People make real decisions based on what they read here, often under deadline. These are the rules we follow on every page.
Primary sources first
Every rule, deadline, fee, rate, threshold and form number is checked against an official source: IRS.gov pages and news releases, IRS forms, instructions and publications, the Internal Revenue Manual, the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations, the Taxpayer Advocate Service, the U.S. Tax Court and the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. We list the sources we relied on at the end of each page.
Dates and numbers
Figures that change carry their year and source in the text. Examples use stated, hypothetical amounts and are calculated with the same formulas our calculators use. When the IRS's own pages disagree with each other, we say so and use the most recent official document.
Plain English, no alarm
We write for someone holding a confusing letter. We explain terms the first time they appear, give the deadline and the options, and say plainly how worried to be. We avoid scare tactics and never promise outcomes.
Independence
IRSV.com is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. We do not sell tax-resolution services or take payments from firms that do, and we warn readers about "pennies on the dollar" advertising. We mention government programs and nonprofits because they are public resources. Our optional premium templates are clearly labeled, and every free page fully answers its question without them. Advertising, when shown, appears only in labeled spaces and does not influence what we write.
Not advice
We explain how the rules generally work. We do not give individual tax or legal advice, and we tell readers when a situation calls for a professional or for the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
Corrections
If you find an error, please tell us. We correct it, update the page date and, for material changes, note what changed.