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- schedule 110 minutes
Navigating the IRS Independent Office of Appeals: Achieving Favorable Settlements, Avoiding Litigation
Filing Formal Protests, Appealing Collection Actions, Requesting Collections Due Process Hearings Through Appeals
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Description
An effective vehicle for resolving taxpayer disputes is the IRS Independent Office of Appeals. While many practitioners view the Appeals Office as a last resort measure and focus on trying to reason with a revenue agent, the structure of the Appeals Office and the powers vested in an Appeals Officer may lead to a resolution that cannot be achieved during the examination, and without litigation.
The IRS Independent Office of Appeals is charged with the mission of acting to "resolve tax controversies, without litigation, on a basis which is fair and impartial to both the Government and the taxpayer." As a component of the mission to avoid litigation, Appeals Officers possess broad powers to resolve taxpayer protests and challenges.
The appeals process has several essential steps that CPAs and tax professionals must navigate. For tax advisers representing clients in IRS disputes, a thorough understanding of the policies and procedures of the Appeals Office is essential to resolving tax controversies.
Numerous policy changes have been made that impact taxpayers pursuing formal appeals. Even tax advisers who have experience practicing before the Appeals Office must be aware of these changes to avoid costly mistakes in representing clients before the Appeals Office.
Listen as our experienced panel provides a thoroughly detailed and practical guide to navigating the IRS Appeals Office process to achieve advantageous tax settlements.
Presented By

Mr. Donatello is a Managing Director in the KPMG Washington National Tax (“WNT”) Tax Controversy and Dispute Resolution Services practice, which represents firm clients at all levels of controversy before the IRS. The practice represents clients at the examination and appeals level, using both traditional resolution methods and various alternative dispute resolution techniques such as mediation.

Mr. Drabkin represents tax clients in disputes with the IRS and state revenue authorities, both administratively and in court. Previously in his career, he was a senior IRS trial attorney and a special assistant U.S. attorney on bankruptcy cases involving tax matters.
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BARBRI is a NASBA CPE sponsor and this 110-minute webinar is accredited for 2.0 CPE credits.
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BARBRI is an IRS-approved continuing education provider offering certified courses for Enrolled Agents (EA) and Tax Return Preparers (RTRP).
Date + Time
- event
Thursday, December 14, 2023
- schedule
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
Outline
- Structure of IRS Independent Office of Appeals
- Settlement authority vested in Appeals Officers
- "Litigation hazards" consideration
- Appeal Officers' authority to reopen previously closed cases and assessments
- Process of filing an appeal
- Tactics and strategies for pursuing a claim through the Appeals Office
- Collection appeals and requesting a collection due process hearing or appeal
- Illustrations and examples
Benefits
The panel will discuss these and other critical topics:
- What challenges may a taxpayer bring to the IRS Independent Office of Appeals?
- How does the requirement that an Appeals Officer consider the "hazards of litigation" serve as an advantage to taxpayers and advisers in bringing an appeal?
- When should a taxpayer docket a case before going through the appeals process?
- Using the appeals process to challenge collection actions or address tax assessments that have not yet been challenged
- How do recent policy and procedure changes impact taxpayers and advisers pursuing formal appeals?
NASBA Details
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Determine scenarios where a taxpayer may receive a more favorable settlement or resolution by pursuing an appeal through the IRS Appeals Office
- Recognize how the specific settlement authority and incentives vested in Appeals Officers can be leveraged to a taxpayer's advantage
- Discern critical tactical and strategy considerations in pursuing cases through the IRS Independent Office of Appeals
- Identify critical steps in the appeals process
- Field of Study: Taxes
- Level of Knowledge: Intermediate
- Advance Preparation: None
- Teaching Method: Seminar/Lecture
- Delivery Method: Group-Internet (via computer)
- Attendance Monitoring Method: Attendance is monitored electronically via a participant's PIN and through a series of attendance verification prompts displayed throughout the program
- Prerequisite: Prerequisites: Three years+ business or public firm experience at mid-level within the organization, preparing complex tax forms and schedules; supervisory authority over other preparers/accountants. Knowledge and understanding ofIRS audit procedures, the IRS Appeals Process, Audit Reconsideration Requests and responding to Information Document Requests from the IRS.

BARBRI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of Accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE Credits. Complaints regarding registered sponsons may be submitted to NASBA through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

BARBRI is an IRS-approved continuing education provider offering certified courses for Enrolled Agents (EA) and Tax Return Preparers (RTRP).

BARBRI CE webinars-powered by Strafford-are backed by our 100% unconditional money-back guarantee: If you are not satisfied with any of our products, simply let us know and get a full refund. Contact us at 1-800-926-7926 .
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