Comments (0) | |

Monday, Nov. 09, 2009

IRS plans to move office by May 2010

The Internal Revenue Service is heading to downtown Macon, but no need to worry.

It will be a good thing for taxpayers who need assistance, said Mark Green, media relations specialist.

By May 2010, the IRS plans to move its Taxpayer Assistance Office from 640 North Ave. in the Baconsfield area to the SunTrust Bank building at Second and Cherry streets.

“The (existing) location isn’t the best location for taxpayers,” Green said. “This new location is on public transit, and it’s downtown and it’s easier to get to.”

The current office has been on North Avenue since 1986, and has 9,266 square feet, he said.

The new office will have 13,218 square feet, said Stephanie Folsom, partner with Coldwell Bank Commercial, Eberhardt & Barry, real estate firm. Folsom negotiated the lease on behalf of the landlord, Allegiance Realty Corp.

The increased space will allow room for growth, Green said. The office now has 45 employees.

“We are planning to do some additional hiring,” he said. “The goal is to increase to at least 50 ... depending on the funding and the need for more employees.”

The entire third floor of the bank office building will be gutted and completely remodeled, she said.

“Everything will be fresh and new,” Folsom said. “We are carving out the majority of the floor for (the IRS) where they will have access to the elevators from the Second Street entrance.”

The SunTrust Bank building, which was built in 1955, was bought by Charlotte, N.C.-based Allegiance two years ago, according to a news release. The 143,000-square-foot building has an attached parking garage with more than 350 spaces. The company has invested more than $750,000 in building improvements, the release stated.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223.