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.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/formspubs/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/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
 Continue for more related information:
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