Taxpayer Advocate Service - Currently Not Accepting Cases Until May?

This is actually somewhat accurate, though the situation varies by location. TAS is experiencing backlogs similar to what we saw during the pandemic years, just not quite as severe. They're currently prioritizing cases with financial hardship (eviction risk, utility shutoffs, etc.) and generally deferring less urgent matters until their workload decreases. It's comparable to how the IRS phone lines get overwhelmed during peak filing season - resources are simply stretched thin right now.

OMG this is so frustrating. Been dealing w/ this for weeks. TAS kept saying "call back later" but never gave me a straight answer about when they'd take my case. FWIW I finally got some clarity on my tax situation by using https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript. It showed me exactly why my refund was delayed (had some weird code 570/971 combo) and explained what was happening better than any IRS rep I talked to. Saved me from needing TAS altogether tbh.

I've been looking into this too! From what I've gathered: • TAS is definitely overloaded right now • They're prioritizing hardship cases (medical issues, evictions, etc.) • Some offices are more backed up than others • May seems to be when they expect to catch up Have you tried calling your local TAS office directly instead of the main number? Sometimes that works better.

TAS is definitely limiting new case acceptance right now. They're focusing on economic hardship cases where taxpayers are facing immediate financial harm. Have you considered what category your issue falls into? Is it a refund delay, audit reconsideration, or something else? The acceptance criteria varies based on the type of case.

I tried for exactly 17 days to get through to TAS last month. Called 31 times total. Complete waste of time. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to the IRS directly instead. Was connected to an agent in 22 minutes who actually fixed my issue without needing TAS involvement. Cost me $24.99 but saved me weeks of waiting and frustration. TAS told me they weren't taking new cases until May 15th unless it was a financial hardship situation.

I work with tax clients. TAS is absolutely swamped right now. They're not taking routine cases until May in most offices. You need to demonstrate actual financial hardship - like eviction notice, utility shutoff, medical emergency. Don't waste your time unless you have documentation proving immediate harm. Better to call the regular IRS line and ask for a manager if you have issues that need resolution sooner.

Another option is to contact your Congressional Representative's office. They have dedicated caseworkers who handle IRS issues and can often expedite matters when TAS is backlogged. I've had clients get resolution within 10-14 days through this method, particularly for refund delays and penalty abatements. The process involves signing a privacy release form (Form 2848 or similar) allowing them to inquire on your behalf.

I was in this exact situation in February. According to Internal Revenue Manual 13.1.7.2, TAS is required to accept cases meeting specific criteria regardless of workload. However, in practice, they're currently screening cases very strictly. I documented my financial hardship (impending car repossession due to delayed refund) and referenced the specific IRM section when I called. They initially tried to defer me but ultimately accepted my case when I politely insisted and cited the regulations.

Thanks for sharing that IRM reference! That's really helpful. I'm dealing with a similar situation where my refund delay is causing financial strain, but I wasn't sure about the specific regulations that might apply. Did you have to provide written documentation of your car repossession notice, or was verbal explanation sufficient when you cited the IRM section? I want to make sure I'm prepared with the right approach when I call.