Sometimes, residents of Texas might have a dispute with the Internal Revenue Service or IRS regarding a decision involving their taxes. When this happens, it’s your right to file an appeal.

What is an IRS appeal?

An IRS appeal is an appeal that you make to the IRS when you disagree with a decision it has made regarding your taxes. Whether a mistake was made or you disagree with a decision and view it as unfair, you have the legal right to file an appeal with the IRS. An appeal can also put a stay on collections if the IRS attempts to automatically deduct funds from your bank account. The appeals division is there to settle disputes between taxpayers and the IRS.

When should you appeal an IRS decision?

The IRS isn’t perfect, which means there might be an occasional error made. If a mistake accounts for something regarding your taxes, you might want to file an appeal to an IRS decision. Certain situations commonly result in an appeal. For example, the IRS might claim that you owe taxes on a previous tax year when you actually overpaid. Or you might actually owe money after a tax audit but disagree with the installment payment offer made by the IRS for making payments.

How long does an IRS appeal take?

After you have filed for an appeal on a decision by the IRS that you disagree with, you should receive a response within 90 days. However, if you don’t receive a reply after 120 days, you should contact the IRS and ask about your appeal. Your case might take anywhere from 90 days to one year to be resolved.

It’s important to file your appeal on time and correctly. If you make any mistakes on it or it gets to the IRS very late, it can cost you the opportunity to have your case heard.