Taxpayer's Advocate Report: Need a Bill of Rights for Taxpayers

What can't the IRS do?

Taxpayers need a bill of rights from the Internal Revenue Service so that they will know what the IRS can – and can't – demand of them, according to the Taxpayer Advocate's 2013 report to Congress. And the IRS needs more funding if it's to offer meaningful help to citizens.

The IRS collects an estimated 85.5% of what is owed, and 98% is collected voluntarily – that is, without the IRS taking special collection efforts through liens and other measures. By and large, people pay the taxes they owe, the report says.