IRS Holds Saturday Open Houses on 02/26 and 03/26 to Help Taxpayers

Yesterday the IRS announced nearly 100 IRS offices will be open this Saturday, and again on March 26th to provide assistance to taxpayers. Excellent news for taxpayers who desperately need guidance, but strangely enough, work during business hours.

From IRS.gov:

"We are opening our doors on these Saturdays to help taxpayers who may not have a chance to seek assistance during the work week," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "If taxpayers need help preparing their tax returns or have an account question, we encourage them to visit one of our open houses."

On Saturday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, March 26, the IRS offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. IRS staff will be on site to help taxpayers work through issues. More than 35,000 taxpayers attended similar events last year resolving over 95 percent of their issues.

During the open-house hours, IRS personnel will be available to provide services such as tax return preparation, assist with account questions and help with a variety of other issues. IRS offices in 10 locations will also offer free seminars designed to provide information on new tax laws affecting federal tax returns and detail other services provided by the IRS.

In addition to IRS help, community organizations partner with the IRS. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs assist people who earned $49,000 or less, and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs assist individuals age 60 and over with their 2010 income tax return preparation and electronic filing. Many of these sites have Saturday hours while others offer assistance at various times during the week. Taxpayers can call 800-906-9887 to locate partner sites in their area.

Continue reading at IRS.gov...

IRS announces Open House for Individuals and Small Businesses

Do you struggle to make sense of your taxes? Maybe you have questions about a notice you received or need help preparing your tax return? I have good news for you. The IRS recently announced that they will be hosting a special nationwide Open House on Saturday, May 15. Individual taxpayers and small business owners can get help with their tax returns, IRS notices and payments, audits and more. At least one IRS office will be open in every state on May 15th from 9am until 2pm. During the Open House you can speak with an IRS representative either in person or over the phone. Keep in mind though, small business owners with tax issues should probably consult a qualified tax professional.

This is the first in a series of Open House days the IRS has scheduled, with more events planned for June 5 and June 26. If you struggle with back taxes and do not want to speak to the IRS, you can always contact one of my representatives by visiting my website here.

For the location of the nearest IRS Open House this Saturday, click here.

IRS To Open More Than 180 Local IRS Offices This Saturday to Help Taxpayers

The IRS is planning to provide help to taxpayers this year by being open for business this Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—your local time. The location of participating offices is listed here.

IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman says the purpose of the Saturday office hours is to give economically struggling taxpayers the opportunity to work directly with IRS employees to resolve their tax issues via economic hardship status and payment arrangements. Taxpayers will also be able to get help claiming any of the special tax breaks in last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, many that I have gone over previously in my blog, such as, the:

- Homebuyer tax credit - the refundable credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000 ($4,000 if married filing separately). A first-time homebuyer is an individual who, with his or her spouse if married, has not owned any other principal residence for three years prior to the date of purchase of the new principal residence for which the credit is being claimed.

- American Opportunity Credit - a federal education credit to offset part of the cost of college. This credit modifies the existing Hope credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making it available to a broader range of taxpayers. Income guidelines are expanded and required course materials are added to the list of qualified expenses. Many of those eligible will qualify for the maximum annual credit of $2,500 per student.

- Making Work Pay credit - In 2009 and 2010, the Making Work Pay provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for working individuals and up to $800 for married taxpayers filing joint returns.

- Expanded Earned Income Tax Credit - There is now a new tax classification for EITC recipients who have three or more children and a higher credit amount – up to $5,657.

The IRS may hold three additional Saturday office hours this spring and early summer.