SEN. COLLINS URGES IRS TO KEEP MAINE FACILITIES OPEN

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Susan Collins is urging Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Mark Everson to maintain operations at the Taxpayer Assistance Centers in Augusta and South Portland, Maine. Senator Collins' letter is in response to the IRS proposing that these two Maine facilities be closed. Senator Collins is concerned that closing two of the remaining five IRS centers in Maine will hinder the IRS' ability to offer quality customer service, since it would leave the entire state of Maine with only three Taxpayer Assistance Centers.

"Closure of the Augusta and South Portland offices would leave thousands of Maine taxpayers without direct access to a number of tax services, including tax preparation assistance. This is of particular concern to our state's elderly taxpayers," Senator Collins said. "I am urging the IRS to remain committed to quality customer service to the people of Maine by keeping these centers operating."

Senator Collins is also questioning whether the IRS has adequately measured the impact such closures could have on taxpayers, due to a lack of information made available by the IRS regarding the proposed closures.

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