Taxpayer's Resources & Assistance

IRS phone numbers
Recovery Act Savings Calculator
Face-to-face tax help
Frequently Asked Questions

If you are having trouble with the IRS, our office or may be able to help. Please call us at (207) 774-5019.

You can also contact the Taxpayer Advocate, and independent advocate within the IRS, who works with taxpayers to help them solve their IRS problems. You can reach the Taxpayer Advocate at (207) 622-8528 in Augusta or 1-877-777-4778 elsewhere, or see Publication 1546, The Taxpayer Advocate Service of the IRS.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance also offers legal assistance to taxpayers. You can find contact for their offices around the state here.

Face-to-face Tax Help  

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are your source for personal tax help when you believe your tax issue cannot be handled online or byphone, and you want face-to-face assistance.

If you need to resolve a tax problem, have questions about how the tax law applies to your individual tax return, or you're more comfortable talking with someone face-to-face, visit your local Taxpayer Assistance Center where you can spread out your records and talk with an IRS representative across the counter. No appointment is necessary - just walk in. If you prefer, you may call a local number (see chart, below) to learn about available and alternate services, and to reschedule appointments with IRS personnel. If you have an ongoing, complex tax account problem or a special need, such as a disability, an appointment may be requested. All other issues will be handled without an appointment.

Note: Before visiting your local office click on “Services Provided” in the chart below to see what services are available. Services may vary from site to site. You can get these services on a walk-in, non-advance appointment basis.

* Note: The phone numbers in the chart above are not toll-free for all locations. When you call, you will reach a recorded business message with information about office hours, locations and services provided in that office. You may leave a message to request an appointment for help resolving a tax issue or to reschedule an existing appointment. You will receive a return call within two business days. If face-to-face assistance is not a priority for you, you may also get help with IRS letters or resolve tax account issues by phone, toll free at 1-800-829-1040 (individuals) or 1-800-829-4933 (businesses).

City Street Address  Days/Hours of Service  Telephone*
Augusta  68 Sewall St.
Augusta, ME 04330
Monday-Friday - 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Services Provided
(207) 622-1508
Bangor 324 Harlow St.
Bangor, ME 04401
Monday-Friday - 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
(Closed for Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Services Provided
(207) 942-8573
Lewiston 217 Main St.
Lewiston, ME 04240
Monday-Friday - 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Services Provided<
(207) 782-6795
Presque Isle

36 North St.
Presque Isle, ME 04769

Monday - Friday - 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 
(Closed for Lunch 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Services Provided
(207) 764-0947
South Portland 220 Maine Mall Rd.
So. Portland, ME  04106
Monday-Friday - 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Services Provided
(207) 879-4683

The Taxpayer Advocate Service: Call (207) 622-8528 in Augusta or 1-877-777-4778 elsewhere, or see Publication 1546 (PDF), The Taxpayer Advocate Service of the IRS.

Recovery Act Savings Calculator

How to contact the IRS  

For Individuals: Toll-Free, 1-800-829-1040. Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (your local time).

For Businesses: Toll-Free, 1-800-829-4933. Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (your local time).

For Exempt Organizations, Retirement Plan Administrators, and Government Entities: 1-877-829-5500. Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time

For people with hearing impairments: Toll-Free 1-800-829-4059 (TDD). Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (your local time). For further information, see Tax Topic 102.

Frequently Asked Questions  

Where’s my tax refund?

Please wait 4 weeks after filing, then call 1-800-829-4477 or look your refund up online.

Is the Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) waived this year? 
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) generally are minimum amounts that a retirement plan account owner must withdraw annually starting with the year that he or she reaches 70 ½ years of age or, if later, the year in which he or she retires. In 2009, Congress waived the RMD in response to the recession and the sudden loss of value in so many senior's IRA potfolios. That waiver was not extended for 2010. More information on RMDs is availalbe at the IRS's Frequently Asked Questions page.
What is the Earned Income Tax Credit and how do I take advantage of it?
The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. Congress originally approved the tax credit legislation in 1975 in part to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. When the EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.
 
To qualify, taxpayers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if they did not earn enough money to have a filing requirement. You must have earned income from employment, self-employment or another source and meet certain rules. In addition, you must either meet the additional rules for Workers without a Qualifying Child or have a child that meets all the Qualifying Child Rules for you. Find out more about the basic qualification rules for EITC. More information on the EITC is available on the IRS's EITC Frequently Asked Questions page.
Does my non-profit organization need to file a tax return? 
Tax-exempt organizations are required to file annual information returns with the IRS. Filing annual returns is crucial because, beginning in 2010, most tax-exempt organizations that haven’t filed their information returns for three consecutive years will automatically lose their tax-exempt status. Some organizations, such as churches, are not required to file annual information returns. Further explanation of these requirements and the filing thresholds is available at www.IRS.gov/eo
How do I apply for tax-exempt status for my non-profit organizaiton?
To be recognized as exempt from federal income taxation, most organizations are required to apply for recognition of exemption. More information is available on the IRS's Frequently asked questions page. [link: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96590,00.html ]
How do I take advantage of the first-time homebuyer's tax credits?
To claim your first-time homebuyer's tax credit, you'll need to file IRS Form 5405 (PDF), First-Time Homebuyer Credit, with your 2008, 2009 or 2010 federal income tax return. If you have already filed a 2008 or a 2009 tax return without claiming the credit, you can amend your return to claim the credit using Form 1040X (PDF) with the December 2009 Form 5405 attached. Certain additional supporting documentation will be required when filing claim for the credit with your 2009 or 2010 return or amended return. More information is available at the first-time homebuyers section of the IRS website.
Can I claim my charitable donation for Haiti earthquake relief on my 2009 tax return?
On Friday, January 22, President Obama signed H.R. 4462 into law. The law allows a 2009 charitable deduction for cash contributions made after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March 1, 2010, for relief of victims in areas affected by the earthquake in Haiti. For more information, read the IRS's page on tax breaks for contributions to Haiti earthquake relief.