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We all love to criticize the IRS, don't we? 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.html
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.html
Need tax forms and/or their instructions?
Look no further than the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/f
ormspubs/index.html
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.html
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.html
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/localcon
tacts
About the author:
Wayne M. Davies is author of 3 tax-slashing eBooks for small
business owners and the self-employed. For a free copy of
Wayne's 25-page report, "How To Instantly Double Your
Deductions" visit http://www.YouSaveOnTaxes.com
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