IRS to help taxpayers with tax issues

The Internal Revenue Service will host a special nationwide open house on Saturday to help small businesses and individuals solve tax problems.

IRS staff will be available on-site or by telephone at about 200 IRS offices nationwide to help taxpayers work through their problems and walk out with solutions, a statement from the agency said.

Three IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers in Kansas and six in Missouri will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to assist taxpayers, IRS spokesman Michael Devine said.

The IRS office locations in Kansas are: 6717 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Overland Park; 120 S.E. Sixth Ave., Topeka; and 271 W. Third St. North, Wichita. IRS office locations in Missouri are: 137 S. Broadview, Cape Girardeau; 111 Corporate Office Drive, Earth City; 5800 E. Bannister Road, Kansas City; 2937 S. Claremont Ave., Springfield; 1211 North Belt Highway St., St. Joseph; and 1222 Spruce St., St. Louis.

"Our goal is to resolve issues on the spot so small businesses and individuals can put any issues they have with the IRS behind them," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in the statement. "If you have a problem filing or paying your taxes or resolving a tough tax issue, we encourage you to come in and work with us."

IRS locations will be equipped to handle issues involving notices and payments, return preparation, audits and a variety of other issues. At a previous IRS open house on March 27, about two-thirds of taxpayers requested and received assistance with payments and notices, and about 88 percent of the taxpayers who attended to request help had their issues resolved the same day, the statement from the agency said.

The open house on Saturday is the first of three events scheduled through the end of June. The next two events are planned for Saturday, June 5 and Saturday, June 26. Details regarding those events will be available soon.

For more information, visit the IRS website, www.IRS.gov.