IR-2022-207, November 29, 2022 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the IRS Office of Chief Counsel partnered with the American Bar Association Tax Section to hold its first centralized National Virtual Settlement Event. This four-day event was inspired by the monthlong virtual event held in March 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of four days, an exceptional number of cases were settled: a total of 44. There were at least 59 meetings from October 24 through October 27 that included taxpayers, pro bono attorneys and representatives of the IRS Office of Chief Counsel. In contrast to past Settlement Day events that are generally organized locally for taxpayers with a nearby place of trial, this one was organized at the national level to support unrepresented taxpayers who may not be able to attend a local event. "This groundbreaking event provided an easier process for taxpayers to get their cases settled," said Acting Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "We are proud of the IRS Office of Chief Counsel for being innovative and making it more convenient to those who may not be able to attend a local event." The event took place in close coordination between the Tax Section of the ABA which was celebrating its annual Pro Bono Week, and local Low Income Taxpayer Clinics. More than 75 volunteers from the ABA Tax Section, including numerous Low Income Taxpayer Clinics and private pro bono attorneys, provided free legal support. IRS Revenue Officers and Tax Computations Specialists further supported this event by explaining collection options and generating settlement computations. The National Virtual Settlement event does not replace local or in-person Settlement Day events but instead offers taxpayers greater access to free legal advice and support for their Tax Court cases. Settlement Day events are coordinated efforts to resolve cases in the United States Tax Court by providing taxpayers not represented by counsel the opportunity to receive free tax advice from Low Income Taxpayer Clinics, ABA volunteer attorneys and other pro bono organizations. Taxpayers can also discuss their Tax Court cases and resolve related tax issues with members of the IRS Office of Chief Counsel and IRS Collection. By doing so, unrepresented taxpayers are often able to amicably settle their tax disputes without a trial.
