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Six times to call a tax professional after April 15

4 min read

4 min read

August 07, 2017

H&R Block


The annual tax filing ritual is not the only time a taxpayer may need the help of a tax professional. According to one survey, 43 percent of taxpayers have to contact the IRS for something other than filing their returns. If a taxpayer doesn’t have the time to work with the IRS or the expertise to interpret the tax code, here are six times a tax professional can help after the April filing deadline:

#1: When a taxpayer’s life changes

Life changes often mean tax changes. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a child moving out and supporting themselves, moving, going back to school, becoming self-employed and many other life events generally will impact a person’s tax situation. If a taxpayer addresses these events as they occur, rather than waiting until April, they may avoid some surprises at tax time. A tax professional may even be able to help them immediately take advantage of their new tax situation.

#2: When a taxpayer needs to estimate taxes

Financial transactions, expiring tax benefits and new tax benefits may all impact a taxpayer’s liability. Using an income tax calculator can help taxpayers budget for their tax bill and change their withholding or make estimated tax payments if needed. It also can help inform other important decisions, like whether to sell a certain stock, when and how to convert a retirement account, when to spend funds in a flexible savings account or how to make charitable donations.

#3: When a taxpayer with Marketplace health insurance faces an unexpected change

Many taxpayers who enrolled for health care through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace receive advance credit payments to help them pay their insurance premiums. The advance is calculated on projected incomes and life situations during enrollment. As life changes, the actual premium tax credit (PTC), which is calculated on the tax return, may be higher or lower than the advance. If the actual PTC is higher, the taxpayer receives the difference as a refundable credit. If the actual PTC is lower, taxpayers will have to repay some or all the excess depending on their income level. Taxpayers do not need to wait until after the end of the year to find out about an unexpected tax bill. A tax professional can help the taxpayer understand when to notify the Marketplace to adjust their advance during the year and diminish the impact of any discrepancy.

#4: When a taxpayer is having trouble paying their taxes

For 2014 returns, 28.7 million taxpayers filed a return with a balance due. A tax professional can help taxpayers figure out their payment options, including signing up for an installment agreement. In some instances, the taxpayer may qualify for an “offer in compromise” with the IRS for less than the total amount of tax due.

#5: When a taxpayer receives an “underreporter” notice

According to government data, as many as one out of six tax returns do not match information statements on file with the IRS. That means the IRS would like to reconcile millions of tax returns with potential underreporting.

There could be many reasons for an underreporter notice, including IRS error. In fact, many underreporter notices are resolved with no change to the return. One out of six individuals will face this potential issue – and even more small businesses. An underreporter notice may not always indicate an error and a professional can help get to the bottom of the issue. Tax professionals can also provide expert help to resolve any penalties resulting from an underreporter inquiry.

#6: When a taxpayer is audited

In an audit, the odds are in favor of the IRS. If a taxpayer gets audited, the IRS may determine the return needs an adjustment. Of the 1.03 million individual audits in fiscal year 2016, the IRS recommended changes to more than 80 percent of the individual returns examined.

When the IRS completes an audit, individual taxpayers could be left with an average recommended bill of almost $19,000 for a field audit and over $6,600 in a mail audit.

Not only can audits be costly without supporting documentation and a thorough knowledge of the tax code and taxpayer rights, but they also can be time consuming. Taxpayers without the time or knowledge required to work with an IRS examiner should seek out a tax professional.

Tax compliance is a year-round obligation. In some cases, half the difficulty is knowing when to seek help.

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