Houston office offers closest tax assistance

Tax preparation for the 2006 tax year is available at IRS taxpayer assistance centers, the nearest of which is at 8701 S. Gessner in Houston. That office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., and may be reached at (281) 721- 7021.

That center provides a wide variety of services, including:

• Federal tax return preparation if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit or your income is less than $40,000;

• Accepting cash payments;

• Account inquiries: help with letters, notices and levies on your wages or bank account;

• Adjustments: changes to tax account information or payments;

• Alien clearances (Sailing Permits);

• Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order (ATAO);

• Copies of tax returns and transcripts: verifiable extreme hardships only, such as victims of hurricanes, medical emergencies, etc.;

• Help with preparing Form 2290, the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax;

• Multilingual assistance; • Payments/payment arrangements; • Procedural inquiries;

• Solutions to tax issues;

• Tax forms, based on availability;

• Tax law assistance; and

• Taxpayer identification numbers.

You must go to the center to get an appointment for help, which may not be available that day. If a same-day appointment is not available, a future appointment will be made within five business days.

Tax preparation help is always available online at www. irs.gov.