A bipartisan group of Congress members is seeking answers from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on how it is dealing with processing issues and taxpayer return backlogs with the current tax filing season in full swing.
“We appreciate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the unprecedented backlog at the IRS. We remain concerned that the IRS does not have a comprehensive plan to remedy the numerous problems affecting taxpayers, despite the fact that this filing season is already well underway. For example, there is continued confusion about which notices may be unilaterally suspended by the IRS, beyond the notices the IRS has already suspended, among other issues,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig.
It was signed by 100 members of Congress, including U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), members of the Senate Finance Committee that oversees the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Other lawmakers that signed the letter include U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Mike Kelly (R-PA).
This letter is supported by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), Padgett Business Services, National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), National Society of Accountants (NSA), National Conference of CPA Practitioners (NCCPAP), National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA), Latino Tax Pro, Diverse Organization of Firms Advocacy Committee, National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants (NSBCPA), Prosperity Now, and National Society of Tax Professionals (NSTP).
“The AICPA stands in support of the letter, signed by 100 members of Congress, to Commissioner Rettig urging him to respond to questions and concerns and offer clarification on notice suspensions. The tax season is well underway, and we hope the IRS will heed the widespread calls for meaningful relief and take the necessary steps to ease taxpayers’ burden and frustration,” AICPA President & CEO Barry Melancon said.
The legislators requested responses to their questions by March 14.