Come On Over! Ten Ways the IRS Can Help You in Person

Come On Over! Ten Ways the IRS Can Help You in Person 

Taxpayer Assistance Centers allow taxpayers to access good old-fashioned face-to-face assistance from the Internal Revenue Service. No Recorded menus. No hold Music.

Here are 10 reasons visiting an IRS TAC may be a great way for you to get assistance.

1. Face-to-Face Assistance No appointment is necessary - just walk in. However, we may schedule you for a subsequent day appointment when you visit our office. If your circumstances require an appointment, such as for an ongoing tax account problem, you may call a local phone number and leave a message on our recorded system. We will return your call within two business days to schedule an appointment for you for a future date, generally within five business days. Phone numbers are on the IRS Web site, and in local directories under U.S. Government.
2. Multilingual Assistance If someone you know does not speak English, don't let a language barrier prevent them from getting the face-to-face tax assistance they need. Multilingual services are offered to taxpayers in over 150 languages at IRS TACs. These services are provided through bilingual employees and an over-the-phone interpreter.
3. Free Federal Tax Return Preparation Your local TAC will prepare basic tax returns for those who qualify for EITC or those whose income is less than $49,000.
4. Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return Your local TAC can help you prepare Form 2290, accept your payment, and provide the needed receipts for you to take when registering your vehicle.
5. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number If you are not eligible for a Social Security Number but need to file a tax return, bring the completed tax return, Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and certified identification documents to your local TAC to apply for your ITIN and file your return. For more information, see Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens.
6. Alien Clearances Before leaving the United States, most aliens must obtain a certificate of tax compliance. This document, also known as the sailing permit or departure permit, must be secured from the IRS before leaving the U.S. You can get the permit from your local TAC. For more information, see Publication 513, Tax Information for Visitors to the United States.
7. Payments You can make payments at an IRS TAC. Be sure you know the tax period and type of tax the payment covers. If you received a notice from the IRS, be sure to bring it with you.
8. Tax Forms Most IRS forms and many publications are available at your local TAC.
9. Tax Return and Tax Account Transcripts If you need a copy of your tax return for financial aid or to obtain a mortgage, a tax return or tax account transcript will generally meet the requirements of these lending institutions. Visit a TAC for free transcripts, which are generally available for the current and past three years.
10. Current Year Tax Law Issues To receive assistance in determining how the tax law applies to you, such as the new First Time Homebuyer Credit, visit your local TAC.

TAC locations, business hours and an overview of services are available at IRS.gov. Just go to the Individuals tab and click on the link for Contact My Local Office in the left tool bar section under IRS Resources.

Links:

• Contact My Local Office
• Publication 513, Tax Information for Visitors to the United States
• Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return
• Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
• Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens
• Tax Information for Individuals
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center

by irs.gov