Long lines drew frustration at IRS office in southwest Houston amid tax filing deadline

Tax Day has arrived, and for those who still need to file, time is running out. Over the weekend, there was chaos at the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center on South Gessner in southwest Houston, with long lines and frustration as many people were turned away.

Even on Monday morning, lines persisted outside the building. James Johnson, second in line, had been waiting since 2 a.m., expressing his ordeal of initially filing online as instructed, only to be directed to come in person later.

While some opt for in-person assistance, the IRS advises that many issues can be resolved by calling 844-545-5640.

Over the weekend, the center on South Gessner faced an overwhelming turnout, leading to its early closure and leaving numerous individuals without the assistance they needed before the filing deadline.

The IRS attributed the delays to the sheer volume of visitors, prompting the involvement of Houston police for crowd control. In response, the IRS announced plans to contact those who were turned away to provide assistance, along with efforts to fully staff their offices and enhance phone support.

For taxpayers who missed the deadline due to the center’s closure, the IRS assures there’s no deadline for verifying their identity if instructed to do so in an IRS letter.

The situation left many frustrated, with some describing it as a “horrible” experience, having to endure long waits outside with no clear communication from staff.

As the deadline loomed, tax preparers also encountered issues, with H&R Block reporting errors for some desktop users attempting to e-file. However, the issue was resolved later in the day.