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The Taxpayer Bill of Rights

In the United States, the concept of having certain rights has been around for a very long time, almost from our country's origins. Yet, when dealing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), people often do not know they have certain rights outlined by Congress (law), by the Internal Revenue Service (policy and procedure), and by the Courts' interpretation of both (case law). The simplest and most essential of these rights are explained to the public in a pamphlet referred to as Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, The Taxpayer Bill of Rights. The full form, along with elaboration on each right by the IRS can be found at: https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights

If you receive an initial notice in the mail from the IRS, a copy of this Publication should be included. If you are contacted in person by an IRS Revenue Agent or Revenue Officer regarding your account, they are required to provide you a copy of Publication 1, and if you have questions, they are required to answer your questions regarding the rights outlined therein. 

To be clear, when an IRS Official provides you with a copy of Publication 1, that act is not the same as reading you "Miranda" rights in a criminal matter. It does not mean you have committed a crime. 

Caveat: Making false statements to an Official during the course of an Official Investigation can get you into trouble, and may be a criminal act. Just because you have not been "read your rights" at the beginning of an interaction with an IRS Official, does not mean your matter cannot become a criminal matter based on the information you provide before, during, or after the interview. 

If you have questions about your rights as a taxpayer, your particular tax or financial situation, or a past and/or future interaction with an IRS Official, please don't hesitate to contact us for an evaluation of your case. We are here to help!

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