The Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers free tax help is available online, by phone and in person.

Taxpayers can get answers to tax questions right away at IRS.gov. Taxpayers also can download and view popular tax publications and 1040 instructions on mobile devices as an eBook at no charge. PDF and HTML versions are also available. Tax products are usually available on IRS.gov six to eight weeks before the paper versions.

Taxpayers who can’t find an answer on IRS.gov can call the IRS at 800-829-1040 Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. until 5 p.m. Hawaii time. Telephone assistance is also available for individuals with TTY equipment at 800-829-4059.

Taxpayers who can’t resolve their problem online or by phone can schedule an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. All IRS TACs now provide face-to-face service by appointment. Use the “Contact Your Local Office” tool on IRS.gov to find the closest IRS TAC and a list of services provided. To schedule an appointment, call 844-545-5640. A trained IRS representative will either help resolve the problem or schedule an appointment for the taxpayer to get the help they need.

Jobless aid applications fall

WASHINGTON >> Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week.

Weekly requests for jobless aid fell 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 265,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The less volatile four-week moving average for claims was 263,000.

Over the past year, the number of people collecting benefits has fallen almost 5 percent to 2.1 million.

The historically low number of people seeking jobless aid is a positive sign for the economy.

Weekly jobless claims below 300,000 often point to healthy hiring levels. The low level of applications indicates that employers are holding on to workers and possibly looking to expand. Claims have stayed below 300,000 for 95 straight weeks, the longest streak since 1970.

Consumer spending has been strong enough to sustain job growth, even though global pressures appear to have stunted overall economic gains during 2016.

U.S. employers have added 2.25 million jobs over the past 12 months. And in November the unemployment rate fell to a nine-year low of 4.6 percent.

On the Move

The AARP Hawaii State Office has announced that Craig Gima is its newest communications director. His responsibility is to help publicize AARP’s volunteer and outreach opportunities as well as its programs such as the AARP Fraud Watch Network, which provides tips and alerts to protect oneself from identity theft and scams. Gima has 30 years’ experience as a journalist in print, online and on television, including 19 years at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Star-Advertiser.

Toastmasters International District 49 awarded Rose Suemoto the “DTM, Distinguished Toastmaster” designation at its recent Fall Conference. She was among nine Toastmasters members who won the award, which is the highest achievement award of the organization. Suemoto is a retired employee of HMSA as well as a writer, editor and member of Mililani Toastmasters Chapter.

The American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter, has announced the members of its board of directors for 2017. The four members of the executive committee are Christopher Hong, Geoffrey Lewis, Kurt Mitchell and Lorena Yamamoto. The newly elected at-large directors include Dean Daniel Friedman, Sean Baumes, Nathan Saint Clare and Jonathan Sim. The existing at-large directors include Emile Alano, Jason DeMarco, Purnima McCutcheon and Kris Powers. Also elected were Shane Kitchens, Hawaii Island section director; Jason Takeuchi, second term as associate; and Robbie Dingeman will continue as AIA Honolulu public director.