Tax Season Help with the IRS

The 2025 filing season will present challenges for taxpayers, as the IRS continues to work through a backlog of unprocessed returns from previous years and faces increasing demands on its telephone and other assistance services.

The last day for 2024 filing is April 15, 2025. For more 2025 taxpayer help and resources, click HERE.

To allow for the best outcome possible:

Constituents should file electronically as early as possible and opt for direct deposit.
What information do you need to bring with you? Taxpayers should have with them W-2s, Form 1099s, other income statements and any letter received from the IRS on advance CTC payments and Economic Impact Payments.
"Bring your patience." The IRS has indicated that the demand for telephone assistance is expected to be high, so taxpayers should use the online tools on IRS.gov, when possible, for additional information 24 hours a day. IRS by telephone: call 1-800-829-1040. Wait times are longest on Mondays, Tuesdays, during President's Day weekend, and around the filing deadline.
Use trusted and reputable tax preparation professionals, assistance, or software. Taxpayers can use the IRS Free File program for any income level or use the one-on-one tax preparation assistance of IRS volunteer sites. Taxpayer assistance is also available through certain nonprofit organizations, such as United Way and Get Your Refund. Finally, if using e-file, taxpayers should try to find software that helps avoid math errors and guides taxpayers to answers to their questions.

Throughout the filing season, my office and the IRS will continue to provide "Tax Tips" and reminders in plain language to help you file complete and accurate tax returns, get the best possible refund outcome, and pay taxes.

Some examples include:

Please Note:

If you need assistance preparing tax returns please refer to a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly location. VITA sites offer free tax help to qualified individuals who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including:

People who earn $60,000 or less,
Persons with disabilities and
Limited English-speaking taxpayers.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low- and moderate-income, with special attention to those 50 and older. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure their knowledge of revisions to the U.S. tax code.

In-Person: Through Tax-Aide's traditional in-person service, taxes are prepared and filed by IRS - certified tax counselors - with physical distancing measures in place.
Low-Contact: Taxpayers interact with IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteers in one or two short, in-person meetings to exchange documents.
Contact-Free: Taxpayers interact with Tax-Aide's IRS-certified tax counselors online or by phone and exchange documents electronically.
Self-Preparation: Tax-Aide provides taxpayers with free access to software so they can prepare their own taxes. Taxpayers can also request help from a Tax-Aide IRS-certified counselor to coach them through the process through computer screen-sharing.

You can find an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide location in your district and learn more about our program at www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaide.