If you have struggled to get someone at the IRS to answer your tax questions — either on the phone or at an IRS office — Saturday may be your big chance.
On March 12, Taxpayer Assistance Centers in more than 30 cities will offer face-to-face help without an appointment. These local IRS offices typically are closed on weekends but will be open this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
So, this is an opportunity for those who cannot get to an IRS office during the week — or who have been unsuccessful in getting answers over the phone — to finally have their questions addressed.
Media reports suggest that taxpayers are growing increasingly frustrated in their attempts to get help from the IRS this tax season.
In fact, Politico reports millions of taxpayers still have not received their tax refunds from last year. The publication reports that such woes can be traced to the impact of the pandemic, as well as a decade of budget cuts at the IRS, which also is stuck with out-of-date technology.
March 12 will not be the last time Taxpayer Assistance Centers are open on a weekend this tax season.
If you can’t make it this Saturday, you will have another chance to walk in on April 9 and May 14. Just note the latter date won’t give you enough time to file your 2021 tax return by the due date of April 18 (or April 19 if you live in Massachusetts or Maine).
For a complete list of Taxpayer Assistance Centers that will be open on March 12, April 9 or May 14, including their addresses, visit the “IRS Face-to-Face Saturday Help” webpage.
If you plan to visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center, the IRS recommends you bring some things with you, including:
- Current government-issued photo identification
- Social Security cards or individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) for the members of your household, including your spouse and dependents, if applicable
- Any IRS letters or notices you have received and any related documents
In addition, the IRS may ask for a current mailing address and bank account information, so you can receive payments or refunds by direct deposit.
The IRS warns that tax-preparation services are not available at Taxpayer Assistance Centers. To learn about how you can get free help with that task, check out “6 Ways to Get Your Taxes Done for Free.”
Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.