Taxpayers Face Long Lines At IRS Offices As Deadline Looms
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Internal Revenue Service cutbacks are translating into major hassles for some people trying to file their returns as the April 15 deadline draws closer.
Many taxpayers are facing long lines at their local IRS offices.
"This line is the most ridiculous thing I can imagine," said a senior citizen waiting to get into the IRS office at 290 Broadway in downtown Manhattan.
He told 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa he waited for hours Wednesday before giving up and trying again Thursday morning.
"I could not stand it because the line was much longer," the man said.
A Midtown IRS office closed and the line has been snaking around the downtown location every day for the past two weeks, security personnel told Papa.
"There was a random passerby that said we were going to have to wait for an hour, hour and a half outside and then the upstairs goes very quickly," said Geronimo, who needed forms to amend a prior return.
Anne-Marie was near the front of the line and had been waiting for an hour when she spoke to Papa. She said compared to the lines at a Queens office last year, the situation at 290 Broadway is less chaotic.
"There was a line and they gave numbers with different color codes for different types of services that you needed and I sat there three hours and walked out," she recalled.
The IRS issued a press release Wednesday, warning taxpayers of "possible long lines" at their offices and "long hold times on the phone" and urged taxpayers to use their online tools when possible.
"We are doing everything we can to help taxpayers get the assistance they need during the filing season, yet, many still face long waits," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "If taxpayers can find answers quickly online, it is a win for both the taxpayer and the agency. We don't want anyone waiting needlessly when there are other resources at their fingertips."
But taxpayer Manny said not all forms are available online so he has no choice but to wait. He offered a simple solution to get rid of the lines.
"I think the government should put the tax forms in the lobby right here in front and people walk in one door, walk out the other door," he said.
For more information, visit the IRS website at IRS.gov, and click here to find a Free Tax Assistance Site in New York.