Help for taxpayers who owe

The Internal Revenue Service and the American Bar Association are sponsoring a "non-filer day" Saturday, Oct. 30. Among the services offered to delinquent taxpayers will be free legal advice from lawyers and free tax preparation by IRS-trained volunteers.

The IRS will not bring criminal charges against anyone who comes forward voluntarily and makes a true disclosure.

Although the program does not offer tax amnesty -- anyone who owes back taxes may have to pay penalties as well -- the IRS may be able to arrange payment plans, and may reduce or eliminate penalties if the taxpayer can show reasonable cause for filing late.

The program is part of a national effort to reach taxpayers who have fallen behind in their returns. The Oct. 30 non-filer day is the third of its kind offered in the past year.

Services will be offered at 16 northern Illinois locations, including four in the city of Chicago: the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St. (10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Room 5N-8); the Lozano Public Library, 1805 S. Loomis (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., auditorium, Hispanic assistance available); the Levy Center, 2019 W. Lawrence (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.); and the Atlas Senior Center, 1767 E. 79th St. (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Assistance will be offered at nine additional locations in the Chicago metro area, from Arlington Heights to Waukegan, and at one site each in Kankakee, Rockford and Rock Island.

For more information, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.