I do a lot of legal research, and I have been researching the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. This movement, led by taxpayer protests and the state of Colorado in 1992, has gained momentum in recent years and many states have joined the bandwagon. There are a lot different ways the states have approached the movement. Many state legislatures have taken the bull by the horn and passed Taxpayer Bill of Rights laws. Other states have allowed their Department of Revenue write their legal policies and procedures when it comes to dealing with the state’s taxpayers. Some of these Bills of Rights are good, and frankly, some of them are, in my opinion, a downright insult to taxpayers. States, when dealing with the issue of our taxpayer rights, should deal with the single issue alone in a professional and non-condescending manner.

The Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) has put out a publication for the purpose of  informing you, the taxpayer, of your rights under Arizona tax laws. According to the publication, “the legislature passed these laws to promote fairness, confidentiality, and consistency of application of the tax laws. Arizona was the first state to have a Taxpayer Bill of Rights in 1986, and the 1994 updated version again puts us in the leadership role of protecting taxpayer rights, while ensuring that all taxpayers pay their fair share of the tax burden.” An overview of the Arizona version of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights goes like this, you have a right to:

• always be treated fairly and with courtesy by our employees;
• personal and financial information will be kept confidential;
• have your questions answered promptly and accurately regardless of the method you contact the DOR;
• have the knowledge the DOR does not evaluate any of their employees by the amount of taxes they collect or assess;
• publications explaining the collection, reporting, and payment of the taxes for the appropriate taxable classifications;
• have refunds promptly delivered to you;
• any interviews regarding deficiency in payment of any tax conducted at your place of business or at the closest Department of Revenue office and held at a reasonable time;
• have only one proposed assessment for any particular tax period for which cannot be increased except in specific limited circumstances;
• a six year statute of limitations on levies for the purpose of collecting taxes; and
• ask for an installment plan to pay the taxes.

Although these rights are not all inclusive, in my opinion, I do believe they are a refreshingly honest attempt at being professional and informative. In Contrast, the federal government has listed its Taxpayer Bill of Rights on its IRS website. It states you, as a taxpayer, have the right to:

• be treated professionally, fairly, promptly, and courteously by IRS employees and Private Collection Agencies contacting you on behalf of the IRS;
• disagree with your tax bill;
• meet with an IRS manager if you disagree with the IRS employee who handled your tax case;
• appeal most IRS collection actions;
• have your case transferred to a different IRS office if you have a valid reason;
• be represented by someone when dealing with IRS matters; and receive a receipt for any payments you make.

The main difference in the two Bill of Rights is that the Federal Bill of Rights explicitly states you have the right to be represented before the taxing entities. Not all things will go right for every taxpayer faced with being audited, so, it is a good idea that you have a tax attorney to represent you. If you live in or around the areas of Phoenix or Mesa, Arizona, and you have been faced with a taxing dilemma, contact us today. We will get you in touch with a tax lawyer in your area who will be able to help you answer all the questions you may have about tax law.

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Dawn Wells was born in Reno, Nevada in 1938. She later went on to become Miss Nevada and then became even more famous as an actress playing Mary Ann Summers on TV’s Gilligan’s Island during its run from 1964 through 1967. She ultimately starred in many TV series and a few lesser known movies.

Today, after a successful career, Wells finds herself owing the state of California more than $80,000 in delinquent taxes. The tax problem surfaced last year after the 71 year old actress filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy in California. After declaring in bankruptcy court $1.5 million in liabilities with only $1.38 million in assets, the state of California filed an $80,520 lien against Wells on March 24 with the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds. That means the former Miss Nevada and actress is in a lot of tax trouble.

You don’t have to be famous, an actress, or a Miss anything to be in tax trouble. If you live in or around the areas of Reno or Las Vegas in the state of Nevada, you are not alone when it comes to having tax problems of one sort or the other because there is more than one type of tax problem.

