National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson, Set to Retire

National Taxpayer Advocate (NAS) Nina Olson, who is scheduled to retire on July 31^st, 2019, addressed Congress for the 37^th and presumably last time in her role. Olson, who has held the role of NAS for 18 years, addressed Congress to review the 2019 tax season and the state of the IRS.Olson, who acts as an advocate for, and voice of taxpayers to the Internal Revenue Service and Congress, stated that the 2019 season went smoothly for most taxpayers. However, those who required in-person assistance and support from the agency experienced longer than normal wait times due (in part) to the government shutdown. In her annual report to Congress, Olson stated that antiquated systems and poor customer service continue to be the agency’s top concerns.

Earlier this month, Congress passed a sweeping bipartisan reform of the IRS, which contained dozens of points of reform including funding to update the IRS’s outmoded information technology infrastructure.

Olson, who developed a reputation as a tell-it-like-it-is straight shooter helped to sell the reform legislation, ruffled many feathers in the past year over her criticisms of the way the IRS has implemented certain provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA.)

Olson’s successor has not been named.