Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS, led by the National Taxpayer Advocate, that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayer rights. TAS offers free help to taxpayers when a tax problem is causing a financial difficulty, when they’ve tried and been unable to resolve their issue with the IRS, or when they believe an IRS system, process, or procedure just isn't working as it should. TAS strives to ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and knows and understands their rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. TAS has at least one taxpayer advocate office located in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

While the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is continually working to serve customers in a quality manner, some taxpayers still have difficulty getting solutions to their problems or getting timely and appropriate responses to their inquiries. Per 7803(c) Congress established the office of the National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) and its functions within the IRS to assist these taxpayers. TAS has identified criteria that qualify taxpayers for TAS assistance. The Case Advocate will conduct an independent review of actions that have been taken or need to be taken to resolve the problems taxpayers are experiencing. Employees should not view TAS case criteria as a means of excluding taxpayers from TAS, but rather, as a guide to TAS case acceptance. The criteria under which TAS accepts a case should not govern whether a taxpayer is entitled to relief.

Taxpayers meeting TAS criteria will get priority handling. See IRM 13.1.7, Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) Case Criteria, for additional information.