MNCPA calls on Congress to address IRS service levels
January 31, 2022 | Geno Fragnito
As a CPA, you have, no doubt, seen a significant reduction in IRS service levels. It’s nearly impossible to connect with a representative to ask questions, tax return processing times have been extended, payments are posted to the wrong account and erroneous late letters are being sent after payments have cleared your clients’ bank accounts. I’m sure there are many more items you can add to the list.
Legislation to provide penalty relief has been introduced in the U.S. Congress, and the MNCPA has asked all Minnesota congressional members to support this very important issue. In addition to the legislation, we have also asked each member to cosign a letter to the U.S. Treasury and IRS asking for immediate action to address uncertainty with IRS operations.
You can also weigh in and let your representative know the issues you, your business and your clients are facing as you try to file tax returns and seek information from the IRS to file correctly.
A sample email follows.
Dear _____,
I am a constituent in your district and request your support for H.R. 5155, the Taxpayer Penalty Protections Act. I also ask that you consider becoming a cosponsor for H.R. 5155.
CPAs are entering our third filing season during a pandemic that has brought IRS service levels to unprecedented lows. Clients are receiving unnecessary, duplicative and erroneous notices because the IRS is backlogged and short staffed. We also are finding it very difficult to get through to a live person to ask for assistance to resolve a problem. With new tax law changes likely again, these issues are only going to get worse.
In order to help taxpayers in your district and reduce the contacts with the IRS as it struggles to provide adequate services, I ask you to support and co-sponsor H.R. 5155, the Taxpayer Penalty Protection Act. This legislation urges the IRS to provide reasonable penalty relief to taxpayers who are caught in a situation they have no control over.
Please help us communicate with Minnesota’s elected representatives to address this very important issue.
Find your representative
Topics: Legislative & Government Affairs, Accounting & Auditing, Taxation-Business
Geno Fragnito
Geno Fragnito is the MNCPA government relations director, advocating on behalf of the CPA profession. His days consist of last-minute meeting changes, building relationships with lawmakers, helping CPAs navigate state government, and putting in more than 15,000 steps per day walking the halls of the Capitol. Geno unwinds with a little golf and traveling with his family. If he weren’t a lobbyist, Geno would perfect his cast and be a professional fisherman. Geno can be reached at 952-885-5550 or gfragnito@mncpa.org.
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