Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998

The Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, also known as Taxpayer Bill of Rights III , resulted from hearings held by the United States Congress in 1996 and 1997. The Act included numerous amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The bill was passed in the Senate unanimously, and was seen as a major reform of the Internal Revenue Service.

The Act provides that individuals who fail to provide their taxpayer identification numbers are not allowed to take the earned income credit for the year in which the failure occurs. Individuals are allowed to deduct interest expense paid on certain student loans. The exclusion, from income, of gain on the sale of a principal residence (up to $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 on a joint return) is pro rated for certain taxpayers. The use of a continuous levy—a levy attaching to both property held on the date of levy and to property acquired after that date—must be specifically approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) before the levy is effective.

The Act changed the holding period for long term capital gain treatment from eighteen months to twelve months, effective for tax years that begin after December 31, 1997.

The Act mandated the replacement of geographic regional divisions of the IRS with units designed to serve particular categories of taxpayers. The Act also provided a five year term of office for the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The Act also provided that the National Taxpayer Advocate will be appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and will report directly to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The Act created an IRS Oversight Board to ensure, among other things, that taxpayers are properly treated by IRS employees. The IRS was barred from using the term "illegal tax protester".

The Act also provided that certain assessments and levies must have the approval of IRS legal counsel. The Act also provided that the IRS cannot seize a personal residence to satisfy a liability of $5,000 or less. The Act provides for changes in the due process rights afforded to taxpayers after the filing of a notice of Federal tax lien. The IRS was also required by the Act to follow certain guidelines in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The Act also changes certain procedures relating to taxpayers' offers in compromise of tax liabilities and Installment Agreement between taxpayers and the IRS with respect to payment of taxes.

The Act increased, from $10,000 to $50,000, the designated maximum amount that may be at issue in simplified "small tax case" actions filed in the United States Tax Court. The Act also changed certain rules regarding the burden of proof in court proceedings in connection with Federal taxes.