Overview

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) helps taxpayers who are stuck in repeated IRS roadblocks or facing severe financial harm. TAS is free, independent within the IRS, and focuses on resolving cases that ordinary customer-service channels haven’t solved. For official guidance see the IRS TAS page (IRS) and the Taxpayer Advocate site (Office of the Taxpayer Advocate).

Quick checklist: When to contact TAS

  • You’ve tried regular IRS channels for weeks or months with no meaningful progress. (TAS steps in when normal processes fail.)
  • You face or will face significant financial hardship—unable to pay for housing, food, medical care, or to continue employment because of an IRS action.
  • Your refund or important taxpayer action is delayed unreasonably (e.g., many weeks with no status or explanation).
  • You’re the victim of identity theft or the IRS won’t correct your account despite proof.
  • An IRS levy, lien, or enforced collection threatens immediate and serious harm.
  • You’re dealing with a systemic or procedural error affecting many taxpayers.
  • You’ve received a notice you don’t understand and prior contacts didn’t resolve it.

How to request TAS help (step-by-step)

  1. Try normal IRS routes first: call the IRS, use IRS online tools, or work with your assigned IRS employee. TAS usually expects you’ve at least tried standard channels.
  2. Complete Form 911, “Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance,” or call your local TAS office. Form 911 and instructions are available on the IRS website (Form 911).
  3. Provide clear documentation: account transcripts, notices, dates and names of IRS contacts, and evidence of financial hardship.
  4. Explain impact: state what has happened, the harm (financial or otherwise), and what outcome you want.
  5. Keep copies of all communications and ask TAS for a case number. TAS will assign an advocate who will contact you and coordinate with IRS departments.

What TAS can (and can’t) do

Can:

  • Intervene to expedite refunds or stop a wrongful levy.
  • Review complex or systemic issues and help secure corrective IRS action.
  • Help negotiate manageable payment plans in hardship cases.
  • Escalate systemic problems to the National Taxpayer Advocate.

Can’t:

  • Change tax law. TAS can recommend relief but can’t grant changes that require a law change.
  • Represent you in tax court. TAS is an advocate inside the IRS, not a private tax representative.

Documentation checklist (what to gather before contacting TAS)

  • Copies of IRS notices and correspondence.
  • Recent tax returns and payment records.
  • Bank statements, bills, and documents showing financial hardship (eviction notice, medical bills, unemployment records).
  • Notes on prior IRS contacts (dates, names, reference numbers).
  • Proof of identity if identity-theft issues apply.

Real-world examples (brief)

  • A small-business owner with a stalled audit used TAS to get a response and a clear timeline from the IRS. The case closed faster than through regular channels.
  • A taxpayer with identity-theft blocks on their account had the hold removed more quickly after TAS intervened, enabling timely filing and credits.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Waiting too long: if a levy or eviction is imminent, contact TAS immediately.
  • Assuming TAS is only for extreme cases: TAS helps with many issues, including prolonged delays and identity-theft complications.
  • Missing documentation: incomplete records slow TAS work.

Related guides and internal resources

Practical tips from my experience

In my practice I see two patterns: taxpayers call too late or they call with unclear documentation. If you suspect a systemic error or your case creates immediate hardship, file Form 911 and attach concise, chronological proof. Ask TAS for a target date and follow up if you don’t hear back.

Authoritative sources

Disclaimer

This article is educational only and not tax advice. For personalized recommendations, consult a qualified tax professional or contact TAS directly.