Most Serious Problem #1: Processing and Refund Delays
49Annual Report to Congress 2021
Most Serious Problems
See
TAS Case Advocacy,
infra
.
23 https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-
19-mission-critical-functions-continue
24
See
Transparency and Clarity
:
and Clear Information
,
infra
.
25
See
https://www.irs.gov/refundshttps://
www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-returnhttps://www.irs.gov/newsroom/
irs2goapp
26
See
,
e.g
ATIONAL T ALOGhttps://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.
gov/news/nta-blog-lifecycle-of-a-tax-return/.
27
Average Tax Refund Up 11% In 2021
, Fhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2021/11/01/
.
28
:
,
https://abc11.com/wheres-my-refund-2020-tax-irs-status/11201371/.
29
Id
.
30
See
:
Taxpayers Face Significant Challenges Reaching IRS Representatives
,
infra
.
31
.
32
33
34
three-digit code that defines the most significant issue, policy, or process within the IRS that underlies the cause of the taxpayer’s
problem).
35
in the top ten. Unpostables and Rejects cases involve errors made when filing returns cause the IRS to have to request additional
detect and prevent non-identity theft refund fraud.
See
36 Unpostable tax returns are commonly caused by problems with the taxpayer’s identification number, name, or both. Reject returns
37
For the period between April through September, TAS cases received from congressional offices increased nearly 345 percent from
FY 2019 to FY 2020.
See TAS Case Advocacy
:
,
infra
38
the IRS to have to request additional information from the taxpayer before the IRS is able to process the return.
39
is of the essence, TAS may issue a TAO. The TAO is a powerful statutory tool delegated by the National Taxpayer Advocate to Local
See
40
return (original, amended, or superseding) filed by the taxpayer within 30 days. As of September 30, 2021, the IRS complied
September 30, 2021, the IRS has complied with 34 of the 55 TAOs in an average of 50 days, TAS rescinded five of the TAOs, and 16
remain open.
41
FY 2017 and FY 2021 IRS Snapshot Report.
42
See
,
e.g
ATIONAL
T
ALOG
43 https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-
19-mission-critical-functions-continue
44
updates on IRS.gov.
45