The following article was originally written for CompareItAll.com. The rights have reverted to the author.
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In the past, if you filled out your own tax forms on paper, your worst nightware was that on April 15 you'd discover that you needed some osbcure form or publication -- such as Form 2350 Application for Extension of Time to File US Income Tax Return.
Fortunately, the IRS is on the Web at www.irs.gov, with an excellent, easy-to-use site that makes available every form and publication, so you can print out whatever you need at the last minute. At the bottom of the home page, click on Forms and Pubs, then click on Search for a Form or Publication. You'll need Acrobat to read and print these materials, but they make it easy for you to download that as well.
If your tax situation is very simple, you might be able to file quickly by telephone (Telefile). But it's no use looking for that form online. For now at least, you can only use that service if you received that form in the mail with your name and special identifying number printed inside.
You can, however, file electronically, regardless of how complex your situation is. You can do that directly, as well as using tax software, or having a tax preparation service file it electronically for you. The IRS promises that if you file electronically, you should get your refund within three weeks -- about half the normal time. To consider those options, click on Electronic Services at the bottom of the IRS home page.
The IRS also provides quick answers to questions from its Web site -- so you don't have to listen to busy signals or wait on hold for hours. Click on Comments and Help, select a category, and type in your question. They try to match the words you use with the answers they have on file. The answers are canned, but detailed, helpful, and fast.
If you have the publications and the forms, but they seem to be written by lawyers specially trained in how to confuse the public, click on Tax Info for You, then on Tax Trails. There you can select a category (like charitable contributions, medical expenses, or home office expenses) and answer a series of yes/no questions that will step-by-step help you sort out what applies in your particular case.
Tax Trails also have a W4 Calculator to help you make sure that enough, but not too much is withheld from your salary.
If you need forms and information for state income tax, the quickest route is probably by way of LookSmart's Tax Center tax.looksmart.com. Simply choose your state.
A useful last-minute resource for federal taxes is World Wide Web Tax wwwebtax.com/master-index.htm This site serves two purposes. You can look for tax-related information in their Tax Directory, as you would a tax book, using the table of contents and the index, or search through it. You can also use their Web-based service to prepare your tax return online. They charge $9.95 to file your tax return electronically and/or $9.95 to print it out so you can mail it in. There's no software to download and install and update. You do all the work at their Web site. (Unfortunately, at this point, they only handle federal income tax, not state.) In addition, you might want to check their Wednesday evening chat sessions with a tax attorney who is also a former IRS Special Agent.
You can also turn to the tried-and-true tax services like H&R Block www.handrblock.com, which now offer online tax preparation, together with lots of related online information.
If you have more time to spare, you should consider buying tax software, such as Intuit's Turbotax Kiplinger's Tax Cut, Microsoft Tax Saver Federal, or SecureTax. Such programs can save your returns from year-to-year, automatically filling in needed information from past years. They also provide tax-saving tips, and make complex calculations on the fly so you can make informed choices -- for instance, determining how much you can deposit in a retirement account and the tax consequences of doing so. The companies that sell these products have related Web sites where they offer updates and additional information. In most cases, they also have software to help you with state taxes.
If you want to do serious research, take a good look at About.com's tax site financialplan.about.com/finance/financialplan/msubtax.htm They have numerous useful articles and links. And if you are stumped, you can try contacting the "guide" directly.
After you have finished scrambling and either filed your taxes and filed for an extension, take a good look at the personal financial advice and tax planning resources on the Web. This is a good time to get organized so you'll never get caught in this bind again.
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Can we help you build an Internet business? Richard Seltzer is an independent Internet writer/speaker/consultant. Click here for details. or send email to seltzer@samizdat.com
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