In today’s volatile and unpredictable economic climate, it is essential that you protect your family, your business and yourself by mapping out the proper financial course that will leave you and your loved ones in a sound and secure position in your retirement years and beyond. ​More than ever before in our country’s history it is so vitally important to plan ahead now to be ready for the times when you need to have the financial resources to make it through the lean and hard times. The National Taxpayers’ Advocate Service released its annual report to Congress on January 14, 2015. The big takeaway for taxpayers? Budgetary cuts over the past few years mean taxpayers with questions are going to have a hard time getting answers. Nina Olson wrote: “Taxpayers who need help are not getting it, and tax compliance is likely to suffer over the longer term if these problems are not quickly and decisively addressed,”

What does this mean? Here are some projections for fiscal year 2016: Roughly 50% of calls to the IRS helpline will go unanswered.
Taxpayers who are lucky enough to have their call answered will wait 30 minutes on average.

The IRS will devote less time to answering tax law questions. During filing season, only the most basic questions will be answered. Once filing season has ended, no questions will be answered. This means the roughly 15 million taxpayers who file late will not be able to have their questions answered, even if they go visit an IRS office in person. Assistance for preparing tax returns has been eliminated.

The decline in taxpayer services spells danger for the average American. If you can’t get the IRS to answer your tax questions, be sure to contact us with questions.

Source: Taxpayer Advocate Annual Report News Release and the New York Times.