The IRS recently announced a massive paperless processing initiative, and by the 2024 tax filing season, taxpayers will have the ability to submit all IRS correspondence electronically.

So, what is the real impact of this and other changes on you and your taxes?

First, here are some of the key aspects of the IRS’s plan:

• For 2024 tax filing, taxpayers have the option to go paperless.
• Taxpayers will be able to digitally submit all correspondence, non-tax forms, and responses to IRS notices.
• The IRS is making at least 20 of the most used non-tax forms available in digital, mobile friendly formats. That includes Form 911, a Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance. The TAS is available to assist taxpayers who are experiencing significant hardship or who have encountered problems with the IRS that have not been resolved through normal channels.
• By 2025, any paper tax returns submitted will be digitized by the IRS, and an additional 150 of the most used non-tax forms will be available in digital, mobile friendly formats.

When it comes to efficiency and speed, this is good news. That’s because it will eliminate errors from IRS workers manually inputting information from paper tax returns and speed up processing and resolution of tax problems. Electronic processing will also make it easier to file on time.

However, more digital tax information also means it’s going to be harder than ever to hide discrepancies in your tax information. You can be sure that the IRS will pick up more abnormalities and mistakes on tax returns.

When the IRS finds more issues with tax returns, that inevitably means the IRS will send out more notices and IRS audit letters.

If you’ve received an IRS audit letter, contact an experienced IRS audit lawyer now.

Why The Law Offices of Alyssa Maloof Whatley is a Paperless Tax Law Firm in Atlanta

Paperless is something we know a lot about at The Law Offices of Alyssa Maloof Whatley. We do everything we can to keep pace with technology to help our clients more effectively and efficiently.

We don’t use paper in our Atlanta-based tax law firm. All of our documents are stored electronically and digitally — you won’t find any filing cabinets full of folders and papers over here!

Now that most everything is being done electronically, we find that digital records save our clients time, money, and effort.

Our Tax Law Firm Uses Technology to Help Clients

At our tax law firm, we believe that technology can help solve your tax issues more quickly.

We recently started using a new software that allows us to upload a bank statement and turn it into a CSV file in a matter of minutes. The software can then slice and dice the information in the bank statement, separating out key elements, such as income, business expenses, etc.

The software can also find and report any fraud or alteration of the documents. You might be surprised how often a taxpayer — even one who come to an IRS tax attorney for help – will provide false bank statements. This technology is similar to what the IRS uses. By using the same tools, we know what to expect and can better defend our clients.

We also use API technology to pull taxpayer records. Essentially, our computer system can log into the government’s computer system and download a taxpayer’s transcripts from the IRS. That means we have a full accounting in a neat and organized chart of what IRS letters have been issued, whether our client is subject to an audit and more.

New Online Course Created by An Experienced Tax Attorney Helps You Solve Simple Tax Matters & Respond to an IRS Letter

This might come as a shock coming from straight an IRS tax lawyer, but the truth is, sometimes a taxpayer with an IRS issue doesn’t actually need to hire a tax lawyer.

Let’s say you received a notice from the IRS trying to collect a small amount of back taxes and you don’t know how to respond. Or maybe you can’t afford to pay the debt and want to figure out what to do.

If you have a small tax matter and need a step-by-step roadmap to guide you, you might need our affordable online course: Tax Rescue 101: DIY Guide to Tax Resolution.

In Tax Rescue 101, Tax Attorney Alyssa Maloof Whatley teaches you exactly what steps to take to solve your own tax problem in a series of easy-to-understand videos.

During the course, a taxpayer is also given the opportunity to upgrade by engaging the tax law firm to pull transcripts and have the financial analysis done for you to make the whole process easier.

There Are Situations When You Really Need an Experienced Tax Lawyer

 Sometimes, you can’t handle your IRS tax issue on your own, with or without an online DIY course.

Here are five situations when you should find a tax lawyer now:

1. If you have received a visit by, or a letter from, a named IRS revenue officer, you need a tax lawyer. An IRS revenue officer gets involved in a larger debt collection matter.
2. If you have been contacted by an IRS revenue agent regarding an examination of your tax return, you need a tax lawyer.
3. If you need to file a challenge in Tax Court, you need an IRS tax lawyer with experience handling cases against the government in court.
4. If you are seeking innocent spouse relief, that is a complex situation that typically requires a tax attorney.
5. If you have been accused of any type of fraud or other willful tax-related crime, contact an IRS tax attorney now.

It will be interesting to see how the IRS paperless processing initiative shakes out. In preparation, taxpayers should be sure to be as vigilant as possible with submitting accurate tax details in all communications.