Top 10 Ways to Get Help from IRS.gov

With only a few days left on extensions for business filing (Sept 15^th) and a few weeks for personal (Oct 15^th), I recently have had a number of clients who need some basic information that really has to come from the IRS. It might be a form or other basic information. Always check with your CPA first then if you still need assistance look at the IRS website.

When you’re looking for tax information help, you want to find it as quickly and easily as possible. That’s why the IRS redesigned its website. It’s now even more user friendly.

Here are the top 10 reasons to visit IRS.gov:

1. Get 24/7 Access.  Whether you do your taxes during the day or burn the midnight oil, IRS.gov has the tax forms and answers you need when you need them. It’s accessible all day, every day. The Interactive Tax Assistant is a helpful tool that will answer many of your tax law questions. Several tax forms, publications and information are also available in Spanish.
2. Use Free File.  Anyone can prepare and e-file their taxes for free with IRS Free File. Offered exclusively at IRS.gov, Free File’s brand name software or fillable forms do the work for you. If you made $57,000 or less, you qualify to use free tax software. If your income is more than $57,000 or you feel comfortable preparing your own tax return, use Free File Fillable Forms. This option provides the electronic versions of IRS paper forms.
3. Try IRS e-file.  Whether you do your own taxes or hire a preparer, IRS e-file is the safest, easiest and most popular way to file a complete and accurate tax return. Since 1990, taxpayers have e-filed more than one billion returns. If you owe taxes, e-file gives you options to file early and pay by the tax deadline. If you are due a refund, you should receive it in less than 21 days.
4. Check Your Refund Status.  You can track your refund using the enhanced “Where’s My Refund?” tool. It’s quick, easy and secure and has a new look this year. You can start checking on the status of your refund within 24 hours after the IRS has received your e-filed return. You can check your refund status four weeks after you mail a paper return. The tool includes a tracker that displays the progress of your return in three stages while it is processed. Once IRS approves your refund, “Where’s My Refund?” will give a date to expect your refund.
5. Make Payments Electronically.  E-payment options are a convenient, safe and secure way to pay taxes. You can authorize an electronic funds withdrawal, use a credit or debit card or enroll in the U.S. Treasury’s Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.
6. Use the EITC Assistant.  The Earned Income Tax Credit is a tax credit for working people who earned less than $50,270 in 2012. The credit can be worth as much as $5,891. Check your eligibility using the EITC Assistant tool. You may be among the millions of eligible workers who get the EITC this year.
7. Get Tax Forms and Publications.  You can view and download tax forms and publications any time. It’s the easiest way to get IRS forms and publications.
8. Figure the Right Withholding.  The IRS Withholding Calculator will help to ensure you don’t have too much or too little income tax withheld from your pay.
9. Request a Payment Agreement.  Paying all your taxes on time avoids penalties and interest. However, if you cannot pay your taxes in full you may be eligible to use the Online Payment Agreement Application to request an installment agreement.
10. Get the Latest Tax Law Changes.  Learn about tax law changes that may affect your tax return. Special sections of the website highlight changes that affect individual and business taxpayers.

The address of the official IRS website is www.irs.gov. Don’t be misled by sites that claim to be the IRS but end in .com, .net, .org. Some thieves use phony websites to gain your personal and financial information. They then use this information to commit identity theft or steal your money.