Don't Mess With Taxes

Photo by Tim Mossholder

If you need some help with a tax that's NOT filing your annual return, Internal Revenue Service staff might be able to provide some in-person help this weekend.

The second round of the agency's Saturday walk-in hours at certain Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) nationwide will take place on March 11.

IRS TACs normally are open on weekdays only, and taxpayers must make appointments to receive services.

TAC help options: But during these special Saturday hours, walk-ins are welcome to get the help that the centers usually provide, except for making cash tax payments. If you need to pay a federal tax bill with cash, which out IRS.gov/payments for ways to do that, as well as get information on several other tax payment options.

And let me repeat, TAC services do not include, even with weekday appointments, tax return preparation.

However, IRS TAC staff can help individuals who drop by with such tasks as getting tax forms, setting up or making adjustments to a taxpayer account, resolving procedural inquiries, obtaining an Identity Protection PIN, and establishing up a tax payment plan.

IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) employees also may be available at some TACs to help with some issues.

You can find exactly which services are offered at your nearby TAC by checking the IRS' Contact Your Local Office website.

The IRS Services Guide, also known as IRS Publication 5136, also has more on the agency's overall service options.

When and where: The TAC openings this coming Saturday are part of four special walk-in days this year. The first was in February. TAC Saturday openings also will happen on April 8 and May 13.

On those Saturdays, certain TACs will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., local time. If once near you is open, the IRS suggests you double check before hearing to the center as availability may change without notice.

For now, though, the following TACs — 54 total in 32 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico — will be open on Saturday, March 11:

Special considerations: During the upcoming face-to-face TAC Saturdays, professional foreign language interpretation will be available in many languages through an over-the-phone translation service.

For deaf or hard of hearing individuals who need sign language interpreter services, IRS staff will schedule appointments for a later date. If you need the interpreter service, you also can make an appointment yourself by calling TTY/TDD (800) 829-4059.

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),
• Any IRS letters or notices received and related documents, and
• For identity verification services, two forms of identification and, if filed, a copy of the tax return for the year in question.

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.

And if you are looking for help filing your returns, which (one last time) IRS TACs don't provide, you might find these items of interest:

• It's state tax filing time, too
• VITA & TCE volunteers ready to help filers do their taxes
• Free File 2023 is open, with 7 companies offering 9 no-cost tax prep/e-file options
• Monthly Tax Tips: start with January, which has links to the other 11 months

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