IRS must better manage taxpayer data in order to speed refunds and resolve problems. 800 lines and on-line access must allow taxpayers and practitioners greater options to access and manage accounts. IRS systems must be modernized to spot non-compliance faster. Phase-out calculations required by limits for deductible IRAs, limits on education credits, child credits, elderly credits, personal exemptions, itemized deductions, passive activity losses and credits must be standardized so that taxpayers get the benefits they have been led to believe they qualify for. Technological improvements must fix the problems of the senseless struggle to find the right person at the IRS for information, the faxes that are never received, the unanswered phone calls, the valuable time spent waiting on hold for an IRS rep who then has trouble answering the inquiry.
More forms are capable of being e-filed than ever before.
IRS is providing a liaisons effort to leverage the information systems of practitioners and of businesses to provide information and advice to the public on a variety of issues. The National Taxpayer Advocate Service is in the process of redesigning its Annual Report so that its front-line experience with taxpayers problems in the field at service centers will provide Congress with legislative recommendations, and illustrative examples and substantial discussion and analysis of each recommendation's impact on information and business systems and privacy considerations. O The Taxpayer Advocacy Service is also facing challenges related to delegation of additional authorities, a 4-year training program in the pilot stage, and improving procedures for monitoring and gathering data.