U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) led a bicameral, bipartisan contingent of 100 lawmakers in seeking information on how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is handling its “unprecedented backlog.”
“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,” the lawmakers wrote in separate, but identical March 11 letters sent from their chambers to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig.
For example, there is “continued confusion” for taxpayers about which notices may be unilaterally suspended by the IRS, beyond the notices the IRS has already suspended, among other issues, according to their letter, which was also signed by lawmakers including U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ).
The lawmakers requested the IRS specifically address which notices are statutorily required to be issued within a specific time, and why there are still certain notices that have not yet been suspended.
Additionally, they asked if the IRS is in the process of working to suspend additional notices and, if so, when that work would be completed. And the lawmakers want to know which notices are statutorily required to be issued within a specific time and if the IRS would suspend such statutory notices if it had the legal authority to do so, among other questions.
The letter is supported by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, Padgett Business Services, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the National Association of Tax Professionals, the National Society of Accountants, the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, the National Association of Black Accountants Inc., Latino Tax Pro, the Diverse Organization of Firms Advocacy Committee, the National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants, Prosperity Now, and the National Society of Tax Professionals.