The IRS wants to help people who can’t pay their taxes

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is taking steps to help people who can't pay their taxes because of unemployment or other financial problems. The expansion of efforts that began more than a year ago include additional flexibility on "offers in compromise" for struggling taxpayers, a series of Saturday “open houses” offering taxpayers extra opportunities to work out tax problems face to face with the IRS, special outreach with partner groups to unemployed taxpayers and the availability of more information on a special section of the IRS Web site.

“Times are tough for many people, and the IRS wants to do everything it can to help people who have lost their job or face financial strain,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “We continue to make adjustments to key programs and expand ways for people to get help. We’re doing everything we can to help ease the burden on struggling taxpayers.”

The IRS has prepared a number of videos for taxpayers. All videos can be found here. Below, you will find one example: