| The tax code is insanely complex. If you are a | | | | The Large and Mid-Sized Business Management |
| business having a dispute with the IRS, the fast | | | | and Office of Appeals divisions of the IRS |
| track settlement program may present you with | | | | manage the Fast Track program jointly. The |
| an option for resolving it quickly. | | | | program is available for businesses in a dispute |
| IRS Fast Track Settlement Program For | | | | with the business management division. It is |
| Businesses | | | | designed to take place and reach a resolution in |
| Whether an audit or general dispute, dueling with | | | | 120 days, a very fast pace for tax matters. The |
| the IRS is expensive and no fun. The expense | | | | process is voluntary. For any decision to be |
| often arises not from the dispute itself, but from | | | | binding on the business and IRS, both parties must |
| the length of time it takes to resolve it. Simply | | | | agree to a final resolution. In this sense, the |
| put, the IRS tends to move slowly when dealing | | | | process does not replace a trial since the matter |
| with these issues. For businesses, this means the | | | | is not a final decision unless both parties agree. |
| dispute hangs over you for years with all the | | | | Ostensibly, the process is designed to address the |
| accompanying stress and professional expenses | | | | arguments of both parties and enlighten one or |
| you would expect. | | | | the other to weaknesses in their argument and a |
| The IRS has made an attempt to address this | | | | like resolution. |
| issue through the Fast Track Settlement program. | | | | Nearly all disputes are available for the Fast Track |
| Fast Track is an alternative dispute resolution | | | | system. The IRS must approve the use of the |
| service approved and arranged by the IRS. The | | | | dispute, but typically does so. To facilitate your |
| goal of the program is to provide resolutions to | | | | entry into the program, you are required to |
| issues through a dispute administrator while cutting | | | | supply a written statement detailing all of your |
| out the bureaucracy of the agency. From the IRS | | | | specific arguments regarding the dispute. Given |
| side of the equation, Fast Track represents a | | | | the fact you have probably already done so at |
| quicker and more efficient method for dealing | | | | the outset of the dispute, this should not prove to |
| with disputes, a necessity given budget cutbacks. | | | | difficult. |