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What are the Best Sources for Income Tax Information?
There are many places to find income tax information. The best place to look for information depends on your question. If you have a general question on what tax forms you should fill out, you can probably find your answer at the local library, post office or other location that makes the forms available to the public.
Most people have slightly more complicated tax questions than that. If you are completing your own taxes, your first stop should be the IRS website. They have a full listing of frequently asked questions. You will very likely be able to find the answer to your question on that page.
If your question is regarding a state income tax return, your situation is slightly more complicated, as each state is different. Some states have a comprehensive website with a frequently asked question page that rivals that of the IRS. Other websites are not as thorough, and searching their site will provide little insight.
If looking over the website doesn’t provide you with answers you need, it may be time to visit a tax preparer. Many people hate to spend money to have their taxes prepared. Most income tax preparation services are very reasonable, and it is highly likely that you will pay less tax if you have a professional tax preparer.
Another advantage of having a professional prepare your taxes is that they will be familiar with the newest income tax information. This alone can save you a great deal of money. Particularly if you are self-employed or have a complicated situation, a person that specializes in preparing taxes will be a great resource.
Where should you not go for income tax information? If you have someone else prepare your taxes or answer questions so that you can prepare your taxes, ask if they would be comfortable signing your tax return as the preparer. If they are unwilling to do this, so you should probably be unwilling to take their advice.
Your odds of being audited are very small, but it can and does happen. If you are selected for an audit, you don’t want to guess whether the advice you were given was sound. Instead, stick with income tax information that comes from professionals that work in the field.
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![Post offices often have forms of information about income taxes.]()
By: chrisdorneyPost offices often have forms of information about income taxes. -
![The IRS website can provide help when filling out a tax return.]()
By: jrwassermanThe IRS website can provide help when filling out a tax return.
Discussion Comments
@Melonlity -- Speaking of good PR, the IRS has more than a few public relations folks on staff and they all have the job of improving the public image of the IRS. They do that by answering a lot of questions and attempting to establish their employer as an entity that wants to help taxpayers do things right and stay out of trouble.
That effort has worked quite well. It is not uncommon to find PR folks working for the IRS out giving newspaper interviews, appearing on television and radio programs and fielding answers from taxpayers and generally trying to make the IRS more approachable.
Believe it or not, the IRS is often the single best place to find reliable tax information. A lot of that is available online as the IRS has gotten a lot more consumer friendly over the years. Tax laws are complicated, and the IRS knows it. It is a good public relations move to break the confusing tax code in ways that people can understand it.
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