TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE OFFICES REOPENED OR ADDED:

The Internal Revenue Service continues expanding Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the country while also starting a special series of events to help taxpayers located in areas not close to the agency's in-person offices.

In these new Community Assistance Visits, the IRS will set up a temporary Taxpayer Assistance Center to give taxpayers from underserved areas an opportunity to meet face-to-face with IRS assistors. This is part of a larger effort underway to transform the IRS and improve service to taxpayers as part of the new Strategic Operating Plan with funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act.

The IRS conducted the first event last month in Paris, Texas, and has plans to hold similar events in more states. Currently, seven additional locations have been determined in Michigan, Nebraska, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon and New Mexico.

For years, observers have noted that IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers were too limited in number or are too far to help many people who need in-person assistance or who don't have access to online tools.

To address this, the IRS has opened or reopened 35 Taxpayer Assistance Centers since the Inflation Reduction Act funding was approved at locations across the country; a full list is below. In addition, the IRS has hired more than 600 personnel in TACs to provide in-person assistance.

During the Community Assistance Visit, taxpayers can meet one-on-one with IRS assistors to receive these services:

• Account inquiries (help with letters, notices and levies on wages or bank account).
• Adjustments (changes to tax account information or payments).
• Basic tax law assistance (answers related to individual federal tax returns).
• Payment arrangements. Because this is a temporary location, IRS assistors cannot accept payments of any kind. Taxpayers are encouraged to make payments online.
• Authentication of taxpayer identities as part of the Taxpayer Protection Program (TPP).
• Transcripts and tax forms (order only).
• Information on IRS.gov resources and tools.