GA-2024-05, June 18, 2024 WASHINGTON — As part of an expanding effort to reach underserved communities, the Internal Revenue Service announced a special event in Hazlehurst, Georgia to help local taxpayers. During this Community Assistance Visit (CAV), the IRS will set up a temporary Taxpayer Assistance Center to give taxpayers from the Hazlehurst community an opportunity to meet face-to-face with IRS employees. This is part of a larger effort underway to transform the IRS and improve service to taxpayers as part of the new Strategic Operating Plan and funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act. For the Hazlehurst event, the IRS is partnering with the local Jeff Davis County Public Library to host the event at 189 E Jarman Street, Tuesday and Thursday, June 25 and 27, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday, June 26, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hazlehurst, Georgia was selected, in part, based on its distance to the closest permanent IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. The nearest center is about 84 miles away in Savannah, Georgia. To make an appointment during the three-day event, taxpayers may call 615-250-5328. However, taxpayers can also walk in to receive assistance. To get help, taxpayers must bring current state or government issued photo identification and any relevant letters or notices they received from the IRS, plus any requested documents. The IRS also welcomes tax professionals, lawyers and preparers and their clients to work account-related issues. The IRS advises taxpayers with delayed refunds to see if their returns included various credits they may not qualify for or who may have been given bad tax advice through social media channels, including inflating the amount they paid in withholding taxes. Before planning to visit, taxpayers should carefully review this IRS consumer alert for additional information as well as follow the instructions on any IRS letter they received. They can review questions from IRS Publication 5973, Should I visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center? PDF (Spanish PDF) to help determine if they should file an amended return instead of visiting the CAV. Visitors should also review IRS Publication 5895, Who do you trust to prepare your return? PDF that details how reputable professionals sign returns, provide copies and remain available later for follow-up questions. During the Community Assistance Visit, taxpayers can meet one-on-one with IRS employees to receive these services: Account inquiries (help with letters, notices and levies on wages or bank account) Adjustments (changes to tax account information or payments) Basic tax law assistance (answers related to individual federal tax returns) Payment arrangements. Because this is a temporary location, IRS employees cannot accept payments of any kind. Taxpayers are encouraged to make payments online. Authentication of taxpayer identities as part of the Taxpayer Protection Program (TPP) Transcripts and tax forms (order only) Information on IRS.gov resources and tools Professional foreign language interpretation will be available in many languages through an over-the-phone translation service. For deaf or hard of hearing individuals who need sign language interpreter services, IRS employees will schedule appointments for a later date. Alternatively, these individuals can call TTY/TDD 800-829-4059 to make an appointment. Taxpayers who would like to speak with an IRS employee face-to-face but cannot attend the Hazlehurst event, should call 844-545-5640 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., to make an appointment to visit a nearby TAC. Contact your local IRS office has information for IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers.
