Important Tax Dates and Vital Tax Deadlines on the IRS Tax Calendar

Having a good IRS tax calendar is more than just useful, it can keep you from missing vital tax deadlines and help you avoid tax problems. The current IRS tax calendar contains tax dates for general individual use, employer use, and excise tax use. It is primarily for small businesses and self-employed taxpayers, but also includes general filing deadlines used by full-time employees, as well.

Follow this link to access the 2011 IRS tax calendar.

Tax Calendar Theme

The theme for this year’s tax calendar from the IRS is “Game Plan for Success.” Artwork in the publication features sports like tennis, football, snowboarding, skiing, sailing, horse racing, auto racing, running, sculling,  swimming, baseball, hang-gliding, golfing, bicycling, basketball, and volleyball. All sports are depicted using clip-art inspired people and scenes.

This year’s tax calendar included some nice advice to taxpayers. We are reprinting it here for your convenience (along with our commentary in parenthesis).

Your Rights as a Taxpayer (Excerpted from the 2011 IRS Tax Calendar)

IRS employees will explain and protect your rights as a taxpayer throughout your contact with the IRS (Well, this is what the IRS is supposed to do anyway.). The IRS will not disclose to anyone the information you provide, except as authorized by law. You have the right to know why the IRS is asking for information, how it will be used, and what happens if you do not provide the requested information (Just because you have the right to this information doesn’t mean the IRS employee you are interacting with will disclose it voluntarily. Always ask if you have a question, and remember that the IRS does not have to respond with the whole truth. Be careful if you choose to represent yourself.). Refer to Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer.

Representation

You may represent yourself or, with proper written authorization, have someone else represent you (like Tax Masters). Your representative must be a person allowed to practice before the IRS, such as an attorney, certified public accountant or enrolled agent (Tax Masters employs former IRS Agents, attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents).

Examination (Otherwise Known as an Audit)

The IRS accepts most taxpayers’ returns as filed. If the IRS inquires about your return or selects it for examination, that does not suggest you are dishonest (But it does suggest the IRS thinks you made a mistake and probably owe more taxes than you claimed and paid. Be careful. Never go unrepresented to an IRS audit.). The inquiry or examination may or may not result in more tax; your case may be closed without change or you may receive a refund (We hear the IRS say that a lot, but we don’t see many cases where a taxpayer represents herself in an audit and comes out the other side with a refund. Call Tax Masters for help if you are selected by the IRS for “examination.”).

Appeals and Judicial Review

Publication 5, Your Appeal Rights and How to Prepare a Protest If You Don’t Agree, explains your right to disagree with an examiner’s proposed changes and request the case be reviewed by the IRS Appeals Office. If you do not
wish to use the Appeals process or disagree with the Appeals findings, you may be able to take your case to the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, or U.S. District Court. (As in a criminal case, if you want to go up against the IRS, make sure you take a qualified representative like Tax Masters with you.)

Collection

If you can’t pay all the tax due, you may be able to make monthly installment payments. Penalties and interest for late payment will still apply unless reasonable cause is established. Even if you can’t pay the total tax due, be sure to file all
tax returns timely to avoid a late filing penalty. Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process, explains your rights and responsibilities regarding payment of federal taxes. It describes what to do when you owe taxes and the collection
actions the IRS may take. (If you are in the collections phase, you really need help. Contact a qualified IRS representative like Tax Masters today.)

Help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS, created to assist taxpayers seeking help in resolving tax problems that are not resolved through normal channels, or who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should. To contact TAS, call 877-777-4778 or 800-829-4059 for TTY/TDD or go to
www.irs.gov and search: Taxpayer Advocate Service, to see if you are eligible for assistance. (Many taxpayers will not be “eligible for assistance” from the Taxpayer Advocate Service because the service doesn’t have the budget to help everyone who needs it. If you are not eligible for free help from TAS, call Tax Masters. Even if you are eligible, we suggest you call a qualified representative before settling for assistance from TAS. You tend to get what you pay for.)

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

If you believe your small business has been the subject of excessive or unfair regulatory enforcement or compliance actions from any federal agency (Call Tax Masters if it has anything to do with the IRS. We work way faster than the government.), you may file a complaint with the Small Business Administration’s national ombudsman under the authority of SBREFA. To contact the SBA regarding SBREFA, call 202-205-2417 or e-mail ombudsman@sba.gov.