IRS & Taxes

IRS problems generally fall into two categories: the IRS owes you money or they believe you owe them money.

Due to the Privacy Act, all inquiries that I send to the IRS Taxpayer Advocate on your behalf must include written authorization. The IRS cannot give me a response if your letter is addressed to: Dear Congressman, Dear Sir, or To Whom It May Concern. The letter must address me specifically by name (i.e. Congresswoman Barbara Lee). It must also include your social security or EIN number, the tax years that are involved, and a description of the problem.

Please note that a congressional inquiry will not stop interest and penalties from accruing while an inquiry is pending.

To request assistance electronically, please use the Online Casework Form, or call my District Office directly at 510-763-0370.

You can find forms and answers to tax questions by going to the Internal Revenues Service website at http://www.irs.gov, or by calling 1-800-829-1040 for assistance in English and Spanish.

In addition, free tax preparation services are offered by local community agencies in the district.  For more information please contact my District Office or by dialing 2-1-1 and asking to be referred to a free tax assistance orgranization in your area.