Writing Letters to the IRS

Sooner or later, you might have to write a letterpossible.
to the IRS to get some misunderstanding workedSo, what can you include? First, include the
out. Perhaps the agency counted some source ofnumber of notice the IRS sent you. Second, your
income twice or rejected a deduction for somelegal name, address, social security number and
reason. Regardless of the situation, there is a wayyear of the tax return or form in question. Third,
to write a letter and a way not to.a short line or two regarding why the IRS is
The IRS is one of those government agencieswrong. Fourth, what you want the IRS to do
that has far more work than it has employees toabout it. Finally, include copies of any documents
handle it. This has led to a large effort tothat help prove your point.
computerize everything, but letters of dispute byThe attitude of your letter is vitally important.
taxpayers are obviously not an area where aImagine you are going to be the person reading
computer can be used. Instead, some poor soul isthe letter. Would you want to be cussed at...called
sitting there reading the letters and trying to takea buffoon and so on? Probably not. Might you be
the appropriate action.less inclined to help the taxpayer who did that to
As a result, the overriding theme for your letteryou? The IRS takes the official position it doesn't
should be to make it as concise and short asmatter, but human nature says it almost certainly
possible. Get to the point and don't add a bunchdoes! With this in mind, be courteous and end the
of useless information. The IRS employee doesn'tletter with a "thank you."
want to know about your family, job situation orWriting to the IRS is not a chance to vent about
whatever. They are only empowered to deal withyour life. Be unemotional and stick to the point.
the tax issue. As a general rule, the letter shouldDoing so will give you a far better chance to
be no longer than one page and much shorter ifprevail than wailing will.