The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a significant expansion of multilingual support services to ease the burden of tax season for small business owners, self-employed individuals, and entrepreneurs. As the tax filing deadline looms, the IRS is ramping up efforts to provide vital information in languages beyond English, marking a milestone in its ongoing transformation initiative to enhance services for taxpayers.
Commissioner Danny Werfel emphasized the IRS’s commitment to improving accessibility for taxpayers, recognizing the challenges many face in understanding tax obligations. The agency’s strategic plan, bolstered by resources from the Inflation Reduction Act, has enabled the translation of crucial information into seven languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Korean, Haitian Creole, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. This ensures that individuals can access crucial resources directly from the IRS website in the language they are most comfortable with.
One of the standout features of this initiative is the option for taxpayers to designate their preferred language, enabling personalized communication with the IRS. By filing the Schedule LEP along with their tax return, taxpayers can request correspondence in their chosen language, facilitating more transparent communication and understanding of their tax matters.
This multilingual support effort is part of a broader, multiyear endeavor that gained momentum during the pandemic and has been intensified under the current IRS transformation work. The goal is clear: to serve taxpayers from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their location or language proficiency.
Assistance is just a phone call away for those unable to find answers on the IRS website. The IRS helpline offers support in over 350 languages through professional interpreters, ensuring that taxpayers receive the guidance they need in a language they understand. English and Spanish speakers can call 800-829-1040, while speakers of other languages can contact 833-553-9895 for assistance.
Moreover, taxpayers can schedule face-to-face appointments at local Taxpayer Assistance Centers to receive personalized assistance on specific topics. These centers serve as valuable resources for those seeking hands-on support with their tax-related queries.
In addition to these services, the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer qualified individuals free essential tax return preparation. With access to Over the Phone Interpreter (OPI) services, these programs ensure that language barriers do not hinder taxpayers from accessing essential tax assistance.
Overall, the IRS’s expanded multilingual support services represent a significant step in making tax compliance more accessible and manageable for small business owners, self-employed individuals, and entrepreneurs. By breaking down language barriers, the IRS empowers taxpayers to navigate the complexities of the tax system with confidence and ease, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and taxpayer-friendly environment.
Source (IRS News).
