Irs Publication 54 - Tax Guide For U.s. Citizens And Resident Aliens Abroad

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Tax Assistance (VITA) program is designed to

Solving problems. You can get

help low-income taxpayers and the Tax Coun-

face-to-face help solving tax problems

seling for the Elderly (TCE) program is designed

every business day in IRS Taxpayer As-

sistance Centers. An employee can ex-

to assist taxpayers age 60 and older with their

plain IRS letters, request adjustments to

tax returns. Many VITA sites offer free electronic

your account, or help you set up a pay-

How To Get

filing and all volunteers will let you know about

ment plan. Call your local Taxpayer Assis-

credits and deductions you may be entitled to

tance Center for an appointment. To find

claim. To find the nearest Vita or TCE site, call

Tax Help

the number, go to

1-800-829-1040.

or look in the

As part of the TCE program, AARP offers the

phone book under United States Govern-

Tax-Aide counseling program. To find the near-

You can get help with unresolved tax issues,

ment, Internal Revenue Service.

est AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 or

order free publications and forms, ask tax ques-

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visit AARP’s website at

TTY/TDD equipment. If you have access

tions, and get information from the IRS in sev-

to TTY/TDD equipment, call

eral ways. By selecting the method that is best

For more information on these programs, go

1-800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to

for you, you will have quick and easy access to

order forms and publications.

and enter keyword “VITA” in the

tax help.

upper right-hand corner.

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TeleTax topics. Call 1-800-829-4477 to lis-

Contacting your Taxpayer Advocate. The

ten to pre-recorded messages covering

Internet. You can access the IRS web-

Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an inde-

various tax topics.

site at

24 hours a day, 7

pendent organization within the IRS whose em-

days a week to:

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ployees assist taxpayers who are experiencing

Refund information. To check the status of

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economic harm, who are seeking help in resolv-

E-file your return. Find out about commer-

your 2008 refund, call 1-800-829-1954

ing tax problems that have not been resolved

during business hours or 1-800-829-4477

cial tax preparation and e-file services

through normal channels, or who believe that an

(automated refund information 24 hours a

available free to eligible taxpayers.

IRS system or procedure is not working as it

day, 7 days a week). Wait at least 72

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Check the status of your 2008 refund. Go

should.

hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt

and click on Where’s My

You can contact the TAS by calling the TAS

of your e-filed return, or 3 to 4 weeks after

Refund. Wait at least 72 hours after the

toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or

mailing a paper return. If you filed Form

IRS acknowledges receipt of your e-filed

TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059 to see if you are eligi-

8379 with your return, wait 14 weeks (11

return, or 3 to 4 weeks after mailing a

ble for assistance. You can also call or write your

weeks if you filed electronically). Have

paper return. If you filed Form 8379 with

local taxpayer advocate, whose phone number

your 2008 tax return available so you can

your return, wait 14 weeks (11 weeks if

and address are listed in your local telephone

provide your social security number, your

you filed electronically). Have your 2008

directory and in Publication 1546, Taxpayer Ad-

filing status, and the exact whole dollar

tax return available so you can provide

vocate Service — Your Voice at the IRS. You

amount of your refund. Refunds are sent

your social security number, your filing

can file Form 911, Request for Taxpayer Advo-

out weekly on Fridays. If you check the

status, and the exact whole dollar amount

cate Service Assistance (And Application for

status of your refund and are not given the

Taxpayer Assistance Order), or ask an IRS em-

of your refund.

date it will be issued, please wait until the

ployee to complete it on your behalf. For more

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next week before checking back.

Download forms, instructions, and publica-

information, go to /advocate.

tions.

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Other refund information. To check the

If you live outside of the United States, you

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status of a prior year refund or amended

can call the Taxpayer Advocate at (787)

Order IRS products online.

return refund, call 1-800-829-1954.

622-8940 in English or (787) 622-8930 in Span-

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Research your tax questions online.

ish. You can contact the Taxpayer Advocate at:

If you are outside the United States, taxpayer

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Search publications online by topic or

Internal Revenue Service

assistance is available at the following U.S Em-

keyword.

Taxpayer Advocate

bassies or consulate.

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P.O. Box 193479

View Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRBs)

San Juan, PR 00919-3479

Frankfurt, Germany

(49) (69)

7535-3834

published in the last few years.

London, England

(44) (20)

7894-0476

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Figure your withholding allowances using

Paris, France

(33)

(1)

4312-2555

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs).

the withholding calculator online at

LITCs are independent organizations that pro-

Please contact the office for times when

/individuals.

vide low income taxpayers with representation

assistance will be available. If you cannot get to

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Determine if Form 6251 must be filed by

in federal tax controversies with the IRS for free

one of these offices, taxpayer assistance is

using our Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

or for a nominal charge. The clinics also provide

available at (215) 516-2000 (not a toll free call).

Assistant.

tax education and outreach for taxpayers who

If you are in a U.S. territory (American Sa-

speak English as a second language. Publica-

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moa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto

tion 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List,

news by email.

Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands) and have a tax

provides information on clinics in your area. It is

question, you can call 1-800-829-1040.

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Get information on starting and operating

available at

or your local IRS office.

Evaluating the quality of our telephone

a small business.

services. To ensure IRS representatives give

Free tax services. To find out what services

are available, get Publication 910, IRS Guide to

accurate, courteous, and professional answers,

Free Tax Services. It contains lists of free tax

we use several methods to evaluate the quality

Phone. Many services are available by

information sources, including publications,

of our telephone services. One method is for a

phone.

services, and free tax education and assistance

second IRS representative to listen in on or

programs. It also has an index of over 100

record random telephone calls. Another is to ask

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Ordering forms, instructions, and publica-

TeleTax topics (recorded tax information) you

some callers to complete a short survey at the

tions. Call 1-800-829-3676 to order cur-

can listen to on your telephone.

end of the call.

rent-year forms, instructions, and

Accessible versions of IRS published prod-

Walk-in. Many products and services

ucts are available on request in a variety of

publications, and prior-year forms and in-

are available on a walk-in basis.

alternative formats for people with disabilities.

structions. You should receive your order

within 10 days.

Free help with your return. Free help in pre-

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paring your return is available nationwide from

Asking tax questions. Call the IRS with

Products. You can walk in to many post

IRS-trained volunteers. The Volunteer Income

your tax questions at 1-800-829-1040.

offices, libraries, and IRS offices to pick up

Chapter 7 How To Get Tax Help

Page 37

Irs Publication 54 - Tax Guide For U.s. Citizens And Resident Aliens Abroad - 2008 Page 37

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