Neal, Lewis Call for Appointment of Permanent Taxpayer Advocate 

NEAL AND LEWIS CALL FOR APPOINTMENT OF PERMANENT NATIONAL TAXPAYER ADVOCATE

Jan 9, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis (D-GA) released the following statement calling for the immediate appointment of a permanent National Taxpayer Advocate and emphasizing the importance of the position at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS):

“This will be the first filing season the IRS will start without a permanent National Taxpayer Advocate in place in nearly 20 years. The Taxpayer Advocate is a lifeline for frustrated or financially distressed taxpayers who cannot resolve their problems through normal IRS channels. This official plays a critical role advocating for the needs of everyday taxpayers facing challenges navigating our nation's tax system. We urge the immediate appointment of a permanent National Taxpayer Advocate. We expect the new appointee to meet the standards the position demands — the individual must be non-partisan, knowledgeable about the complexities of our tax system, and committed to fighting for and serving all taxpayers.”

The previous National Taxpayer Advocate announced her retirement on March 1, 2019, and stepped down over the summer of last year.