Taxes

Senator Lieberman's Constituent Service Center regularly receives the following questions regarding taxes. If your question is not answered here, please send an email so that his staff may address your concern.

• Who should I contact if I have a complaint about a tax bill or tax issue?
• What are the most common types of tax-related complaints received by Senator Lieberman's Constituent Service Center?
• I believe that there is no constitutional basis for the collection of taxes. Can the Constituent Service Center help me avoid payment of income taxes?
• Can Senator Lieberman help me resolve my tax problem?
• What do I need to provide for the Constituent Service Center to review my complaint?
• What are the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service and the DRS Problem Resolution/Taxpayer Advocate Office?

Q: Who should I contact if I have a complaint about a tax bill or tax issue?

The entity collecting the tax - either the federal, state, or local government - should be contacted with specific questions about a tax bill. Information on federal taxes can be found at the Internal Revenue Service website and information on state taxes can be found at the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services website.

For information on local taxes, please consult the blue pages of your phone book and contact the Tax Assessor's office for your municipality.

Q: What are the most common types of tax-related complaints received by Senator Lieberman's Constituent Service Center?

Requests for assistance in presenting Offers in Compromise for delinquent federal taxes, information on how to apply for waivers of interest and penalties on overdue federal taxes, and information on how to expedite a tax refund are common issues addressed by the Constituent Service Center.

The interest applied to delinquent taxes is mandated by law, therefore the Internal Revenue Service cannot waive the collection of interest in individual cases. In extremely rare cases, usually involving documented medical emergencies, the Internal Revenue Service may consider a request for waiver of penalties associated with overdue taxes.

In order to provide taxpayers more information on what they can do to speed up their tax refunds, the IRS has offered comprehensive information on the refund process. Generally, refunds for complete and accurate paper returns can be expected in six to eight weeks, while refunds for electronically filed returns can be expected in about ten days.

Q: I believe that there is no constitutional basis for the collection of taxes. Can the Constituent Service Center help me avoid payment of income taxes?

Senator Lieberman cannot provide assistance to individuals who attempt to avoid their federal or state income tax liability based on constitutional grounds.

Q: Can Senator Lieberman help me resolve my tax problem?

While Senator Lieberman cannot guarantee the outcome of a review of your tax problem, the Constituent Service Center will be happy to review your issue to provide advice and assistance in cutting through red tape wherever possible. However, the Constituent Service Center can provide this service only to Connecticut residents.

Q: What do I need to provide for the Constituent Service Center to review my complaint?

As tax issues concern critical financial information, the Constituent Service Center requires a signed Privacy Act Release form in order to pursue your case. In addition to this form, please include a plain language letter that provides the Constituent Service Center with the following information:

1) when and where the problem arose,
2) whom you have already contacted to try to resolve the problem, and
3) what responses you have received.

Additionally, copies of any correspondence between you and the government agency involved will be critical to providing the fastest possible service.

Please mail this information to:

Constituent Service Center
Office of Senator Lieberman
One Constitution Plaza, 7th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103

Or fax to: (860) 549-8478

If you have any other questions regarding tax issues for the Constituent Service Center, please feel free to send an email.

Q: What are the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service and the DRS Problem Resolution/Taxpayer Advocate Office?

The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS created to provide assistance to taxpayers experiencing economic harm, who require aid in resolving a problem with the IRS. The service is also for taxpayers who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should. If you think the Taxpayer Advocate’s Office might be able to help you, you may visit their site at http://www.irs.gov/advocate/ or you may reach the Advocate’s Office by calling 1-877-777-4778 or (860) 756-4555.

The Connecticut Department of Revenue Service (DRS) Problem Resolution/Taxpayer Advocate Office works to determine resolutions to taxpayer issues in regards to CT state taxes. The advocate works on issues such as nonpayment of credit or refunds, penalty or interest problems, and clarification of correspondence. If you have a tax problem that is not in litigation, under review by the DRS Appellate Division, or subject to enforcement action, the DRS Problem Resolution/Taxpayer Advocate Office may be able to help you. You may contact them at TaxPayer.Advocate@po.state.ct.us, call 860-297-5603, or write to: DRS Problem Resolution/Taxpayer Advocate Office, 25 Sigourney Street, Suite 2, Hartford, CT 06106-5032.