Don't Mess With Taxes

Photo by Amina Filkins

Lots of folks have taxes on their minds as Tax Day 2023 nears. It's April 18, in case you forgot.

But some people aren't necessarily focusing on their 2022 returns. They're dealing with other worrisome tax matters.

They might be able to get some help this Saturday. That day, the Internal Revenue Service is offering assistance to folks who have unresolved non-filing tax issues.

Fifty IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) will be open on April 8 in 29 states and 2 U.S. territories. These facilities usually are open only on weekdays, and taxpayers must make appointments to receive services.

But this weekend, for the third Saturday this year, taxpayers can simply walk into the designated centers between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time for in-person help.

TAC help options: Since it's almost Tax Day, let me repeat, TAC services on weekdays or on these special walk-in Saturdays DO NOT provide tax return preparation help.

So what kind of assistance is available from TAC employees this coming Saturday?

IRS TAC staff can help individuals who drop by with such things 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 the TACs open this Saturday by checking directly with the offices using IRS.gov's 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, April 8, are part of four special walk-in days this year. The first was in February. The second TAC Saturday opening was in March. The final special walk-in event will be Saturday, May 13.

On each special Saturday opening, specified TACs will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., local time. If one near you is open, the IRS suggests you double check (see the contact link mentioned above) before hearing to the center, as availability may change without notice.

For now, though, the following TACs — 50 total in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico — are scheduled to be open on Saturday, April 8.

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.

Finding help filing: 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
• Tax filing resources for U.S. service members
• 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
• The ol' blog's Monthly Tax Tips: start with January, which has links to the other 11 months (the April page is the latest one with tips since, obviously, that's the current month)

One more TAC Saturday on the calendar: "During these special openings, taxpayers can get walk-in service for in-person help on many tax matters," said IRS Wage and Investment Division Commissioner and Taxpayer Experience Officer Ken Corbin. "These extra weekend hours are to enable the nation's taxpayers to effectively resolve their tax account concerns in ways that are most convenient for them."

I hope you can find the non-filing help you need this coming Saturday.

However, if the TAC nearest you is not open on April 8, or you can't make it, mark your calendar for May 13. You could have one more chance at the last TAC walk-in weekend of the year.

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