Taxpayer Bill of Rights begins with the right to be informed

Source: IRS Tax Tip 2020-07, January 23, 2020

When something happens to a taxpayer's account, that person has the right to be informed about the activity. In fact, this right is one of ten in the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights takes the multiple existing rights in the nation's tax code and groups them into 10 categories for easier use and reference.

The right to be informed leads the list. This means taxpayers have the right to:

• Know what they need to do to comply with the tax laws.
• Have clear explanations of the laws and IRS procedures in all forms, instructions, publications, notices and correspondence.
• Be informed of IRS decisions about their tax accounts.
• Receive clear explanations of the outcomes of IRS decisions.

To make sure taxpayers are informed, the IRS will:

• Include within certain notices any amount of the tax, interest and certain penalties the taxpayer owes.
• Explain why the taxpayer owes any taxes.
• Explain the specific reasons why it denied a refund claim.
• Post information on IRS.gov to help taxpayers understand their IRS notice or letter.
• Send a letter when the agency assesses a tax. That letter must include:
• Information on how the taxpayer can appeal the decision.
• An explanation of the entire process from audit through collection.
• Details on how the Taxpayer Advocate Service can help.
• Send an annual statement to taxpayers who enter into a payment plan. The statement will include how much the taxpayer:
• Owes at the beginning of the year.
• Paid during the year.
• Still owes at the end of the year.
• Make forms and publications available on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can also have hard copies mailed to them by calling 800-829-3676.
• Use social media to provide helpful tax information to a wide audience of taxpayers.