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CLS’ Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) educates people about their rights and responsibilities and assists taxpayers with IRS-related controversies, as well as assisting with other issues. We also help taxpayers with economic hardship applications, including payment installment agreements, currently non-collectible statuses, and offer in compromises.
Get Ready to file your 2024 tax return.
Have tax debt? See if you qualify for an Offer in Compromise:
CLS may be able to help taxpayers with IRS-related issues.
“Do you need access to these documents in a language other than English? Please email us at info@clsaz.org”
Through a grant from the IRS, our Tax Program at CLS helps clients in two significant ways:
We assist individuals who are being audited and/or have been audited by the IRS. This may include taxpayers that have tax debts and may be subject to liens and levies. We also assist individuals who do not receive their refunds, such as the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. Other problems in which we assist are ID theft, Tax Preparer Fraud and Injured and Innocent Spouse claims.
CLS offers information on their rights and responsibilities as taxpayers and makes referrals to agencies that will help prepare tax returns.
IRS rarely calls. And, the IRS will never call you without sending a letter first. If you haven’t received a letter, and you received a phone call, it is likely a scam. Hang up and do not provide them any information or payment. For more information on scams and how to report them, click here.
Be sure to identify the year of the return you’re amending at the top of the form. Normally, you can only go back three years.
Amended returns can only be submitted by mail, not electronically. If you are submitting more than one return, you must prepare a separate 1040x for each year. Make sure to use separate envelopes. Double check the address to make sure you are sending it to the correct IRS location depending on where you live.
If you are filing for an additional refund, wait until you get your original refund before filing the 1040x.
There is no need to amend your return because of math errors. The IRS will check it for you.
You can download the 1040x from irs.gov.
If you can’t pay the full amount of your taxes all at once or through a payment agreement, you may qualify for an offer in compromise. An offer in compromise is an agreement between you and the IRS to settle the tax debt for less than the full amount you owe. In order to be eligible, you need to have all of your back taxes filed (even if the IRS filed for you) and you will need to file and pay your taxes on time for the next five years. If this is something you are interested in, please contact CLS.
NO! The IRS will never contact you through email. They are not permitted to. Do not click on the link or open an attachment. Clicking on a link or opening an attachment could download malicious software on your computer. It could also allow the sender to access your bank account or your passwords. Then they can steal your identity or money. Any IRS email is a scam. Report the scam to phishing@irs.gov
find additional help
Need help preparing your tax return? The Mesa Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program prepares tax returns free of charge for low and medium income families and individuals.
Download VITA schedules and locations.
Try this calculator to see if you might qualify for a negotiated settlement of this prior debt for some tax years.
How to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door, and recognizing the telltale signs of a scam - online and off.