IRS Bows To Pressure, Keeps Taxpayer Centers Open

After a chorus of dissent from employees, the media and advocacy organizations, the Internal Revenue Service has agreed to keep all of its 400 Taxpayer Assistance Centers open.

The walk-in centers, which provide free tax assistance to consumers, would have reduced the number of centers to just over 330. The agency originally argued that more taxpayers were seeking information in other venues, especially online. After massive pressure, however, the agency and crediting a congressional appropriation, the agency agreed to keep the centers open.

“I appreciate the actions the Congress has taken thus far in securing more resources for the IRS, and particularly that the Senate Appropriations Committee has fully funded the President’s request,” IRS Commissioner Mark Everson said.

The president of the union representing IRS employees, Collen M. Kelley, praised the decision, saying, “This decision reverses a plan that clearly would have been counter-productive,” Kelley said.

A list of the IRS' Taxpayer Assistance Centers is published on the agency's website.

posted by Consumer Help Web Editorial Team at 11:04 AM |