IRS extending call service hours ahead of tax deadline

The IRS is extending its customer service hours Saturday in order to meet the high demand that typically comes ahead of the tax deadline.

The IRS toll-free telephone lines will be available Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The toll-free line is 800-829-1040.

This year, taxpayers get three extra days to file their taxes. The deadline isn’t until midnight Tuesday, April 18. That’s because the IRS does not collect taxes on weekends, and Monday is a federal holiday.

“You should be able to do it yourself. Use Free File if you made $64,000 or less–you can actually do your federal return for free,” IRS spokesperson Michael Devine said.

There are also some local resources that taxpayers may find helpful.

“In Columbia, especially, a great place to call is the local library right downtown. They’ve got lots of resources that are very helpful. They often have people there on site who, at this last minute, are available to help people with their taxes,” Sean Spence, Better Business Bureau regional director, told ABC 17 News.

Devine said 104 million returns have been filed so far. About 80 percent of those have gotten a refund.

“E-file, use direct deposit and you’re going to get your refund back in 21 days or less,” he said.

In terms of scams, there’s something new taxpayers should be aware of. Previously, the IRS would only contact people by mail, but that’s no longer the case.

“Just within the last few weeks, the IRS has started outsourcing some of its collections to outside agencies that will now, for the first time ever in history, call people to make collections,” Spence said.

Identity theft is another concern. Spence said it’s crucial to protect your information and then destroy it at a later date.

“IRS scams are still by far the most frequently reported scams,” he said.

You can find additional resources on IRS.gov.