IRS Officers Vs. IRS Agents

Most of us have heard of IRS officers and IRS agents. Unfortunately, however, most of don’t know the differences between IRS officers versus agents. It is important to make this distinction and to understand what an IRS officer VS an IRS agent is. Knowing the differences can help you understand your rights and who has what rights and authorities over you.

IRS Agents

IRS agents are professionals who are hired to conduct tax audits. They perform audits for individuals, trusts, businesses, and non-profit organizations.

While IRS agents conduct audits, they are not required by law to be certified public accountants (CPAs). Some of them may be, but this is not a requirement. These professionals do not collect taxes, so you should never give money to anyone claiming to be an IRS agent.

In fact, all tax payments should be made through verified means, such as online on the official government IRS website or via checks or other funds made payable explicitly through the IRS.

An agent will contact you via mail, provide proof of who he or she is, and conduct an audit or examination when warranted. Be open and honest with these professionals and have the help of a tax professional when you speak with them.

IRS Officers

IRS officers have a much more serious job than IRS agents. These professionals only come in when dealing with a very difficult IRS case. They typically deal with people who have lied or committed some kind of serious tax crime, such as fraud, or with people or organizations that have made it impossible to collect their owed debt or obtain needed information.

Like IRS agents, IRS officers are not required to be accountants . Unfortunately, they can be difficult to deal with and have a lot of power over determining whether or not to accept an offer in compromise, a payment plan, or other means by which you may attempt to remedy a tax debt.

What You Need to Know

Ideally, whether you are dealing with an IRS agent or an IRS officer, you need help from someone who is familiar with tax law, such as a professional accountant or tax adviser.

This is especially important when a case gets to a point where an officer, rather than an agent, is involved.

You can keep things from ever getting to this point by working closely with a qualified tax professional, such as the experts at Mitchell Advisory Company. No matter what you’re dealing with, even if you’re not sure, contact us for help, advice, and guidance.