Key US Tax Forms Unavailable In Spanish, Says Treasury Survey

by Leroy Baker, Tax-News.com, New York

09 September 2003

A recent survey conducted by the Treasury Department's Inspector General for Tax Administration found that the Internal Revenue Service has not yet translated many basic forms and guidance notes into Spanish, despite the fact that the Hispanic community represents the largest ethnic minority group in the United States.

Although the IRS has translated more than 244 forms and notices into Spanish, and provides translators for their toll-free hotline and at community tax centers, the Treasury found that only 16 of the 58 most important tax forms have a Spanish language version. This includes Forms 1040 and 1040EZ, which are the most common forms used in the filing of individual tax returns, and tax withholding form W-4, which is completed by all employees on commencement of a job.

In response to the Treasury survey, the IRS said it is planning to translate many more documents into Spanish by 2005, although it argued that many Spanish speaking Americans had a sufficient grasp of English to complete the basic forms. "We believe a balanced approach of identifying 'vital' documents for translation and providing other means of translation assistance will best serve our (limited English-proficient) customers," Henry O. Lamar, commissioner of the IRS wage and investment division observed in a written response to the findings.

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