Happy Holidays from the Taxpayer Advocate Service!

Season’s greetings from everyone at the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)!

’Twas the night before tax season, and all through the land, tax professionals were working, each with pen in hand. The forms were all sorted with numbers just right, who says tax accounting can’t thrill and excite? Tax professionals nestled all snug in their chairs, while visions of timely refunds danced through the air. With spreadsheets and calculators, they crunched through the night, and when the figures all balanced, they squealed with delight.

As we dive into the season of twinkling lights, cookies, and “creative” holiday sweaters, I wanted to offer a heartful thank you to all (and to all a good night).

Looking back on the past year, I’m so proud of our TAS Team. It took a lot of coffee (and many pounds of sweets!), but with the help of tax practitioners and the IRS itself, we wrapped up another year of championing taxpayer rights. There’s an old saying that goes, “The days are long but the years are short.” It’s hard for me to believe, but this March will mark my fifth year as the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA).

Reflecting on the last five years, I am filled with holiday joy at all we’ve accomplished. From working with the IRS on identity cases and refund delays, to ensuring that taxpayer services were prioritized, to supporting the good works of our Taxpayer Advocacy Panel and Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs), I’m thankful that we’ve been able to assist over a million taxpayers during my tenure. However, as we continue to push the IRS to improve, we also recognize that we have work to do ourselves, especially in enhancing our own responsiveness and addressing our high inventory of taxpayer cases.

This holiday season, I want to extend special thanks to our taxpayers, tax practitioners, and our partners in the tax industry. For our taxpayers, thank you for trusting us to help you with IRS problems. We have helped millions of people enforce their rights, and we look forward to continuing that work into the new year, advocating for changes that protect your rights and working with the IRS to find solutions that benefit all of us.

To our nation’s tax practitioners, thank you for everything you do. Whether you’re making the American tax system easier to navigate, helping taxpayers claim the credits and refunds they’re eligible for, or sharing with us the pain points you and your clients are experiencing, your work makes a difference. Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

And to members of Congress and your staff, thank you for all you do for taxpayers and tax administration. We are grateful for your ongoing support and look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.

As you sip on eggnog, hot cocoa, or your beverage of choice, I hope you find time to enjoy peace, happiness, and relaxation this holiday season. I wish you, your families, and your loved ones a joyful and restful holiday season!

‘Tis the season and many of us make wishes this time of year, so I thought I would share my request for Santa this holiday season…

Dear Santa,

Last year, you helped spread good cheer to our Low Income Tax Clinic (LITC). Your efforts made a real difference, and I’m grateful for your support of these vital organizations because as you know, they do wonderful work helping people navigate our tax system. This year, I have one little wish for our nation’s taxpayers.

When the new Congress convenes in January, I know members will be faced with tough tax policy decisions in 2025. But Santa, I trust you can remind them about our “Purple Book” of legislative recommendations. Each year, we publish these non-partisan, common sense proposals to protect taxpayer rights and improve the nuts and bolts of tax administration. The recommendations are focused solely on making the filing and payment of taxes as easy and painless as possible for our country’s taxpayers. Can you encourage the tax-writing committees to consider these and other taxpayer rights proposals next year? Wouldn’t it be great if they could put many of these recommendations into a bill?

I still believe in you Santa and your magic to make good things happen.

When you come down my chimney, I’ll be sure to leave a Purple Book out for you to read next to the milk and chocolate chip cookies (including carrots for the reindeer). I know you will like the treats and our proposals to improve our tax system!

As always, Santa, thank you so much for bringing holiday cheer wherever you go (and remember just stuff some draft legislation into the stockings of Congress).

Merry Christmas to you, to Ms. Claus, and to all, a good night!

Erin