boat as you if your case goes to trial. There are several reasons that people decide to challenge the IRS in court, which include:
- The IRS assess a deficiency
- An abatement request
- Request relief from a joint return
- Disagreements on worker classification
- Summons enforcement
- Gross income
- Accuracy-related penalty
While most people would rather not spend any more time dealing with the IRS than they have to, if you do feel you have been treated unfairly by the tax agency, then you don’t have to just sit back and take it.
Back to The Roots | Nikhil Arora
About Nikhil Arora Nikhil Arora co-founded Back to the Roots (Oakland, CA) in 2009 as a senior at UC Berkeley and gave up a potential career in consulting to become an urban mushroom farmer. Nikhil oversees the marketing and product development half of the business and along with his co-founder, Alejandro Velez, has led…
Creating a Better World | Steve Persanti
About Steve Persanti Steve Piersanti is president and publisher of Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., a leading independent publisher of progressive books on current affairs, personal growth, and business and management. Berrett-Koehler pursues its mission of “Creating a World That Works for All” by publishing groundbreaking books that promote positive change at all levels – individual,…
Becoming Involved | Raj Salwan
About Raj Salwan Raj Salwan is a City Councilmember, successful small business owner, husband and proud father. He has given back to the community by serving on boards and volunteering for organizations dedicated to helping seniors, children, workers and employers. Councilmember Salwan has focused his time on the City Council to recruit new businesses…
Our Legacy | Morey Greenstein
About Morey Greenstein Morey Greenstein is the Founding Partner of Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co., LLP. The firm began in 1964 as a sole proprietorship and was among the first accounting practices in the new city of Fremont, California. In 1980, Morey opened a second office in Palo Alto to serve his growing client…