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Tax Tip: Help for Financially Troubled Taxpayers

As the April 15th income tax return filing deadline approaches, if you're finding yourself facing financial problems that may make it difficult or impossible for you to meet your tax obligations, help is available from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a number of national and state-level organizations that offer free or low-cost assistance for taxpayers.

According to a recent IRS News Release, "in addition to new credits, deductions and exclusions, the IRS is taking steps to help people who owe back taxes." This assistance includes added flexibility for taxpayers who miss payments, secondary review of "Offers in Compromise" on home values, postponement of collection actions, and expedited releases from tax levies. Learn more: IRS Help for Financially Distressed Taxpayers.

Earlier this month, the National Taxpayer Advocate's annual report to Congress urged the IRS to take steps to reduce the burden on financially struggling taxpayers, including making more use of collection alternatives for taxpayers facing financial hardship, and protecting lower-income Social Security recipients from burdensome tax levies.

• IRS Help for Financially Distressed Taxpayers (IRS.gov)
• Taxpayer Assistance: National Resources (FindLaw)
• Taxpayer Assistance: State-Specific Resources (FindLaw)
• Clearer Tax Laws, Help for Struggling Taxpayers Urged (FindLaw's Common Law Blog 1/9/09)
• Sign Up to Receive IRS Tax Tips Via Email (IRS.gov)
• Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Your Federal Taxes (FindLaw)
• Tax Tips for 2009 (IRS.gov)
• Browse FindLaw's Tax Center, Updated for 2009 (FindLaw)

Full post as published by FindLaw's Common Law on January 21, 2009 (boomark / email).