Although many opt to procrastinate until the last possible moment, the 2002 tax filing season is well underway. As Iowa families, employers and small business owners organize and review their record-keeping from the year before, very few seem to look forward to filing their tax returns. Unless you’re anticipating a healthy tax refund, few taxpayers relish the thought of filling out a 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ or any other tax form for that matter.
Most folks seem to throw up their hands and leave the details to professional tax preparers. The reluctance or inability to tackle one’s own tax return can be attributed to the increasingly complex federal tax code and an unwillingness to deal with the Internal Revenue Service.
As a taxpayer and lawmaker who serves on the tax-writing committee in the U.S. Senate, I agree the tax code is burdensome and difficult for average taxpayers to digest. And further compounding the confounding nature of tax laws and mind-numbing regulatory language is the government agency charged with collecting federal taxes. While the IRS likely will never win a popularity contest, it is struggling to overcome the poor service record it has earned with the American public and Congress after years of failing to fulfill even the most basic elements of customer service.
In 1997, I served on the bipartisan National Commission to Restructure the IRS, which after a year spent collecting testimony and information from hundreds of tax practitioners, IRS employees, members of the academic community and average taxpayers, developed practical solutions to help improve customer service at the IRS. Our recommendations included initiatives designed to modernize the agency, improve management of its financial and human resources and change the culture of intimidation too often felt between the taxpaying public and the federal tax collecting agency. Fortunately, our work wasn’t left to collect dust on a shelf in Washington. In 1998, many of the pro-taxpayer reforms developed by our congressionally-chartered commission were enacted into law.
Despite sincere efforts to shape up its ship over the last four years, the IRS still struggles to provide adequate services to taxpayers. In a recent annual report to Congress by the agency’s internal watchdog, the IRS still received low marks for its phone services, the reliability of information regarding direct taxpayer inquiries and confusing written notices to taxpayers.
While I’m disappointed it is taking so long to implement basic service improvements, I will give the IRS an "E" for effort. The IRS is doing a better job in making public basic contact information and offering open office hours, even on weekends. You can also find most IRS forms and publications on their website, www.irs.gov. During tax filing season, Iowa taxpayers with total incomes of $33,000 or less are eligible to receive free personal assistance at six Tax Assistance Centers across the state in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Sioux City, and Waterloo. Electronic filing will be offered at the Davenport and Des Moines sites. Check the following for specific locations and hours.
Cedar Rapids: APAC Building, 425 Second St., SE, Suite 500. Open office hours are Mon., Tues., Thurs., and Fri. from 8-11:30 a.m.; noon-4:30 p.m.; and Wed. 8:30-11:30 a.m.; noon to 4 p.m.
Davenport: Federal Office Building, 131 East Fourth St. Open office hours are Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wed. from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturdays in February only from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Des Moines: 210 Walnut St., room 147. Open office hours are Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wed. from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturdays through April 13 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fort Dodge: USPO Building, 205 South 8th St., second floor. Open office hours are Mon. from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and noon-4:30 p.m.
Sioux City: Lincolnshire Office Park, 3539 Southern Hills Drive, Mon., Tues. from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Wed. from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Waterloo: 210 Tower Park Building 100, Ste. 102, Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. from 8-11:30 a.m.; noon-4:30 p.m.; Wed. from 8:30-11:30 a.m.; noon-4:30 p.m.
Iowans eligible to receive help on their personal tax returns need to remember the following is required: photo ID, Social Security cards, dates of birth for yourself, spouse and dependents; both spouses must be present to sign required forms if choosing to file electronically; bank account and routing transmit numbers if requesting direct deposit for refund; all W-2's, 1099's, and other income documents; and, list of expenses and day care provider’s name, address, and identification number pertaining to qualified daycare expenses for dependents.
Although the landmark tax relief package I steered through Congress last summer didn’t wipe out income taxes, taxpayers can look on the bright side as they file their tax returns. Uncle Sam’s bite is set to get smaller over the next decade. Thanks to the biggest tax relief law in 20 years, Uncle Sam’s bite is set to get smaller over the next decade. In the meantime, I'll continue my crusade in the Senate to lessen the burden on hard-working taxpayers, including measures to simplify the federal tax code and fix the looming hardship posed by the Alternative Minimum Tax. Plus, the taxpaying public can rest assured I'll continue my vigilant oversight over the IRS.