The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights can be of benefit to have, when you want to deal with the IRS. There is additional information at https://www.irs.gov/uac/About-Publication-1, but see below for quick reference:
– The right to receive professional customer service. All dealings with the IRS should be prompt, courteous, professional and easily understandable. If you do not receive this standard of care, you can request to speak to a supervisor about the lack of professional customer service.
– The right to be informed of every decision the IRS makes relating to your tax accounts, and what you need to do to be in compliance with the tax code by having clear explanations of all documents that come from the IRS as well as all outcomes.
– The right to challenge the IRS’s position and be heard. You can provide additional documentation in response to the IRS’s actions which they must adhere to in a prompt and fair way, and receive a response from the IRS if they do not agree with your objections.
– The right to pay only what is legally owed, including interest and penalties, and the IRS to properly apply for these tax payments.
– The right to privacy and to expect that the audit and all IRS dealings will comply with the law and not be more invasive than necessary including due process rights such as search and seizure protections and where applicable, will provide due process hearing.
– The right to retain a representative of your choice to represent you in any and all dealings with the IRS.
– The right to appeal most IRS decisions including penalties owed. You have the right to receive a fair and impartial hearing if appealing an IRS decision. You have the right to take your case to court in an independent forum, and receive a written response from the Office of Appeals.
– The right to a fair and impartial tax system where facts and circumstances are considered that might affect your ability to pay the IRS including underlying liabilities.
– The right to clear deadlines. For you to know the maximum amount of time to challenge IRS decisions to the maximum amount of time the IRS has to audit a certain tax year or collect monies owed, and for you to know when the audit is over.
– The right to all information given to the IRS to be confidential and not be disclosed unless authorized by you or the law, and the right to take action if this is abused.