Taxpayer Advocate Service Office – Albany, NY

Taxpayer Advocate Service: Your Voice at the IRS

Independent IRS Representation

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) maintains a local office in downtown Albany within the Leo W. O’Brien Federal Building. TAS is an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), created to ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and understands their rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Unlike standard IRS customer service, which handles general inquiries, TAS is designed to assist individuals and businesses experiencing financial difficulties or those whose tax problems have not been resolved through normal IRS channels. The Albany office provides personalized service to taxpayers in the Capital Region and upstate New York, assigning a Case Advocate who works with the taxpayer throughout the entire process.

Services and Assistance

The primary function of this office is to help taxpayers navigate the complex tax system. Services include:

• Case Advocacy: Helping taxpayers resolve specific problems such as delayed refunds that cause financial hardship, account adjustments, and issues where the IRS has failed to follow its own procedures.
• Systemic Advocacy: Identifying broad issues that affect many taxpayers and recommending changes to IRS administrative practices or tax laws.
• Taxpayer Bill of Rights: Educating the public on their ten fundamental rights, including the right to be informed, the right to quality service, and the right to retain representation.
• Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITC): While not directly run by TAS, the office can refer eligible individuals to independent clinics that provide free legal representation in tax disputes.

Location and Access

The office is located at 11A Clinton Avenue, Suite 521. As this is a federal facility, visitors must undergo security screening upon entry. The TAS office operates independently from the IRS audit and collection divisions to ensure impartiality. Taxpayers seeking assistance are encouraged to file Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance) to initiate a case, although the office can be contacted by phone for guidance.