Tax Refunds & Advice

IRS Tax Forms

Are you finding it more and more difficult each year to find the IRS tax forms you need to prepare your taxes? Tax forms, which used to be readily available at local libraries and post offices, are no longer easy to find. One solution to finding all the materials you need to file a detailed tax return is use a tax preparation program. Many tax preparation tools today come with IRS tax forms, built-in tax help that provides up-to-date tax information and answers to most of your tax questions.

Prepare IRS Taxes Online

Tax preparation programs provide all the tax preparation material you need, including tax forms, electronic tax filing options and excellent tax help. Tax preparation programs enable you to prepare your federal and state income tax returns while highlighting tax-reduction strategies and potential obstacles to avoid. You will find up-to-date information with the ever-changing tax laws, as well as specific income tax help to guide you through your tax return preparation.

With a tax preparation program you can choose to use IRS efile, the electronic tax filing option, and reduce the error rate on your income tax return to less than 1% compared with more than 20% for paper returns. IRS efile helps ensure your tax return is mathematically correct and fully accurate—this is highly valuable since mathematical errors are the #1 reason that a paper tax return is audited and returned.

IRS efile also makes tax preparation easier, helps you get your refund in half the time, and, if you owe more taxes, allows you to delay your payment as late as April 17th without penalty. We recommend using IRS efile with a tax preparation program, such as EZTaxRefunds online tax program, created by a trusted IRS efile provider.

EZTaxRefunds tax preparation program helps you complete your tax return securely from any Internet connection in three easy steps without any software to download or install:

1. Guides you through your return, asks you simple questions, then places your answers in the right forms automatically.

2. Double-checks your return for errors, missed deductions and entries that might trigger an audit.

3. Efiles your return, or if you prefer, prints the completed forms to file by mail.

Pay only when you are ready to efile or print.

Phishing is nothing more than an internet based technique used to collect financial and/or other information from unsuspecting individuals. The IRS has put this scam at the top of the list of those that taxpayers should be aware of. If you are not careful about what you are doing and answer unsolicited emails, you may end up putting your financial information in the wrong hands.

The IRS is also warning people to be careful of anybody posing as an IRS representative wanting to speak about the upcoming economic stimulus payments. Scammers are using this as a way of tricking individuals into divulging personal and financial information including social security numbers, bank account information, etc.

This year alone, more than 1,500 phishing scams have been forwarded to the IRS by alert taxpayers. These thieves use the information they collect to open credit cards in others names, steal from bank accounts, and take out loans.

The best way to avoid becoming victim of a phishing scam is to keep financial information close to the vest. You should never share any information unless you are 100 percent sure of who you are speaking with. Anytime that you receive an email from somebody claiming to be an IRS representative you should be extra cautious. Additionally, you can also forward these emails to the IRS in order to make them aware of the common scams that are circulating.

With phishing scams on the rise, it is important for taxpayers to be very careful as to which emails they reply to. As a general rule of thumb, never share your personal or financial information via email.

Are you going to be visiting with your tax professional within the next couple of months? If so, you are just like millions of other filers. While there are some personal questions that you are sure to ask, you will also want to consider those that are more general in nature. Here are three inquiries that you do not want to forget this year.

1. Additional Tax Rebates: Ask your tax professional about the additional tax rebates that will be sent out in the Spring. Chances are that you will be receiving one of these checks that are meant to “stimulate” the economy. For many, this is a great chance to get extra money to pay bills, save, or just splurge.

2. Pay Ahead of Time, Don’t Owe: If you owed the IRS money this year, ask what you can do to avoid this in 2008. It is always better to receive a rebate check than to owe money. Make sure that you pay enough in taxes this year so that you can reap the rewards when the 2009 rebates are mailed.

3. Change of Tax Situation: Are you going to be making any changes to your tax situation this year? This could include anything from buying a second home to starting a business. If so, get the advice of your tax professional. He or she can tell you what to watch out for, how to stay on top of taxes, and much more.

All in all, these three general questions are important to keep in mind when you meet with your tax advisor this Spring. Of course, you will also want to ask more personal questions as well. Remember, now is the time to get everything set up for a successful 2008!