CWA 1180 - Solidarity Works

IRS plans to lay off workers in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx

June 2005

WHAT YOU CAN DO
TO HELP

Send a letter to Congress asking your representative to oppose drastic cuts to IRS taxpayer assistance and save hundreds of jobs.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that it will severely cut back its customer service operations nationwide, including the closure of 68 Taxpayer Assistance Centers and the layoff of 434 workers. Centers slated for closure include one in Brooklyn, one in the Bronx, and one in downtown Manhattan.

According to the IRS, these assistance centers serve some 7.7 million taxpayers nationwide, by handling tax law questions, offering tax preparation assistance for low-income people, and helping with translation for those who face language barriers.

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has pledged to fight the closings. “When this plan first came to light, I described it as incredibly short-sighted and foolish,” said NTEU President Colleen Kelley. “The result of this unwise plan will be not only a sharp reduction in customer service, but also a decline in taxpayer compliance with the tax laws.”

Back to Solidarity Works page