Does the IRS Offer Any Assistance to Taxpayers Who Need Help Resolving Tax Problems?
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The goals of the Taxpayer Advocate Service are to reduce the burdens on taxpayers and protect individual and business taxpayer rights. If a taxpayer has experienced economic harm, needs help solving tax problems that have not been taken care of through normal procedures or believes that an IRS process is not working, he or she can use the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Each state has at least one Advocate who works independently of the IRS office in that state. The Taxpayer Advocate seeks to ensure that taxpayer issues are handled in a prompt and fair manner and identify issues that make things more difficult for taxpayers. Advocates are knowledgeable about the tax system and they listen to taxpayers’ problems, help taxpayers understand how to fix the situation and help taxpayers at every stage until the matter is resolved. The Service is free and confidential. A taxpayer is eligible for assista
