compiled by Tracy Moede, AWC Hamburg
Each and every taxpayer, independent of where they reside, has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. Explore your rights and our obligations to protect them.
- We have the Right to Be Informed
- We have the Right to Quality Service
- We have the Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax
- We have the Right to Challenge the IRS’s Position and Be Heard
- We have the Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum
- We have the Right to Finality
- We have the Right to Privacy
- We have the Right to Confidentiality
- We have the Right to Retain Representation
- We have the Right to A Fair and Just Tax System
The Tax Advocacy Panel (TAP)
All Americans can take advantage of the Tax Advocacy Panel (TAP). The Panel is a Federal Advisory Committee established under the authority of the Department of Treasury. The TAP is a group of 75 citizen volunteers who represent all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and US citizens living abroad. These volunteers listen to taxpayers, identify taxpayers’ issues, and make suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction, conduct outreach to solicit suggestions or ideas from citizens, and serve on project committees working with IRS programs. The representative for overseas Americans is Rebecca Lammers.
Help TAP Improve the IRS
Have a suggestion for improving the IRS and don't know whom to contact? They would like to hear from you. If you have a suggestion to improve the IRS, Speak Up! Input your comments on their website at www.improveirs.org or write Rebecca directly. All issues may be handled anonymously if desired. The IRS has made a commitment to listen to ideas from TAP members. Rebecca also has a blog worth reading covering topics such as How to Call the IRS for Free (or as cheap as possible) from Outside the US, Online communities for Americans Abroad to Talk About Taxes and 2023 Online Tax Preparation Software for Americans Abroad.
