Don't Mess With Taxes

Photo by Kevin Bidwell from Pexels

Need in-person help with a tax issue? Then mark your calendar for Saturday, March 12.

That day, 36 Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Assistance Centers in 24 states and the District of Columbia will be open for in-person guidance.

You don't have to make an appointment. TAC staff will welcome walk-in taxpayers between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on March 12.

Not for filling out 1040s: Before you head out, though, note that the Saturday session is not to help taxpayers fill out their tax returns.

Rather, IRS agents will help with such matters as reconciling 2021 tax credits, such as the Advance Child Tax Credit and Recovery Rebate Credit that were delivered as economic impact payments last year; providing online account assistance; resolving tax identity theft issues; obtaining transcripts and forms; dealing with a tax bill; and handling an audit.

If those are tax areas of concern to you, then check out the following table for the TAC near you that will be open this coming Saturday.

More Saturday TAC openings on the way: This is the second of the IRS' special face-to-face Saturday outreach this year. The first one was in February.

TAC doors, which normally are open only Monday-through-Friday, also will be open on the Saturdays of April 9 and May 14.

"Being open on select Saturdays is offered for people to get the help they need when they need it," said IRS Wage and Investment Division Commissioner and Taxpayer Experience Officer Ken Corbin. "We know that many taxpayers work during the week or have other obligations that make it difficult to get away to take care of their taxes during our routine business hours. We're here to help, and people don't need an appointment during these special Saturday hours."

Be prepared: While you don't have to make an appointment for the Saturday TAC sessions, you do have to be prepared.

First, there's the COVID-19 issue. The IRS follows Centers for Disease Control social distancing guidelines for the coronavirus. That means people are required to wear face masks and social distance at these events.

Also, pandemic concerns could affect services and staff, meaning availability may change without notice. So double check before you head out to your TAC on Saturday. You can use the IRS special locator page, Contact Your Local IRS Office. There you'll also find all services provided at specific TACs.

As for your tax issue, the IRS urges individuals heading to the weekend TAC session to bring the following information:

• Current government-issued photo identification,
• Social Security cards and/or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) 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 for your current mailing address, and, if you want to get your tax refund or make tax payments directly (which Uncle Sam highly recommends), your bank account information.

Appointments for issues that can't be resolved: If there aren't any IRS employees at your TAC's weekend session who specialize in your needed tax service, the IRS says it will provide a referral to someone who can help.

Foreign language interpreters will be available. But if you're deaf or hard of hearing and need a sign language interpreter, that also will require a later meeting. The IRS says it will schedule and arrange for the signing service to be provided.

If you're having some tax matters, I hope a TAC near you is open Saturday.

Judging by the number of TACs that will be open on this second Saturday walk-in of 2022, it appears to be a success. That's why the March 12 date earns today's By the Numbers honor.

You also might find these items of interest:

• Improve the IRS by joining the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
• Don't let wrong IRS EIP or CTC letter info stop you from filing your taxes
• As Capitol Hill focuses on tax season challenges, IRS decides to keep Texas processing center open

Advertisements