Home » IRS » FREE TAX SERVICES

Category Archives: FREE TAX SERVICES

Picking Apart the IRS’ Top 10 Tax Time Tips

January 10, 2011 1:51 pm / 2 Comments on Picking Apart the IRS’ Top 10 Tax Time Tips

By Stacie Clifford Kitts, CPA

The IRS has started their seasonal “Tax Tip” campaign.   I do like these tips.  They cover many of the general questions that taxpayers ask.   In the interest of having a little fun, let’s pick apart Tax Tip 2011-01

  1. Start gathering your records – I agree.  Waiting to the last minute can cost you deductions.  Lost receipts or forgotten documents are the bane of tax preparation. Give yourself time to get it together before the filing deadline gets here.
  2. Be on the lookout for w-2 and 1099’s – well duh IRS, this kind of falls into item number 1 don’t ya think?  If you are owed a 1099 or W2, these are delivered or mailed to you by January 31, 2011. So if it’s March and you don’t have your forms, better start making some calls because something is wrong.
  3. Use free file – This option is cool, but a bit deceiving.  Free file is a great product to prepare your federal income return if your income is less than $58,001.  Free file is sponsored by brand name – for profit- tax software companies.  So keep in mind, you still pay for the use of the software when you prepare your state tax return (only the federal part is prepared for free).
  4. IRS e-file – Personally I like efiling.  It is convenient, fast, accurate, and paperless.  Besides, here’s a heads up,  E-file is mandatory for some taxpayers.  It’s a new age, time to get on the ball and accept modern technological advances.
  5. Consider other filing options – Yes there are other options – you could prepare your return yourself (not recommended).  And, if you qualify, there are ways to get your return filed that don’t cost money.  Consider checking out your local VITA program.  The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.
  6. Consider direct deposit – I still get taxpayers who want to have their refund checks mailed to them.  I can’t really get my head around this one.  Generally, there isn’t  a good reason to have a check mailed versus having your refund direct deposited.
  7. Visit the IRS website again and again – okay, lots of helpful information here.  No reason not to.  I say, do it.
  8. Remember to checkout IRS publication 17. Well, yes if you want to learn all about income tax by all means here is a publication that will help.  Helpful stuff includes:  a) What’s new for 2010,  b) Reminder, c) When you should file a return, d) When to paper file vs. efile, c) Yada yada yada
  9. Review! Review! Review! – Well ya check for mistakes.  But people really, if you’re not a tax expert, you really aren’t going to know if you blew it.  Might I suggest you have a tax professional review your return before you file.
  10. Don’t panic! – Unless you want too of course – or waited until the last minute.  When all else fails, the IRS says you can give them a call at 800-829-1040.
Related Articles

IRS Presents:Four Places to Find Free Tax Help

March 19, 2010 7:45 am / Leave a comment

The IRS provides free publications and forms as well as other tax material and information to help taxpayers meet their tax obligations.  Here are four great ways you can get the information you need to file your tax return. The best thing about these four options is that they won’t cost you a dime!

  1. IRS.gov The IRS Web site is a one-stop shop for a wide array of tax information. You can even prepare and file your federal tax return – for free – through Free File, a service offered by IRS and its partners who make available free tax preparation software and free electronic filing. But you must go through IRS.gov to use Free File.  Have some tax questions? Check out 1040 Central on the Individuals page for the latest news. Read up on the economic recovery tax credits at IRS.gov/recovery. The Online Services section includes several online tools that will help you with your taxes, including the IRS Withholding Calculator, the Alternative Minimum Tax Assistant, and the EITC Assistant. You can even track your refund with Where’s My Refund?.
  2. Telephone Call the IRS Tax Help Line for Individuals, 800-829-1040, to get answers to your federal tax questions. To order free forms, instructions and publications call 800-829-3676. To hear pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics or check on the status of your refund, call 800-829-4477. TTY/TDD users may call 800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to order forms and publications.
  3. Taxpayer Assistance Centers When you believe your tax issue cannot be handled online or by phone and you want face-to-face assistance, you can find help at a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.  Locations, business hours and an overview of services are available at IRS.gov. Just go to the Individuals tab and click on the link for Contact My Local Office in the left tool bar section under IRS Resources.
  4. Community Resources Free tax preparation is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs in many communities. Volunteer return preparation programs provided through IRS and its partners offer free help in preparing simple tax returns for low-to-moderate-income taxpayers. Call 800-906-9887 to find the VITA or TCE site nearest you. You may also call AARP — the largest TCE participant — at 888-227-7669 (888-AARPNOW) or access www.aarp.org to find the nearest Tax-Aide site.

For more information about free services provided by the IRS, review Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Links:

Post navigation

← Older posts