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IRS Pauses Some Automated Notices

February 11, 2022

by Mike Nelson

On February 9, the IRS announced that it would suspend notices and letters for unfiled returns and unpaid balances. The IRS said it was doing this in recognition of the fact that the returns may have, in fact, been filed but not yet processed due to the agency’s significant backlog.

This move comes after recent pressure from a bipartisan group of legislators and the Taxpayer Relief Coalition which includes the AICPA and others.

The AICPA released the following statement in response to this announcement.

“We are encouraged by recent actions taken by the IRS to suspend more automated notices and pleased to know that the IRS is listening and acting. Taxpayers, practitioners and IRS will benefit from reducing unnecessary contact, such as erroneous notices or warnings of levy, and provide much-needed relief during an already stressful and overwhelming tax season. This is a welcome step. We continue to urge the IRS to consider additional recommendations for relief by providing longer account holds, easier reasonable cause relief and expanded payment safe harbors until the IRS can significantly and meaningfully reduce their processing backlog.”

The WSCPA is continuing conversations with our state’s Congressional delegation to advocate for these further changes.

Mike Nelson is WSCPA Manager of Government Affairs. You can contact Mike via email here.