For the first time in ten years, IRS taxpayer assistance centers are operating at full capacity across the country. Backed by funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS has hired more than 850 new employees to expand in-person taxpayer assistance ahead of the 2024 filing season. The goal is to reduce delays and improve access for taxpayers seeking help with tax return preparation and other services.
The IRS has significantly increased staffing across nearly 270 taxpayer assistance centers, adding more than 850 new employees since 2022. Compared with the previous fiscal year, this represents a net gain of 410 positions dedicated to taxpayer assistance nationwide.
The agency’s hiring drive has focused on two primary roles. Individual Taxpayer Advisory Specialists provide face-to-face guidance with tax return preparation, account issues, and verification of taxpayer identification numbers. Initial Assistance Representatives greet individuals and connect them with the right office services. These employees are expected to reduce delays and improve customer experience at assistance centers.
In addition to staffing, the IRS has expanded operating hours. Nearly 250 centers stay open later on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while many locations offer Saturday sessions during peak filing season. The extended schedule is expected to provide more than 8,000 additional hours of in-person taxpayer assistance compared with last year.
Appointments remain required for all visits. Taxpayers can call 844-545-5640 to schedule a time. To ensure efficient service, they should bring necessary documents such as tax forms, a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number, and income records. The IRS notes that official online pages displaying the locked padlock icon provide secure access for those managing accounts or filing tax returns electronically.
The Inflation Reduction Act has provided the IRS with long-needed funding to rebuild its taxpayer assistance network. For years, taxpayer assistance centers operated with reduced hours, limited staff, and long waits because of repeated budget cuts. Many offices were closed, leaving taxpayers without reliable in-person help for complex tax issues.
The new funding has allowed the IRS to reopen dozens of assistance centers and fully staff nearly 270 offices nationwide. It has also supported investments in IRS modernization, such as secure electronic filing systems, online account access, and digital tools for handling tax return notices. These initiatives are designed to complement in-person taxpayer assistance, giving taxpayers more consistent options to resolve tax return problems.
Free tax support also extends beyond the IRS. Independent organizations, including low-income taxpayer clinics and AARP Tax-Aide sites, continue to help residents prepare and file tax returns at no cost. These programs, often staffed by IRS-certified volunteers, provide additional resources for households that qualify based on income or need.
The return of fully staffed taxpayer assistance centers marks a milestone for the IRS, and officials emphasize that this expansion is central to improving service during the 2024 filing season.
“This is an important priority to provide more service at the IRS for the upcoming filing season,” said Ken Corbin, the IRS Taxpayer Experience Officer and Wage and Investment Commissioner, in a recent announcement. “We are working to have more than 270 walk-in sites properly staffed to provide the help taxpayers need and deserve. This will be the first time in a decade our walk-in sites will be fully staffed.”
IRS representatives also pointed to the broader scope of modernization efforts under the Inflation Reduction Act. By combining new employees at assistance centers with technology upgrades, the agency expects taxpayers to experience shorter waits, easier access to documents, and improved confidence when filing taxes.
A recent Government Accountability Office report noted that IRS taxpayer assistance improved in 2023 compared with the previous year, serving more taxpayers on the phone and in person. Advocacy groups like AARP praised the renewed focus on in-person help, especially for older Americans and families with limited internet access, as they operate AARP Tax-Aide sites with IRS-certified volunteers.
Independent organizations, including low-income taxpayer clinics, echoed this sentiment, noting that consistent IRS taxpayer assistance is essential for households and small businesses trying to resolve tax return issues. These groups emphasized that reliable office hours and access to qualified representatives can prevent delays that previously left many taxpayers waiting weeks or months for support.
Expanding taxpayer assistance centers offers practical benefits for individuals and families preparing a tax return this filing season. Fully staffed offices mean shorter wait times, more in-person support, and easier access to services beyond what’s available online.
Taxpayers can expect extended hours on select weekdays and special Saturday openings at many locations. These changes are designed to accommodate working residents and households who cannot visit during regular office hours.
Beyond IRS taxpayer assistance centers, free tax support remains available through AARP Tax-Aide sites and low-income taxpayer clinics. Staffed by IRS-certified volunteers and supported by independent organizations, these programs help qualifying individuals with tax return preparation at no cost.
For those preferring digital options, electronic filing and secure online accounts remain consistent alternatives. IRS.gov offers appointment scheduling, account management, and document upload tools marked with a locked padlock icon to protect sensitive data such as Social Security numbers. Together, these initiatives provide taxpayers with multiple ways to access assistance and ensure they can file accurately and on time.
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