Ed note: It’s not *wrong* to wait until the last minute to file your tax return. But it can make it very difficult to get help when some of the normal avenues are incredibly busy. The IRS is only handling about 40% of calls coming from taxpayers. So where can you get help? Here are some great sources. Leer en español.
The filing deadline is upon us. If you are a last-minute filer, there are a couple of particularly good resources that will help you to get your tax return filed on time.
Take any last minute tax questions to the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant. This interactive tool has a few key features. You can use the search bar to look up information on any tax term, or you can browse from the list of categories to select the topic you are interested in. The “interactive” part of the tax assistant will ask you questions about your situation to help determine the answer to your question. You can learn about anything, from the Earned Income Tax Credit to deducting your business expenses, from credits to filing requirements.
The IRS also has a handy list of frequently asked questions that address tax issues as well as procedural things like how to notify the IRS of an address change.
H&R Block also has a great online resource to help you get answers to your tax questions. You can browse by topics or type in a search term to research a particular question. The Tax Institute at H&R Block provides answers in the database. Additionally, the search function will direct you to relevant H&R Block Talk articles and the IRS forms and publications you need.
Remember to get advice from resources you can trust. No matter how quickly the deadline is approaching, anyone who offers you a bigger refund than you’re due or advises you to claim credits and deductions you don’t qualify for may be preparing a fraudulent return. Get good advice from sources like the IRS and H&R Block, and get to filing that return!
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