Per the IRS Education Provider Standards this course must be COMPLETED by 12/31/2026 to receive credits. NOTE: Go to My Professional Profile in your CCH CPELink account settings to ensure your name, and PTIN number; matches your PTIN card
Most IRS tax problems are solved by working directly with an IRS central campus or a local office. In this course, you will learn how tax professionals can effectively and efficiently work with the IRS to resolve client tax problems. We will cover essential IRS practice elements such as obtaining information from the IRS, representation requirements (including Circular 230), and the tax problems solutions that you will use the most for the five categories of tax problems.
Publication Date: June 2023
Designed For
All tax professionals, licensed and unlicensed, who need to resolve IRS notices, taxpayer problems, and/or have to interact with the IRS on behalf of their clients.
Topics Covered
- IRS enforcement trends and IRS personnel involved in the tax problem solving process
- Who can represent taxpayers before the IRS and IRS authorizations, including Power-of-attorney and Tax Information Authorizations
- Securing taxpayer account information from the IRS, including how to use IRS e-services and interpreting IRS transcripts
- The five primary tax problem categories, and the most often used solutions to resolve the most common tax problems
- Solutions to resolve the most common notices and problems and tips to get the best outcome for your client
- Best practices in resolving issues with the IRS
Learning Objectives
- Recognize the five primary tax problem categories and often used solutions to tax problems
- Describe your responsibilities in representing a taxpayer before the IRS
- Identify how to file and manage authorizations to represent your client
- Recognize how to obtain information from the IRS, including a complete compliance history from the IRS' perspective
- Recognize how to utilize the different types of IRS transcripts to resolve your client's tax issue
- Recognize how to utilize practice tips to get the best outcome for your client with a tax problem
Level
Basic
Instructional Method
Self-Study
NASBA Field of Study
Taxes (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites
None
Advance Preparation
None
Instructor
Jim Buttonow
Jim Buttonow, CPA, CITP, has been a leader in helping taxpayers and tax professionals resolve tax problems with the IRS.
For 19 years, Jim worked at the IRS in various compliance enforcement positions. Since 2006, Jim has been in private practice and tax and accounting software development. Jim consulting practice focuses on the areas of tax controversy and tax administration. Jim led product development and marketing for a successful software company that developed tax problem software for tax professionals and has developed and implemented post-filing tax services to large tax providers, such as H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt. This software is currently being used by tens of thousands of tax professionals and businesses in the United States.
Jim has been an IRS partner in improving IRS operations and post-filing service to taxpayers. Jim served as chairperson of the IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) in 2015 and 2016 during which ETAAC played a central role in promoting the IRS digital strategy to develop transformative technology solutions to systemic challenges in tax administration. Jim also served as the North Carolina representative on the IRS’ Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) from 2020-2022.
Jim regularly speaks on areas of tax administration and problem solving to national associations and has testified before Congress in areas of tax administration. He has also published many articles in industry publications. In his articles, Jim focuses on delivering practical insights, advocating for IRS transparency and efficiency, and proposing innovative large-scale solutions for taxpayers and tax professionals.
Jim currently authors the Tax Problems and Solutions Handbook, a publication aimed at helping tax pros work more effectively in post-filing matters and resolving their clients’ most common tax problems. The book can be found online at TaxProblemsHandbook.com. Jim can be reached at Jim@buttonowcpa.com or at his website at buttonowcpa.com.