Where to get IRS forms and publications to prepare your taxes

If you are getting ready to file your taxes and looking for the right tax forms without having to go to an IRS office, look no further than your own computer. The IRS website has every possible tax form you’ll ever need to complete your federal tax return. You can also place an order anytime you want for FREE.

                         

                        Internet - IRS tax forms and publications are available for FREE download 24 hours a day at www.irs.gov. You can also order them through an Online Service

                         

                        Written request - Receive your tax forms and publications by mail. Just send your written request to Internal Revenue Service, 1201 N. Mitsubishi Motorway, Bloomington, IL 61705-6613.

                         

                        Community locations – Taxpayers can also pick up some of the most-requested forms, instructions and publications at many public buildings. Some libraries, large grocery stores, copy centers and office supply stores have forms you can photocopy or print from a CD.

                         

                        Telephone - Call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) to order current and prior year forms, instructions and publications by mail. You will usually receive your form(s) within 10 days.

Due to the continued growth of electronic filing, the IRS is no longer automatically issuing paper tax packages. Take advantage of electronic filing and all of the free options that are available to help you prepare your taxes today!

Source: www.irs.gov

You can get copies of your tax return and tax account information online

Automated self-service applications make ordering copies of your tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts convenient and easy. Whether you choose the online option or the automated phone service, you will find these self-service options available any time, day or night, when it’s convenient for you.

To order online go to www.irs.gov, select the Individuals tab and click on the topic, Need a Copy of Your Tax Return Information? Next, click on the Order A Transcript link and follow the three easy steps. You must provide your Social Security number or IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, date of birth, street address and ZIP Code or postal code.

To order by phone, call 1-800-908-9946, an IRS automated phone line and follow the voice prompts. You must provide your SSN or IRS ITIN, date of birth, street address and ZIP code or postal code.

You may also order transcripts by mail using IRS Form 4506T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return available on www.irs.gov. You will find instructions and mailing addresses on page two of Form 4506T.

A tax return transcript shows most line items from your tax return as originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. It does not reflect any changes made after the return was filed.

A tax account transcript shows any later adjustments either you or the IRS made after the tax return was filed. This transcript shows basic data, including marital status, type of return filed, adjusted gross income and taxable income.

The IRS does not charge a fee for these transcripts, which are available for the current tax year and the past three tax years. You should allow 5 to 10 business days for delivery when ordering online or through the automated self-service phone line. The IRS provides processing times on Forms 4506T.

Source: www.irs.gov

Tell One Person

Tell someone you know about the Earned Income Tax Credit – or EITC – and ask them to pass it on.

EITC is a tax credit that can return as much as $5,751 to people earning less than $49,078. The Internal Revenue Service estimates four of five eligible workers claim and get their EITC. Help us increase awareness and make that five of five, because, EITC is not automatic.

To get their credit, workers must file federal income tax returns, even if they are not otherwise required to file, and specifically claim the credit. So, tweet about EITC, blog about it, talk about it on your Face book page, or just tell a friend. Grab-and-go social media products make it easy.

Your simple act of spreading the word could mean more workers get what they have already earned.

Source: www.irs.gov

IRS Kicks Off 2012 Tax Season with Deadline Extended to April 17

The Internal Revenue Service today opened the 2012 tax filing season by announcing that taxpayers have until April 17 to file their tax returns. The IRS encourages taxpayers to e-file as it is the best way to ensure accurate tax returns and get faster refunds.

The IRS also announced a number of improvements to help make this tax season easy for taxpayers. This includes new navigation features and helpful information on IRS.gov and a new pilot to allow taxpayers to use interactive video to get help with tax issues.

“At the IRS, we’re working hard to make the process of filing your taxes as quick and easy as possible,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Providing quality service is one of our top priorities. It not only reduces the burden on taxpayers, but also helps in filing an accurate return right from the start.”

Taxpayers will have until Tuesday, April 17 to file their 2011 tax returns and pay any tax due because April 15 falls on a Sunday, and Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls this year on Monday, April 16. According to federal law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers will have two extra days to file this year. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Oct. 15 to file their 2011 tax returns.

The IRS expects to receive more than 144 million individual tax returns this year, with most of those being filed by the April 17 deadline.

