TAC Service Changes for the 2012 Filing Season

Beginning this year, IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers generally will not accept bulk returns for processing and mailing, particularly when it affects taxpayer services. The IRS hopes to eliminate the practice of taxpayer representatives dropping off completed returns for processing, especially during peak operating periods.

The intent of this policy change is not to limit assistance to taxpayers or their authorized representatives.  Nor is it intended to limit taxpayer representatives’ visits to support their clients, particularly in situations where the taxpayer is facing financial harm or undue hardship, such as delinquent returns or to start or stop an installment agreement. It is designed, primarily, to stop the practice of dropping off returns solely for processing and mailing when the returns can be mailed directly to the IRS processing center. The TACs will accept returns with imminent statute implications, with remittances or other situations where it’s in the best interest of the taxpayer and the Service to accept them.

Local TAC managers have the authority to make exceptions to this policy and will accept drop off returns if, in their opinion, tax preparation and other customer account services are not impacted.

The IRS encourages all tax preparers to take advantage of available e-file options to file returns electronically to avoid the need to have returns accepted and mailed at the local Taxpayer Assistance Center.