NTEU Opposes IRS Plan to Close Taxpayer Assistance Centers

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WASHINGTON - The IRS plan to close nine Taxpayer Assistance Centers in six states is a short-sighted decision that will make it harder for taxpayers to get help from IRS professionals in their community and degrade the agency's vital customer service mission.

"Taxpayer Assistance Centers are absolutely essential to the nation's tax system and closing them is the opposite of what the IRS should be doing right now," said Doreen Greenwald, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union. "We urge the IRS and the Treasury Department to reconsider these closures and make sure that individuals and business owners can access the assistance they need to meet their tax obligations."

There are about 360 TACs around the country where taxpayers can schedule an appointment and get free, in-person assistance from trained professionals. The TACs are especially helpful to taxpayers without access to the internet, the elderly, or anyone who prefers to conduct their business in-person. In fiscal year 2023, the IRS had 1.6 million face-to-face meetings with taxpayers at these centers.

With funds provided by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the IRS opened or reopened 54 Taxpayer Assistance Centers, according to the National Taxpayer Advocate , which allowed the agency to add 8,000 more hours of service during the 2023 filing season.

"Reducing the number of customer service centers reverses the progress that the IRS has made when it comes to being accessible and helpful to the American people," Greenwald said.

The IRS informed Congress of the planned closures, as required by federal law. The sites are: Altoona, PA; Wilkes-Barre, PA; Cedar Rapids, IA; Elmira, NY; West Nyack, NY; Owensboro, KY; Paducah, KY; Walnut Creek, CA and Wheeling, WV. The effective date is Nov. 30.

"Without these TACs, the people of these communities will have to drive longer distances, possibly 100 miles or more, in order to meet with the IRS and get their questions answered," Greenwald said. "Whatever savings the agency believes will come from canceled leases is overshadowed by the harm to taxpayers who are simply trying to do the right thing and comply with the ever-changing tax laws."

By recommending that the IRS receive $853 million less for taxpayer services than the president requested for fiscal year 2026, the appropriations bill being considered by House Republicans would further undermine the agency's customer service mission.

NTEU represents employees in 38 federal agencies and offices.