Taxpayer Advocate Service – Hartford, CT

Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)

Independent Assistance for Taxpayer Issues

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), located in the William R. Cotter Federal Building in Hartford. Its primary mission is to ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and understands their rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. TAS provides free assistance to individuals and businesses who are experiencing financial difficulties, facing immediate threats of adverse action, or have tried to resolve tax issues through normal IRS channels without success. This office serves as a safety net for taxpayers when standard procedures fail or cause undue hardship.

• Financial Hardship: Helps taxpayers whose tax problems are causing financial difficulty for them, their families, or their businesses.
• Systemic Issues: Identifies and works to fix large-scale administrative problems that affect multiple taxpayers.
• Case Advocacy: Assigns a specific advocate to listen to the taxpayer’s problem, guide them through the process, and stay with them until the issue is resolved.
• Taxpayer Rights: Educates the public on their rights to be informed, to pay no more than the correct amount of tax, and to challenge the IRS’s position and be heard.

Accessing Services

Taxpayers seeking assistance from the Hartford TAS office generally need to qualify for help based on financial hardship or systemic delays. While the office is located within the same building as the standard IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, it operates independently. Visitors must navigate federal building security protocols, including metal detectors and bag checks. It is highly recommended to call ahead or file Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance) to initiate a case before visiting in person.