IRS overhauls tax notices

By Staff
The Internal Revenue Service has unveiled redesigned notices as part of an on-going effort to improve the way it corresponds with taxpayers.The nine new notices are among the first to be reviewed and revised.
The agency also will create an office that ensures the effort to improve communications is on-going and permanent.Nine notices will feature the new design format beginning in January. These notices account for approximately two million pieces of correspondence with individuals, businesses and exempt organizations.The new format includes a plain language explanation of the nature of the correspondence, clearly states what action the taxpayer must take and presents a consistent, clean design. In March, the IRS reduced to two from 13 the number of inserts included to tax preparers which is mailed to business taxpayers who underpay their taxes. There are approximately 2.3 million CP 161 notices sent annually.