Status: Open
Expected Completion Date: TBD
Quarterly Update:
1st Quarter: The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) continued looking for ways to expand our outreach efforts with a focus on reaching the underserved and giving taxpayers the tools to help resolve their issues sooner. Each Local Taxpayer Advocate (LTA) in TAS developed and implemented Outreach Plans including global quarterly outreach goals specific to Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day, Pre-Filing Season Awareness, First-Time Filers, Small Businesses and Self-Employed, International/Taxpayers Living Abroad, and taxpayers with disabilities. We used Microsoft Teams to develop, publish, and deliver outreach materials for First Time Filers and Pre-filing Season Awareness Day. TAS will continue to develop outreach materials for underserved populations and update digital platforms once published.
2nd Quarter: TAS used social media, the TAS website, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams to encourage attendance at problem solving days and outreach and education events. Also, we partnered with community organizations, congressional offices, and new stakeholders to conduct these events to reach underserved populations including the financially distressed, first time filers, the houseless, Seniors, Veterans, new graduates, small business owners, self employed taxpayers, and first time filers. Further, we accommodated taxpayers’ schedules of individuals, small businesses, and the self-employed by partnering with the IRS on Saturday Face-to-Face Taxpayer Experience Days. TAS provided in-person assistance with account issues, answered tax questions, and opened new cases for those taxpayers facing financial hardships, long-term adverse impact, or systemic hardships.