Taxpayers and tax preparers alike from around the country attend the first live town hall event hosted by the Tax Professionals United for Tax Preparers Coalition

NATP, as a part of the Tax Professionals United for Tax Preparers Coalition, hosted a live town hall event Feb. 8, 2022, that addressed current challenges taxpayers and preparers are facing during the 2022 tax season. The coalition’s activity contributed to the suspension of sending CP-80 notices. Its efforts continue with appeals to the IRS for an improved quality of service overall to the taxpaying public and those who serve them.

Other topics discussed during the live event were:

• The current IRS backlog and other erroneous notices
• Recommendations that can be immediately implemented to provide relief
• Steps the coalition is taking, including conversations on Capitol Hill, to ensure the recommendations are adopted
• Suggestions for practitioners to navigate a challenged tax administration system

Recommendations from the coalition include turning off or pausing automated notices until the IRS catches up, aligning account holds with the time it takes to process penalty abatement requests, offering a reasonable cause penalty waiver, similar to the procedures of first-time abate (FTA) administrative waiver, without affecting the taxpayer’s eligibility for FTA in future tax years, and providing relief from underpayment and late payment penalties for 2020 and 2021.

The IRS has an unprecedented number of unprocessed returns and correspondence compared to years before the pandemic, resulting in the issuance of numerous incorrect and mistargeted notices, liens and levies. Additionally, the IRS is answering a record-low percentage of calls from all hotlines, including the Practitioner Priority Service (PPS) line, which prevents the resolution of straightforward issues.

The coalition believes if its recommendations are implemented, the number of calls to the IRS will decrease, freeing up more staff to address the erroneous notices and unprecedented backlog of unprocessed returns. 

The coalition also addressed the issue of extending the 2022 filing due date but stated at this time there is no support for this action. Coalition members added the announcement needs to come earlier rather than later if it is extended. Members of the coalition also stated they believe the IRS needs to change its mindset to a client-centric view, helping the taxpayers and preparers.

The town hall ended with advice for preparers during tax season such as using e-file whenever possible, taking time for self-care when possible, having everything you need before calling the IRS, giving clients practical information (not providing timelines), staying calm and sharing stories with organizations in the coalition.  

Town hall panelists included:

• Larry Gray, NATP government relations liaison
• Melanie Lauridsen, AICPA
• Thad Inge, NAEA
• Ben Deneka, H&R Block
• Carlos Lopez, Latino Tax Professional Association
• Nina Tross, NSTP
• Jessica Jeane, NSA
• Jina Etienne, NSBCPA
• Stephen Mankowski, NCCPAP
• Salome Tinker, Diverse Organization of Firms Advocacy Committee
• Guylaine Saint Juste, NABA
• Rebecca Thompson, Prosperity Now

The discussion, which was open to all tax professionals, IRS staff, media, Congress members and their staff, was recorded and is now available to watch for those who missed it or need more information.