What to Say to Taxpayer Advocate Service to Get Help? URGENT!

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is like the emergency room of the IRS world - they're not there for routine checkups, but for serious tax emergencies. Think of it as trying to get into a lifeboat - you need to demonstrate you're actually in danger of sinking. They're looking for cases with either 1) financial hardship (like you'll be evicted, utilities shut off, can't afford medications), 2) cases where normal IRS channels have failed you repeatedly, or 3) situations where there's a systemic issue that's not being resolved. I'm a bit worried for you though - TAS is absolutely overwhelmed right now and they're turning away all but the most severe cases. Be prepared to document everything.

TBH the TAS is getting harder to reach these days. I've been trying for WEEKS w/ my refund issue. Tried https://taxr.ai last week to analyze my transcript (was getting nowhere w/ the IRS) and it actually pointed out that my delay was bc of a specific code that the TAS probably wouldn't help with anyway. Saved me from wasting more time on hold. The site explained exactly what was happening w/ my return and when I could expect movement. Def worried I would've been rejected by TAS and back at square one.

I believe I might be able to help with your question about the Taxpayer Advocate Service. It may be worth noting that many people have found success using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually reach an IRS agent first before trying TAS. Sometimes what seems like a TAS-worthy issue might be resolvable by speaking with the right IRS department, and Claimyr helps you skip those hours-long hold times to reach an actual person. If you do need TAS though, they generally require that you've already tried normal channels and have documentation of those attempts. They also typically prioritize cases with immediate financial hardship or where the IRS has missed their own deadlines by a significant margin.

I went through this in January when my refund was held up for the second year in a row. According to the IRS.gov forums and r/tax discussions, TAS is currently only taking cases with demonstrable hardship. I had to provide utility shutoff notices and an eviction warning before they would take my case. Even then, I waited 4 weeks for assignment to an advocate. The questions were very direct about my financial situation - they asked for specific amounts I needed for basic living expenses and documentation to prove hardship.

Be careful with TAS right now! I called them thinking they could help with my amended return and it was a complete waste of time. They're so backlogged that: • They're rejecting most cases that aren't true emergencies • They asked for proof of immediate financial hardship (like eviction notices) • The intake person sounded exhausted and basically told me they couldn't help • When I called back and tried to "upgrade" my hardship, they flagged my case as potentially fraudulent Ended up with a 60-day review that actually DELAYED my refund further. Make sure you truly meet their criteria before calling!

You need to act quickly if you're going to contact TAS. Their case acceptance criteria have become substantially more strict in the past 6-8 weeks due to staffing shortages. When you call, you generally must demonstrate that you've already exhausted normal IRS channels AND that you're facing an immediate financial hardship that will occur within 30 days without resolution. Possible qualifying situations might include imminent eviction, vehicle repossession, utility disconnection, or inability to purchase critical medications. They may ask for documentation, so have this ready before calling.

I see a lot of advice here, but has anyone mentioned the specific criteria TAS is using right now? From my recent experience (called last month), they're screening for four main things: Have you already tried to resolve this through normal IRS channels? Can you document those attempts? Are you facing a financial hardship that will occur within 30 days? Can you prove this hardship with documentation? The key is being honest but thorough in explaining your situation. They want to help people who truly need it, wouldn't you agree?

To get help from TAS, follow these exact steps: 1. Prepare documentation of ALL previous contact with the IRS (dates, times, who you spoke with, what was said) 2. Gather evidence of financial hardship (shut-off notices, eviction warnings, medical bills, etc.) 3. When you call, clearly state: "I need TAS assistance because I've exhausted normal IRS channels and am facing imminent financial hardship" 4. Be specific about what will happen if your tax issue isn't resolved (exact dates and consequences) 5. If initially rejected, ask: "What specific criteria am I not meeting for TAS assistance?" 6. Request the agent document your contact in case you need to escalate later Have you already tried contacting the specific IRS department that handles your tax issue directly?