12 Things You Should Know About Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)

Running out of options when trying to deal with the IRS? The Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to help you. Here’s things you should know about this organization. If you are dealing with issues with the IRS, this can be such a frustrating, stressful, and isolating time for you. You may not know how to navigate all the mumble-jumble tax talk that the IRS is spilling out to you.

You may go as far as feel like you need someone who is expert in this field to help you navigate the tax talk and help you better understand what the IRS is telling you.

Of course, money is an issue. Money is always an issue for many Americans. So, going off and hiring a tax professional may not be in your cards just now. So, you go back to feeling like there is no one to help you and your case.

But that’s the thing, if you come from a low-income family chances of you qualifying for the Taxpayer Advocate Service or commonly known as TAS on the IRS.gov website is great. The Taxpayer Advocate Service can give your assistance with tax code and how the IRS works for free.

Today, we are going to talk about what is the Taxpayer Advocate Service, how it can help you with your tax issues, and vital things you should know about the service.

What is TAS?

You are probably wondering what the Taxpayer Advocate Service is. Well, for starters the Taxpayer Advocate Service is going to be a program that is completely independent from the IRS.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is here to help protect your tax rights along with helping business owners, small individuals, and even exempt organizations to find a solution to their tax-related problems that they could not have solved on their own through the standard IRS channels.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service also can pinpoint and offer you resolutions to problems that are not only happening to you but happening to many other taxpayers as well.

How Much Money Does the Taxpayer Advocate Service Cost?

You will be happy to know that the Taxpayer Advocate Service is a free service to use if you qualify.

Yes, you read that right, if you qualify, you will get free experienced tax help from a team that knows the tax code laws inside and out.

Of course, using the Taxpayer Advocate Service should be your last resort. You should at least try and solve the problems directly with the IRS before reaching out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

How to Qualify for the Taxpayer Advocate Service?

First and foremost, if you are having issues with an income tax issue and you have already tried to solve it with the standard IRS channels, then the Taxpayer Advocate Service can help you.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service can work on a solution with the IRS on your behalf. Essentially the Taxpayer Advocate Service will act like a mediator between you and the IRS.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service may work with you if your case entails the following:

  • You’re going through a financial hardship as a result of your tax situation
  • You’re working with many IRS departments and need help keeping everything sorted.
  • The IRS is lacking in their responses to you
  • The IRS is stating they are going to take immediate adverse action
  • The IRS is not comprehending your unique situation
  • The congressional office referred your tax case to the Taxpayer Advocate Service

How to Get Help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service?

You can get help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service by a few different ways. Here’s how you can get in touch with them for your help:

Phone

You can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service via the telephone at the following phone number 1-877-777-4778.

TAS Local Offices

You can of course call or visit your local Taxpayer Advocate Service office. Every state including Puerto Rico Pacific and Caribbean United States territories, and the District of Columba will have a minimum of one Taxpayer Advocate Service office, that you are more than welcome to call or visit.

Mail

If the office is too far away and you hate using the telephone, you can fill out the Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service. You will need to ensure that you fill out ALL sections prior to mailing it or faxing it to your local Taxpayer Advocate Service.

Working with the Taxpayer Advocate Service

If you meet the requirements to work with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, then you will be assigned to an advocate who will help you with your problem at hand.

Your advocate will give you their name, employee number, and phone number where you can reach them. They will review the problems that you are having with your tax account and the IRS and efficiently get them resolved.

Your advocate will even help teach you how to avoid your tax issue in the future.

Things You Should Know About Taxpayer Advocate Service

Now that you know some stuff about the Taxpayer Advocate Service, here are 8 more things you may or may not have known about the organization:

  • The Taxpayer Advocate Service acts as your voice when it comes to the IRS.
  • Taxpayer Advocate Service will help taxpayers and even businesses who are struggling financially.
  • The Taxpayer Advocate Service will help you, if you already went through the standard IRS protocol and haven’t gotten anywhere.
  • The Taxpayer Advocate Service will help you understand your rights as a taxpayer when it comes to the IRS.
  • The Taxpayer Advocate Service will assign one advocate that will work worth with you for the duration of your case.
  • The Taxpayer Advocate Service has a minimum of one local office in every state.
  • The Taxpayer Advocate Service has a toolkit that is a great tool and resource and free to use.
  • The Taxpayer Advocate Service handles problems that may impact a wide number of taxpayers.