IRS Taxpayer Advocate Form: Printable IRS Form 911 and Instructions

If you want help dealing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you can reach out for taxpayer advocate assistance. The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS, and it is devoted to helping taxpayers and protecting their rights. Use Form 911 to request assistance.

What Is Form 911?

Form 911 is a form that you use to request help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service. This form allows you to explain your tax issue and request help. Its official name is Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance and Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order).

Sometimes, people refer to this form as IRS hardship Form 911. This is because many people reach out to taxpayer advocates when they are suffering economic harm due to an IRS collection action. However, you can also use this form if you were not treated fairly or in line with the tax laws.

Where to Get a Printable IRS Form 911

Are you looking for a printable IRS Form 911? Then, simply click this link to Form 911. It will open a pdf version of the form that you can print. If you don't have a printer, head to your local library. They will print for a small fee, and many libraries offer free printing for tax and government forms.

Just print the first two pages if you want to save paper when printing Form 911. The third and fourth pages are instructions. Once you have printed this form, you can fill it out and mail or fax it in.

Who Should File Form 911 Taxpayer Advocate Services?

You should consider filing IRS Form 911 if any of the following apply:

• Your tax problems are causing severe financial difficulties or economic harm.
• You have been unable to resolve your issue with the IRS. 
• You believe that an IRS process isn't working correctly. 

These examples are relatively vague, but essentially, this form is for taxpayers who are experiencing economic harm due to IRS collection actions or who are unable to work with the IRS through the usual channels.

Examples of When to File Form 911

For example, imagine that a revenue officer has not followed the tax laws when dealing with your case or hasn't responded to you by the date promised. Or imagine that an IRS wage garnishment is preventing you from being able to afford necessary living expenses, and you're facing an immediate threat of disconnecting your utilities.

Those are the types of situations where you may want to reach out for help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service. 

Frivolous Arguments and Form 911

You should not file this form when you have a frivolous argument. For example, if you believe that income taxes are unconstitutional, you cannot address that concern with this form.

Similarly, if you simply don't like the revenue officer assigned to your case, you also shouldn't use this form. If you use IRS Form 911 to present a frivolous argument, you can face a $5,000 penalty.

Taxpayer Advocate Form 911 Instructions

IRS Form 911 is fairly self-explanatory. Section I is for taxpayer information. Section II is for your representative's information if applicable. Section III is for an IRS employee to complete.

You must complete Section I. You only need to complete Section II if you are using an authorized representative, and in this case, you should also attach a power of attorney authorization form. Do not complete Section III. Keep reading for more details.

Contact Details for Form 911

The first five questions of Section I request your name, Social Security Number or other tax ID number, your spouse's name and tax ID number, your mailing address, fax number, and email address. Line six requires you to list a contact person. Write your own name if you are an individual, but if you're filing Form 911 for a business, you should enter the responsible party for the business. 

Lines seven through nine request your phone number, the best time to call you, and any communication concerns, such as only speaking a foreign language or using sign language. You should also note if you allow the Taxpayer Advocate Service to leave sensitive tax information on your voicemail or answering machine. 

Describing Your Tax Issue

Questions 10 and 11 cover the tax form you filed, the tax type, and the period. Question 12 of Form 911 is the most important part of the form. In 12a, you need to describe the tax issue, your difficulties, and what the IRS has done to resolve your concern. If you are contacting a taxpayer advocate because of a delayed response from the IRS, note when you initiated contact and how long you have been waiting. In 12b, you need to outline what type of help you want from this service. 

Completing Form 911 for Taxpayer Assistance

Finally, you should sign and date the form. If you're married and filing jointly, you and your spouse both need to sign. When corporations file this form, an officer should sign it.

If you have hired a tax professional to represent you, enter their details in Section II, and skip this question.

How to File IRS Hardship Form 911

To submit IRS Form 911, you can mail or fax this form to your area's Taxpayer Advocate Service office. There is at least one office in every state. To get the contact details for your closest office, check out the Taxpayer Advocate website or call 1-877-777-4778.

If you're overseas when you request assistance, you can fax Form 911 to 1-304-707-9793. Or you can mail the form to Taxpayer Advocate Service, Internal Revenue Service, PO Box 11996, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00922.

Where to Fax Form 911

The fax number for Form 911 depends on which Taxpayer Advocate Office you're trying to reach. Don't fax this form to your local IRS office. Instead, use the Taxpayer Advocate's website to search for the fax number in your area. Select your state from the dropdown menu to figure out where to fax Form 911. Then, find the office closest to you.

What to Expect After You File IRS Form 911

After you file this form, the Taxpayer Advocate Service will try to reach you over the phone. If they cannot reach you, they will send a follow-up letter. They may also contact third parties on your behalf to attempt to resolve the issue. The Taxpayer Advocate Service doesn't need your permission to contact third parties. When you sign Form 911, you consent them to contact third parties about your situation, as needed. 

This service is designed to help you resolve your issue quickly. This is especially important if you file Form 911 due to financial distress or because of impending collection actions. You should call for assistance if you are still waiting to hear back within 30 days. Use this number 877-777-4778.

Get Help With the IRS

To get help dealing with the IRS, contact a local tax pro. Tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents understand how to deal with the IRS, and they can help you deal with this complex and confusing government agency. Use TaxCure to search for a local tax pro experienced with your tax concern today.