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Taxpayer Advocate’s call to action

January 10, 2007

Get private tax-debt collectors off the streets and out of taxpayers’ hair.

Repeal the alternative minimum tax provisions.

Eliminate or at least simplify income phase-out rules that apply to numerous tax breaks.

Improve services and tax laws that affect military personnel.

Do the same for spouses facing tax problems because of a partner’s or ex’s actions.

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Those are just a few of the recommendations Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson has for the IRS and lawmakers in her annual report to Congress.

I’m tied up this morning on other projects, but later today I’ll look at and comment on these and other items in Olson’s report. I did, though, want to give you a heads-up that the document was out there,
just in case you wanted to peruse it over your lunch break.

Links to the very lengthy full report can be found here. Or you can check out this 14-page executive summary for the highlights.

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The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

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TAX-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments
  • I believe that ALL active duty military personnel should be excepted from filing a state income tax return based on military income. A lot of states waive it, and enough personnel change their residency to a state where they don’t owe taxes. For the rest of them, it creates a tremendous and unnecessary hassle. If they work part time at McD’s or if they’re reservists who normally work and were called up to active duty, make them pay taxes on that income, and tax pensions on the state level but for full-time personnel? Lay off already!
    *This rant was brought to you by the bedraggled wife of a Pennsylvania sailor who has to file blank returns with orders stapled to them “just because.” Absolutely ridiculous.

  • Taxpayer Advocate: Fix the Code and Collections

    National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson urged Congress to repeal the alternative minimum tax, to simplify the tax laws, and to eliminate the outsourcing of tax collections to private debt collection agencies. Olson also called on the IRS to improve its o…

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