Taxation within the United States is a complex system and includes a wide array of taxation entities. There are a variety of governments that can tax you. They include: taxation from local governments possibly including one or more of municipal, township, district, and county entities; regional entities such as school, utility, and transit districts; state governments; and the federal government. Each of these government entities have their sets of complex laws, so, it is very hard for the average citizen to go through life without having some type of taxation problem. To complicate matters even further, within each government entity, there can be a variety of different sources to tax you. You can pay tariffs, sales tax, income tax, recessive taxes, social security taxes, property taxes, progressive taxes, unemployment insurance taxes, corporate taxes, excise taxes, estate taxes, transfer taxes, gift taxes, and this list is not conclusive .

For the most part, most of these government entities will try to help you alleviate the mistakes by providing you with educational material through free publications, websites, and call help centers. Most will help you figure the math on what you owe and will work with you in wide variety of ways.

In the event you do have problems, you still have legal rights. The Taxpayers Bill of Rights III was enacted July 22, 1998 for the purpose of protecting your rights as a taxpayer under federal law. Most states also have their own bill of rights when it comes to tax questions, but Nevada is one state that has not passed one as to date. Nevertheless, the federal government has posted its Taxpayer Bill of Rights on its IRS internet website. It states you, as a United States taxpayer, have the right to:

• be treated professionally, fairly, promptly, and courteously by IRS employees and Private Collection Agencies contacting you on behalf of the IRS;
• disagree with your tax bill;
• meet with an IRS manager if you disagree with the IRS employee who handled your tax case;
• appeal most IRS collection actions;
• have your case transferred to a different IRS office if you have a valid reason;
• be represented by someone when dealing with IRS matters; and

receive a receipt for any payments you make.

If you live in or around the areas of Reno or Las Vegas in the state of Nevada, and you are having problems resolving tax issues with any of the previously mentioned government entities, you have the right to be represented by a tax attorney. It is the law, so contact us today, and we will get you in touch with a tax lawyer in your area who will be able to help you answer all the questions you may have about tax law.

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If you live in or around the area of Chicago, Illinois, there is a special program to help you with tax problems that cannot be resolved through normal IRS channels. (This information can be found at www.irs.gov on publication 594). “The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers who are experiencing economic harm, who are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, or who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should. You may be eligible for assistance if you:

• are experiencing economic harm or significant costs which would also include fees for professional representation;
• have experienced a delay of more than 30 days to resolve your tax issue; or
• have not received a response or resolution to the problem by the date promised by the IRS.

According the IRS website, this service is free, confidential, tailored to meet your needs, and available for businesses as well as individuals. There is at least one local taxpayer advocate in each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Because advocates are part of the IRS, they know the tax system and how to navigate it. If you qualify, you will receive personalized service from a knowledgeable advocate who will:

• listen to your problem;
• help you understand what needs to be done to resolve it; and
• stay with you every step of the way until your problem is resolved.

You may contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service by:

• calling their toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TTD 1-800-829-4059;
• writing or calling your local taxpayer advocate whose address and phone number are listed in the government listings in your local telephone directory and in Publication 1546, The Taxpayer Advocate Service of the IRS – How to Get Help With Unresolved Tax Problems;
• filing Form 911, Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order, with the Taxpayer Advocate Service; or
• asking an IRS employee to complete Form 911 on your behalf.”

Obviously, the IRS is making an attempt to overcome the complexities of our tax system. The old days of harsh dealings with most tax payers has been replaced with this modern version of compassionate understanding and education. Contrary to some held views, many of the IRS employees do care about their work and their clients-you. They demonstrate how much they care by donating their time to help you resolve some difficult issues at no additional costs. The service is real and works for many.

Unfortunately, there are some that do not qualify for the program or that the program fails to help. You should try this program before seeking out legal alternatives. In the event you still need legal counseling, you will need to consult with a tax attorney. If you live in or around Chicago, Illinois,  contact us today at and we will get you in touch with a tax lawyer in your area who will be able to help you answer all the questions you may have about tax law.

Need Help with your Unpaid Taxes?

Complete the Free Tax Case Evaluation form below and an experienced Tax Professional will contact you to discuss your situation. Don't Wait -- Get Help Today!