Tax Trap #5 -- Ignoring The IRS (and the 5 best ways to contact them!)
We all love to criticize the IRS, don't we? And I'm just as guilty as anyone. It's easy to ridicule a huge organization of government bureaucrats who often seem to be Public Enemy #1.
Our negative attitude toward the IRS can lead to a strong desire to just ignore it altogether. But self-employed people who ignore the IRS do so at their own peril.
So when it comes to providing free information about taxes, let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. The IRS does provide some excellent resources to help us make the best of a potentially bad situation.
If you need tax assistance and prefer not to pay for it, do not overlook these five ways to obtain help from the IRS:
1. The Internet
http://www.irs.gov
There's a wealth of information just for small business owners and self-employed people at: http://www.irs.gov/smallbiz
Here you'll find everything from how to obtain a federal business tax ID to a free 6-session streaming video presentation of the "IRS Small Business Workshop." Also known as the Small Business Self-Employed Online Classroom, you can access this directly at: www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=97726,00_business_personal_taxes.php
If you prefer to attend an IRS small business workshop in person, check here to see what's available in your state: www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99202,00_business_personal_taxes.php
Need tax forms and/or their instructions? Look no further than the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index_business_personal_taxes.php
Here you'll find a boatload of links to every tax form imaginable, available as downloadable PDF files or in fill-in format. All form instructions can also be downloaded.
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/lists/0,,id=97817,00_business_personal_taxes.php
The IRS has many free publications that explain virtually every major (and many minor) tax topics in great detail. Sure, IRS "pubs" are not always written in the most entertaining style, but, hey, remember the price. http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/lists/0,,id=97819,00_business_personal_taxes.php
2. Telephone Hotlines.
Special toll-free numbers exist for the following:
-- To order forms & pubs: 800-829-3676 (in case you'd like to receive a paper copy via snail-mail)
-- To ask business tax questions: 800-829-4933
-- To ask personal tax questions: 800-829-1040 Use common sense when phoning the IRS: to avoid long wait times, don't call on Monday morning. And no matter when you call, be prepared! Write out your questions beforehand and have all relevant documentation in front of you, as well as a favorite book or magazine to read during the inevitable wait time. Stay calm; don't yell; treat the IRS employee like a human being and he/she will likely return the favor.
-- Need help with long-standing problems: 877-777-4778
-- Prerecorded messages on 140 topics: 800-829-4477
3. TaxFax Service.
You can receive most IRS forms instructions via fax by calling 703-368-9694 from your fax machine.
4. CD-ROM for Small Business.
This is known as "The Small Business Resource Guide CD-ROM", aka Publication 3207. It includes all the tax forms and publications needed to run a small business. Call 800-829-3676 to request a free copy.
5. Walk-In Offices.
Need some face-to-face tax help? For a complete list of IRS offices in all 50 states, including hours of operation and contact info, check out: http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts
Wayne M. Davies is author of 3 tax-slashing eBooks for the self-employed, available separately or as a 3-volume set, "The Ultimate Small Business Tax Reduction Guide". http://www.YouSaveOnTaxes.com/ultimate-guide
To get your free copy of Wayne's 25-page report, "How To Instantly Double Your Deductions" visit: http://www.YouSaveOnTaxes.com
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MORE RESOURCES:
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 Washington Post | Friday News Roundup: Week of March 8-12 New America Foundation (blog) Legislators are less eager to increase taxes, especially in an election year, and fear that increased corporate taxes would discourage businesses from ... In Ill., choice is higher taxes or education cuts Quinn Defends Plan to Fund Schools with Tax Hike Green Party's Whitney calls for income tax hike, legalized pot |
 NewsOXY | Free printable federal income tax form 1040 for filing 2009 income tax returns ... Healthy Financial Habits Almost one month from today, millions of Americans will be scrambling to file their 2009 federal income taxes. If you need free printable federal income tax ... Tax breaks can help when you lose your job Tax Tip: 4 places to find free tax help Record number of tax filers paid no federal income taxes in 2008 |
 CBC.ca | WALT COBB: Taxes a necessary evil Williams Lake Tribune NDP energy critic John Horgan has said that the tax will be eliminated, “but we have to find revenue to offset that from other taxes.” None of us like taxes ... Doubts remain after HST report The BC government sneaks another tax hike in through the back door |
Gov. Lingle signs state law reducing large business tax increase for Hawaii ... CanadianBusiness.com HONOLULU (AP) - Businesses in Hawaii are getting immediate relief from the nation's largest increase in unemployment taxes after Gov. ... Lingle signs bill lowering unemployment tax increase |
 CBC.ca | 'Soda tax' movement gains steam Vancouver Sun New York state is the latest American jurisdiction eyeing a "soda tax" to curb the obesity ... Editorial: Nickels and dimes of new taxes just add to the toll Soda Tax: Is New York Soaking the Poor? Study: Taxing junk food could alleviate obesity |
Vodafone Sends Final Submission To India Tax Body Wall Street Journal "Vodafone is confident that no tax is payable on this transaction. All of the taxation and legal advice we have received remains consistent with this view," ... |
 TopNews United States | Tax fallout Pueblo Chieftain DEMOCRATS DIDN'T know there would be fallout from their dozen tax increase bills this year? Gov. Bill Ritter and his fellow Democrats who control the ... The Tax War Goes Online Local affiliates here axed by Amazon.com Colorado's feud with Amazon puts focus on national online tax efforts |
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