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How to Find Free Tax Services

March 6, 2009 6:23 pm / Leave a comment

The IRS provides free publications, forms and other tax material and information to help taxpayers meet their tax obligations. Free help is available on the IRS Web site, by phone, at local IRS offices and at many community locations.

• IRS.gov You can access free tax information at IRS.gov. At 1040 Central on the Individuals page, you can obtain forms, instructions and publications, learn about IRS e-file, determine your eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, read about the latest tax changes and find answers to Frequently Asked Questions. In the Online Services section, you can access numerous applications to help with your taxes, including Free File, the IRS Withholding Calculator, the Alternative Minimum Tax Assistant, the EITC Assistant and more. You can also check the status of your refund by clicking on Where’s My Refund?

• Telephone Call the IRS Tax Help Line for Individuals, 800-829-1040, to get answers to your federal tax questions. To order free forms, instructions and publications call 800-829-3676. To hear pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics or check on the status of your refund, call 800-829-4477. TTY/TDD users may call 800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to order forms and publications.

• Taxpayer Assistance Centers When you believe your tax issue cannot be handled online or by phone, and you want face-to-face assistance, you can find help at a local Taxpayer Assistance Center. 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.

• Community Resources Free tax preparation is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs in many communities. Volunteer return preparation programs provided through IRS and its partners offer free help in preparing simple tax returns for low- to moderate-income taxpayers. Call 800-906-9887 to find the VITA or TCE site nearest you. You may also call AARP — the largest TCE participant — at 888-227-7669 (888-AARPNOW) or access http://www.aarp.org/ to find the nearest Tax-Aide site.

For more information about services provided by the IRS, review Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:
Free File
AARP Tax-Aide
Forms and Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Small Business/Self-Employed
Contact My Local Office
Publication 910, Guide to Free Tax Services (PDF 21,524K)

IRS Will Not Renew Private Debt Collection Contracts

March 6, 2009 5:59 pm / Leave a comment

WASHINGTON — After conducting an extensive review of the private debt collection program, including the cost effectiveness of the effort, the Internal Revenue Service will not renew its contracts with two private debt collection agencies, the agency announced today.
The IRS determined that the work is best done by IRS employees who have more flexibility handling cases, which is particularly important with many taxpayers currently facing economic hardship.
The current one-year contracts expire Friday.
“After a thorough review of this program, I have decided not to renew the contracts,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “I believe this work is best done by IRS employees, and I believe we have strong support from the Administration and the Congress for increased IRS enforcement resources going forward.”
Shulman also noted that the IRS anticipates hiring over 1,000 new collection personnel in FY 2009. These new employees would give the IRS the flexibility to make assignments based on the areas of greatest need rather than filtering which cases can be worked using contractor resources.
Shulman cited the results of a cost-effectiveness study of the private debt collection program. The study – supported by an independent review — showed that it is reasonable to conclude that when working similar inventory, IRS collection is more cost effective than the contractors.
IRS employees have a range of options available to them in attempting to resolve difficult collection cases that, by law, the private contractors do not have.
“In these challenging economic times, I have asked all IRS employees to go the extra mile to help financially distressed taxpayers,” Shulman said. “IRS employees have more options available to them to resolve difficult collection cases.”
Shulman also said that the decision was in no way based on concerns over the performance of the two contractors affected, who performed according to the terms of the contract throughout.
“I have asked IRS officials to ensure that the ramp down is orderly, and that the IRS perform targeted outreach to any displaced contractor employees that would consider applying for positions at the IRS,” Shulman said.
“By investing in IRS employees to perform this collection work, we can be assured that we have all the tools available for helping taxpayers confronting complex situations,” Shulman said.

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