Some very interesting quotes from this article include the following:
- When taxpayers call the IRS, they typically speak with a customer service representative who is trained to respond to general questions. “They are not tax experts,” Harrison said.
- In Olson’s 2010 report to Congress, she (the taxpayer advocate) said the IRS receives “a staggering” 110 million calls a year and was unable to answer more than 25 percent of those calls.
- She said the IRS cannot process on a timely basis more than 11 million pieces of taxpayer correspondence it receives each year. The situation leads to erroneous tax assessments and improper collection actions, Olson said.
- To file a lien or claim against someone’s property, an individual or company must file a lawsuit against the person owing money and go to court. The IRS can file a lien without filing suit or going before a judge.
Read the full article here: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2011/feb/20/tdmony01-liens-levies-against-taxpayers-rise-sharp-ar-854815/
