Closing Cedar Rapids IRS office will hurt local taxpayers

The IRS’ plan to close its office in Cedar Rapids this November would be a huge loss for the people of this community.

Without the office on Williams Boulevard, the taxpayers of Cedar Rapids would have to drive at least an hour to other Iowa cities for in-person service.

As president of Chapter 4 of the National Treasury Employees Union, we represent the 15 tax compliance officers, revenue agents, revenue officers, examiners and other nonpartisan civil servants affected by this decision. Relocating them well outside any normal commuting distance is a major disruption, and harmful to the Cedar Rapids economy.

Additionally, this shortsighted decision would permanently close one of the agency’s beloved Taxpayer Assistance Centers, where anyone who prefers to meet face-to-face with a customer service representative can make an appointment for free. Although the staff position at the center has been vacant in recent months, the closure guarantees it would never reopen, forcing the elderly, lower income taxpayers and others to travel 52 miles northwest to Waterloo or 64 miles southeast to Davenport.

As you read the news from Washington about politicians slashing the IRS budget, please remember how those cuts impact the government services that the people of Cedar Rapids expect and deserve. We are asking the IRS to reverse course and allow the people of Cedar Rapids to keep their IRS office and keep those 15 jobs nearby, ready to serve the local community.

Angela Maier

President, NTEU Chapter 4

Des Moines