Technology TransactionsTax Time: Make It Fun, Make It Easy
The lovable folks at the IRS have created The
Digital Daily, a
comprehensive and catchy site that includes plenty of tax information and
advice.
In all, the IRS has hundreds of tax forms and publications available for
downloading. Its website also includes summaries of the latest tax rule
changes, information about 150 different tax topics and even a handy
address list of where you should file - just in case you"ve recently moved,
or just forgotten.
The resources on the web for taxpayers doesn"t stop at the IRS site.
Scores of tax consultants, professional tax preparers, accounting firms,
CPAs, lawyers and laymen are eager to help out on line.
The hundreds of websites won"t take the sting out of signing that check
over to the IRS, but they can at least give you tips on how to reduce your
tax burden, lists of common tax errors to avoid, and places on the web to
pose tax questions.
Most taxophobes will find helpful information in Roger A. Kahan"s tax column.
Income Tax Resources on the
Internet links to dozens of other tax related
web pages.
Ernst & Young LLP, one of the Big Six
firms in the accounting industry, provides a list of the 25 most common tax
preparation errors, 50 overlooked tax deductions, and 10 smart tax planning
tips.
And lest you think taxes are no laughing matter, Ernest & Young have some
"toons for you to change your
thinking.
The "Net doesn"t stop at federal tax information. If you"re looking for
state tax information, the Tax
Sites Directory is an excellent resource.
Hunting for forms to satisfy the IRS doesn"t have to be taxing. The Scottsdale Public
Library"s Pegasus website has a variety of state and federal tax forms
available for printing.
CompuCraft"s Find a Tax
Preparer website can lead you to a qualified
preparer. Type your Area Code or ZIP code and state into its database and
you"ll get a list of tax preparers in your area - some with an e-mail address.
Microsoft offers this
omnibus tax site. There"s editorial on every conceivable tax topic and tons of
other resourses, like how to file for an extension or what to do if you can"t
pay.
Questions about forms, deductions or other tax issues? The Armchair
Millionaire Tax Center will help you find the answers.
For those looking for tax tips from a well-known source, the venerable H&R Block chain of tax preparers also has
a virtual tax office, where you can find a local office and loads of free
advice.
Electronic filing - Close, but no cigar...
The good news is that tax returns can now be filed electronically. This
speeds up your tax refund and deposits the check directly into your bank
account. The bad news? Leave it to the federal government to make filing
by computer more cumbersome and costly than tossing it into the mailbox.
You still have to mail in your W-2 forms and a one-page signature document
called Form B453-OL. Plus, you have to shell out money for tax preparation
software. If you still want to try filing your taxes electronically, check
out the
IRS On-Line Filing Fact Street.
For helpful online good advice and tips, check out 1040.com.
Smart Money"s Tax Guide
features a tool that will help you calculate your
taxes on Stock and Mutual Fund sales and what to do if you"ve lost your
statements:
For a plethora of tax guides, links, and Q&As, NetGuide has
the lists for getting started, filing electronically, tax preparation services,
tax advice, and personal tax software, all listed by category.
Whiz through last-minute number crunching or figure out how to spend your
refund with four hot calculator downloads from ZDNet.
Now you"re ready to get a jump start on tax planning for next year, right?
Deloitte & Touche
will help you plan your strategies with timing your deductions, and covers
prepaid interest, mortgage points paid and medical expenses.
Merrill Lynch"s Personal Finance
Investor Learning Center also offers strategies to help you save money,
invest, and conduct many other financial transactions:
Find out if you"re Audit
Bait! When the Internal Revenue Service goes
fishing for tax returns to audit this year, will it catch yours? Use this
interactive worksheet to find out - then see their advice on how to avoid
getting hooked.
Digital
Records and the IRS: Are You On Thin Ice? You"ve probably just
received all your tax papers and are starting to dread another tax season.
Maybe your travel & entertainment records are stored on a palm-size
computer. What happens in an audit when all you have to show is a bunch of
bits?
And if all this gives you a headache, The
National Headache Foundation has a great site.