12/01/97
                                                            97-45   


           IRS PREPARES FOR SECOND PROBLEM SOLVING DAY

     Washington -- After a successful day of helping thousands of people across the
country resolve their tax problems on November 15, the Internal Revenue Service's 33
districts are gearing up for their second monthly "Problem Solving Day."
     Nearly 6,300 taxpayers across the country met face-to-face with IRS
representatives at the first session.  The day was coordinated nationwide, with all 33
district offices keeping the same hours on the same day.  Subsequent Problem Solving
Days, which each district is committed to holding monthly, will be scheduled separately
by the districts.  (Attached is the calendar for December.)
     More than 30 percent of taxpayers who came in on November 15 had their cases
immediately solved, and IRS officials expected to resolve 75 percent of the cases by
the end of November.  In addition, nearly 600 others who called the IRS to set an
appointment had their problems resolved with the single phone call, and never had to
come in person.  "Helping these people solve their long-standing tax problems sets the
standard for IRS's future -- the standard of improved customer service," said Charles
Rossotti, IRS's newly appointed Commissioner.  

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     Though every district will hold an open house each month, taxpayers can call the
IRS toll-free line -- 1-800-829-1040 -- anytime to request their problem be referred to
the Taxpayer Advocate.  The Taxpayer Advocate is the primary champion for taxpayers
with problems that cannot be resolved through ordinary channels.

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State/City               Telephone #              Date      Hours
Alaska              
     Anchorage      (907) 271-6877      12/8/97   1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Alabama
     Birmingham          (205) 912-5705      12/10/97  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Arkansas
     Little Rock         (405) 297-4745      12/17/97  12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
California
     Van Nuys       (213) 894-8852      12/10/97  1 p.m. - 9 p.m.
     Oxnard         (805) 564-7528      12/10/97  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
     Sacramento          (916) 974-5000      12/17/97  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
     Riverside      (714) 360-2178      12/17/97  8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Delaware
     Wilmington          (302) 791-4502      12/10/97  12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Florida
     Ocala               (904) 232-3440      12/9/97   12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
     Miami               (954) 423-7684      12/13/97  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Georgia
     Rome           (404) 331-3484      12/10/97  12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Illinois
     Springfield         (217) 527-6000      12/15/97  1 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Indiana
     Evansville          (317) 226-5081      12/13/97  8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Kentucky
     Louisville          (615) 736-5423      12/13/97  8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Michigan
     Saginaw        (313) 628-3670      12/13/97  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Missouri
     Kansas City         (314) 539-6900      12/6/97   8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Nebraska
     Omaha          (402) 221-4014      12/15/97  12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
New Hampshire
     Portsmouth          (603) 433-0754      12/18/97  12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
New Jersey
     Cherry Hill         (973) 645-3886      12/17/97  12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
New Mexico     
     Albuquerque         (505) 837-5506      12/17/97  12 p.m. - 8 p.m.


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New York
     Hauppoauge (Long Island)
                    (718) 488-3601      12/13/97  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
     Poughkeepsie/New Windsor
                    (716) 551-4574      12/11/97  12 p.m. - 7 p.m.    White Plains        (212) 436-1013      12/13/97  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
North Dakota
     Fargo               (612) 290-3061      12/10/97  12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Ohio
     Cleveland      (216) 522-3000      12/13/97  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Oregon
     Portland       (800) 829-0933 ext.82791 12/16/97  9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Pennsylvania
     Harrisburg          (215) 574-9900      12/8/97   9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Rhode Island
     Providence          (401) 528-4317      12/13/97  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
South Carolina
     Columbia       (803) 253-3049      12/13/97  9 a.m. -5 p.m.
Texas
     Houston        (713) 209-4506      12/13/97  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
     San Antonio         (210) 706-5400      12/13/97  9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
     Amarillo       (214) 767-1289      12/11/97  5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Utah
     Salt Lake City (801) 799-6600      12/5/97   8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
West Virginia
     Charleston          (804) 771-2292      12/18/97  3 p.m. - 8 p.m.