March 27: More Than 180 Local IRS Offices Open to Help Taxpayers

The IRS announced today that Internal Revenue Service offices will be open, nationwide, on Saturday, March 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, to help taxpayers. The location of participating offices is listed on IRS.gov.

"We are holding these special open houses to give taxpayers who are struggling in these difficult economic times more opportunity to work directly with IRS employees to resolve their tax issues," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman [pictured]. "We will host more than 180 open houses this Saturday."

During the expanded open-house hours on Saturday, taxpayers will be able to address economic hardship issues, make payment arrangements, or get help claiming any of the special tax breaks in last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including the:

* Homebuyer Tax Credit: A refundable credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000 [$4,000 if married filing separately]. A first-time homebuyer is an individual who, with his or her spouse if married, has not owned any other principal residence for three years prior to the date of purchase of the new principal residence for which the credit is being claimed.

* American Opportunity Credit: A federal education credit to offset part of the cost of college under the new American Opportunity Credit. This credit modifies the existing Hope credit for tax years 2009 and 2010, making it available to a broader range of taxpayers. Income guidelines are expanded and required course materials are added to the list of qualified expenses. Many of those eligible will qualify for the maximum annual credit of $2,500 per student.

* Making Work Pay Tax Credit: In 2009 and 2010, the Making Work Pay provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for working individuals, and up to $800 for married taxpayers filing joint returns.

* Expanded Earned Income Tax Credit: There is now a new tax classification for EITC recipients who have three or more children and a higher credit amount -- up to $5,657.

In addition to IRS help, community organizations partner with the IRS to provide free tax preparation. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance [VITA] programs assist people who earned $49,000 or less; and Tax Counseling for the Elderly [TCE] programs assist individuals 60 and over with their 2009 income tax return preparation and electronic filing.

Many of these sites have Saturday hours, while others offer assistance at various times during the week. To locate the partner sites in this area, call 1-800-906-9887.

In addition to the open houses this Saturday, the IRS will open many of its offices on three additional Saturdays in the spring and early summer.

SOURCES: Internal Revenue Service, Recovery.gov, The White House
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