Don't Mess With Taxes

UPDATE, March 6, 2022: The IRS has announced the TACs that will be open on March 12. The link to the post with that information is in the "Special in-person Saturday hours" section below. As the April and May TAC Saturdays near, I'll add those follow-up post links there, too.

The Internal Revenue Service is starting to emerge from the crush of COVID-19. No, it hasn't caught up with the pandemic-produced paperwork backlog. Sorry.

However, the tax agency is resuming some face-to-face public outreach that was common in the before times.

The IRS is opening some Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) across the country for walk-ins, instead of appointment-only meetings. 

The new less-structured face-to-face meetings will be available as part of special Saturday hours at select TACs across the country.

Special in-person Saturday hours: TACs, like most IRS operations, were closed during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. When they started seeing taxpayers again, pandemic protocols demanded the meetups be scheduled to limit the number of people in the offices.

For the next few months, though, certain TACs will be open for walk-in visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, specifically on Feb. 12, March 12, April 9, and May 14.

The TACs open on Feb. 12 are in 21 states and the District of Columbia: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Washington, D.C.

You can find the specific TAC addresses in those states and D.C. that are open Saturday, Feb. 12, at the special IRS.gov Saturday TAC Help page. Details on which TACs will be open on Saturdays in March, April, and May will be posted later.

Services provided: You don't have to make an appointment at any of the TACs with upcoming Saturday hours.

You also should be able to get face-to-face help in a variety of tax areas. The IRS says TAC agents will help taxpayers with the following tax matters.

• Claiming 2021 tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and/or reconciling their advance Child Tax Credit payments received last year in order to get the correct remainder this filing season;
• Assistance with online taxpayer accounts;
• Renewing an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN);
• Dealing with tax identity theft;
• Checking on refunds;
• Getting transcripts and tax forms;
• Finding answers to tax law questions; and
• Making tax payments.

Special considerations: Taxpayers who have questions about a tax bill or an IRS audit, or need help resolving a tax problem, will receive assistance from IRS employees specializing in those services, according to the IRS. If TAC representatives trained in those areas are not available, the office will provide the taxpayers with appropriate referrals for the specialized services.

Foreign language interpreters will also be available. Taxpayer Advocate Service employees may also be available to assist with issues that meet certain criteria.

IRS staff will schedule appointments for a later date for deaf or hard of hearing individuals who need sign language interpreter services.

No cash, please: Taxpayers heading to a TAC to pay a tax bill, take note. The offices that will be open during the Saturday hours cannot accept cash. The IRS reps will take only checks or money orders.

People who need to pay their federal taxes with cash can visit IRS.gov/payments to get information on several payment options.

Preparing for TAC tax help: While you can walk into a TAC that's open on Saturday without having to make an appointment, you do need to come prepared.

Regardless of your tax question or problem, you need to bring the following information —

• Current government-issued photo identification,
• Social Security cards for members of their household, including spouse and dependents (if applicable), and
• Any IRS letters or notices received and related documents.

During the visit, IRS staff also may ask you for —

• A current mailing address,
• An email address, and
• Bank account information so that you can receive payments or refunds by direct deposit.

Still taking COVID precautions: While the IRS is moving toward more pre-pandemic taxpayer services, it still is following Centers for Disease Control social distancing guidelines for COVID-19. People are required to wear face masks and social distance at these events.

Also double check with the IRS TAC you plan to visit before you head out. The IRS' online TAC locator tool has details, including phone numbers, for TAC offices.

"The IRS continues to do everything we can to help people during this unprecedented period," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig in a statement announcing the special TAC Saturday hours.

"Opening these assistance centers for special Saturday hours is designed to provide yet another way for people to get the help they need. We encourage people to review the details on these special Saturday hours so we can help serve them. I'm also extremely grateful to our employees who have stepped up to provide this special assistance," added the commissioner.

You also might find these items of interest:

• When will you get your tax refund?
• IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers - with COVID precautions - are re-opening
• Recovery Rebate Credit on 2021 tax return could help get missed COVID stimulus money

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