The IRS will begin accepting e-file and Free File returns on Jan. 17, 2012. Additional details about e-file and Free File will be announced later this month. IRS Free File provides options for free brand-name tax software or online fillable forms plus free electronic filing. Everyone can use Free File to prepare a federal tax return. Taxpayers who make $57,000 or less can choose from approximately 20 commercial software providers. There’s no income limit for Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, which also includes free e-filing.

The IRS also reminds paid tax return preparers they must have and include a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on all returns they prepare. All PTINs must be renewed for 2012. Tax return preparers can obtain or renew PTINs online.

Assistance Options

The IRS continues to focus on taxpayer service. The best way for taxpayers to get answers to their questions is by visiting the IRS website at IRS.gov. The IRS has updated the front page of the IRS website to make it easier for taxpayers to get key forms, information and file tax returns. The front page also has links to taxpayer-friendly videos on the IRS YouTube channel. More improvements are planned for IRS.gov in the months ahead.  

Last year, the IRS unveiled IRS2Go, its first smartphone application that lets taxpayers check on the status of their tax refund and obtain helpful tax information. The IRS reminds Apple users that they can download the free IRS2Go application by visiting the Apple App Store and Android users can visit the Android Marketplace to download the free IRS2Go app.

Individuals making $50,000 or less can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for free tax preparation and, in many cases, free electronic filing. Individuals age 60 and older can take advantage of free tax counseling and basic income tax preparation through Tax Counseling for the Elderly. Information on these programs can be found at IRS.gov.

For tax law questions or account inquiries, taxpayers can also call our toll-free number (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time) or visit a taxpayer assistance center, the locations of which are listed on IRS.gov.

Virtual Service

The IRS has begun a new pilot program where taxpayers can get assistance through two-way video conferencing. The IRS is conducting a limited roll out of this new video conferencing technology at 10 IRS offices and two other sites, and may expand to further sites in the future. A list of locations is available on IRS.gov.

Check for a Refund

Once taxpayers file their federal return, they can track the status of their refunds by using the “Where's My Refund?” tool, which taxpayers can get to using the IRS2Go phone app or from the front page of www.IRS.gov. By providing their Taxpayer Identification Numbers, filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of their anticipated refund taxpayers can generally get information about their refund 72 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of their e-filed returns, or three to four weeks after mailing a paper return.

Source: www.irs.gov

Do I Need to File a Tax Return This Year?

You are required to file a federal income tax return if your income is above a certain level, which varies depending on your filing status, age and the type of income you receive. However, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that some people should file even if they aren't required to because they may get a refund if they had taxes withheld or they may qualify for refundable credits.

To find out if you need to file, check the Individuals section of the IRS website at www.irs.gov or consult the instructions for Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ for specific details that may help you determine if you need to file a tax return with the IRS this year. You can also use the Interactive Tax Assistant available on the IRS website. The ITA tool is a tax law resource that takes you through a series of questions and provides you with responses to tax law questions.

Even if you don’t have to file for 2011, here are six reasons why you may want to:

1. Federal Income Tax Withheld You should file to get money back if your employer withheld federal income tax from your pay, you made estimated tax payments, or had a prior year overpayment applied to this year’s tax.

2. Earned Income Tax Credit You may qualify for EITC if you worked, but did not earn a lot of money. EITC is a refundable tax credit; which means you could qualify for a tax refund. To get the credit you must file a return and claim it.

3. Additional Child Tax Credit This refundable credit may be available if you have at least one qualifying child and you did not get the full amount of the Child Tax Credit.

4. American Opportunity Credit Students in their first four years of postsecondary education may qualify for as much as $2,500 through this credit. Forty percent of the credit is refundable so even those who owe no tax can get up to $1,000 of the credit as cash back for each eligible student.

5. Adoption Credit You may be able to claim a refundable tax credit for qualified expenses you paid to adopt an eligible child.

6. Health Coverage Tax Credit Certain individuals who are receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance, Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance, Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance or pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, may be eligible for a 2011 Health Coverage Tax Credit.

Eligible individuals can claim a significant portion of their payments made for qualified health insurance premiums.

For more information about filing requirements and your eligibility to receive tax credits, visit www.irs.gov.

Source: www.irs.gov