How to Work with the Taxpayer Advocate Office

The Taxpayer Advocate Office helps to resolve tax payer disputes with the IRS. It can also help taxpayers who are dealing with financial hardship because of IRS actions. There's at least one local Taxpayer Advocate Office location in each state. You can also get assistance by telephone or via the Internet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine whether you could benefit from assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate. You may benefit from assistance if your issue has not been resolved in more than 30 days or by the date promised by the IRS. If your finances are suffering because of issues with the IRS, the Taxpayer Advocate may be able to help too.
2. Call 1-877-777-4778, the Taxpayer Advocate's Case Intake Line, to determine your eligibility for assistance.
3. Visit the Taxpayer Advocate Service page on the IRS website (see Resources below). Here, you can get more information about available services and find a local advocate for your state.
4. Download Publication 1546 from the IRS website to get a listing of Taxpayer Advocate Service offices. Download and complete "Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance" (Form 911.)
5. Be prepared to provide your name and contact information, social security number, the year involved and the type of return. You'll need to have a record of your prior attempts to solve the problem, including the names of representatives you've spoken to.
6. Authorize another person to discuss your case if necessary. Download necessary forms from the Taxpayer Advocate's website. Complete "Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative" (Form 2848) to give someone else the right to complete forms on your behalf. Complete "Tax Information Authorization" (Form 8821) to allow another party to view your information.