{"id":51578,"date":"2022-08-18T12:14:19","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T19:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=51578"},"modified":"2022-08-18T12:14:19","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T19:14:19","slug":"irs-appeals-invites-input-on-enhancing-video-conference-options-for-taxpayers-and-tax-professionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=51578","title":{"rendered":"IRS Appeals invites input on enhancing video conference options for taxpayers and tax professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"

IR-2022-154, Aug. 18, 2022,\u00a0WASHINGTON<\/strong> \u2013 The IRS Independent Office of Appeals invites public input on best practices for conducting video conferences with taxpayers and tax professionals who have cases pending before Appeals.<\/p>\n

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Appeals\u2019 mission is to resolve federal tax disputes without litigation in a way that\u2019s fair and impartial to taxpayers and the government. If a case qualifies for an appeal, the office will review the issues with a fresh, objective perspective and schedule a conference with the taxpayer or their representative.<\/p>\n

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Appeals offers conferences by telephone, video or in person, and can also resolve a taxpayer\u2019s dispute through correspondence. Generally, it\u2019s the taxpayer\u2019s or representative\u2019s choice how they meet with Appeals. The type of conference chosen doesn\u2019t impact Appeals\u2019 decision; employees can successfully resolve taxpayer disputes with the IRS using each type of conference.<\/p>\n

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To meet taxpayer needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Appeals expanded access to video conferences<\/a>. A video conference allows taxpayers to be both seen and heard, and to visually share documents without going to an Appeals office. During the pandemic, Appeals received positive feedback from taxpayers and tax professionals about the availability and utility of video conferences.<\/p>\n

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Video conferences will remain an option in Appeals. With the return of IRS employees to the office this summer, Appeals is pleased to resume in-person conferences along with virtual options to accommodate taxpayers\u2019 preferred choice of conference.<\/p>\n

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Public input sought for permanent video conference guidance<\/strong><\/p>\n

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In March 2021, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Appeals issued interim guidance<\/a> requiring employees to conduct video conferences when requested by taxpayers or their representatives. The guidance describes in detail the employee responsibilities for scheduling and conducting the video conference, procedures for verifying authorized participants and necessary technology prerequisites.<\/p>\n

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The guidance also includes basic recommendations for establishing a professional meeting environment, such as reducing extraneous background distractions, muting audio when not speaking to avoid interruptions and ensuring Appeals employees\u2019 names are displayed for taxpayers.<\/p>\n

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As Appeals prepares to update the Internal Revenue Manual with permanent guidelines for conducting video conferences and updates to the video conferencing platform technology (Microsoft Teams), they welcome input from taxpayers and tax professionals on how video conference technology can best be used in a taxpayer\u2019s Appeals hearing. Appeals has already heard some common themes from taxpayers and tax professionals:<\/p>\n

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