A Great Step Forward in Digital Services

            It’s no secret that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been very slow to adapt to what modern technology makes available. That history makes this week’s announcement all the more impressive. The IRS has now created a feature which allows Taxpayer’s digital control over who has Power of Attorney (POA) to represent them and who can view their tax accounts with a Tax Information Authorization (TIA). This may seem like a simple idea, but it’s also a breakthrough.

          Tax Professionals can also go online and initiate a POA and TIA. These requests are simpler than the forms that needed to be filled out in the past. When they go to the online account of the Taxpayer, all they need to do is apply their digital signature and submit it. This process is sped up dramatically and no longer requires manual filing. It is currently only available for individual Taxpayers, but there will be some additional functionality added in the near future. This is proof that the IRS is trying to adjust to the times we live in.

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