Tax Guru-Ker$tetter Letter

Thursday, September 04, 2003

IRS workers poor on tax law advice - Getting tax advice from IRS employees has always been a bad idea. Most of them don't have a clue as to the proper application of tax laws and regulations. I am constantly having to teach IRS employees the rules, including a current case with an Appeals Officer in Oklahoma City, who should be embarrassed by his ignorance of how tax returns are supposed to be handled, as well as the objective viewpoint his office is supposed to maintain.

As if receiving erroneous advice from IRS isn't bad enough, they won't even stand up behind what they tell people. Relying on their bad info is no excuse because the IRS's official position is that everyone should know that their employees are ignoramuses, and anyone who relies on their advice is too stupid to feel sorry for. This is why, if you have a tricky tax issue at stake, you are better off paying a tax pro for advice. Then, you would have legal (malpractice) recourse if you were given a bum steer.

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 9/04/2003 08:36:00 PM Send this post: