From the California Society of Enrolled Agents: IRS Promises Assistance, Understanding to Victims of Bad Economic Times

SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As times continue to be tough, the Internal Revenue Service is promising to take somewhat of a TLC approach to help taxpayers suffering from unemployment or financial difficulties.

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According to the IRS, the steps are part of an ongoing commitment that include a somewhat more liberal policy regarding offers in compromise for struggling taxpayers, a series of Saturday "open houses" offering taxpayers face-to-face opportunities to work out tax problems with the IRS, special outreach to unemployed taxpayers and a dedicated assistance area on the IRS website.

Offers in Compromise (OICs)

Traditionally, an OIC (an IRS agreement to settle the taxpayer's debt for less than the full amount) has rarely been accepted, but the IRS has made its policy a little more flexible by giving its staff leeway to consider a taxpayer's current income and potential for future income when negotiating an OIC (rather than the prior standard of judging an offer based on a taxpayer's earnings in prior years). This is especially beneficial for considering OICs for the unemployed.

Saturday "Open Houses"

Beginning on March 27, the IRS will hold a series of hundreds of Saturday "open houses" to offer additional time for struggling taxpayers to work directly with the IRS in problem resolution. The IRS promises at least three additional Saturdays over the next several weeks, with specific dates, times, and locations to be announced.

The IRS expects that the expanded Saturday hours will help taxpayers get solutions to economic hardship issues they're facing, and answer questions about special tax breaks enacted by Congress in last year's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Tax Center at IRS.gov

Taxpayers who are unemployed or struggling financially can find information on a new Tax Center page at IRS.gov. This online Tax Center offers many new resources, including links to information on tax assistance and relief.

More Help for Taxpayers

Enrolled Agents are licensed by the Department of the Treasury to advise and represent clients specifically in matters of taxation and to help ensure that all deductions and credits are applied accurately and fairly. The California Society of Enrolled Agents represents thousands of EAs statewide, and requires adherence to a Code of Ethics & Rules of Professional Responsibility and additional tax education beyond that required by the government.

You can locate an Enrolled Agent in your area by calling toll free 1-800-TAXPRO-5 or online at www.csea.org. Outside California, the Enrolled Agent referral number is 800/424-4339.

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SOURCE California Society of Enrolled Agents