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January 02, 1997
Free Tax Assistance
Year by year, the Internal Revenue Service is working to make
it easier for people to get tax help. The first place to look is right in the tax package.
The package's new design makes it easier to find information. For those people with
Internet access, the IRS's homepage has forms, publications and lots of helpful tax
information. For those who don't have a computer, the IRS has special toll-free numbers
for whatever help a taxpayer might need.
TAX HELP ON-LINE
The IRS's homepage on the World Wide Web has proven to be a popular source for both tax
forms and tax information. Since coming on line last January, taxpayers have accessed the
web site more than 100 million times and have received over three million forms and
publications. Anyone with Internet access can receive:
- tax forms, instructions, and publications;
- the latest tax information and tax law changes;
- tax tables and rate schedules;
- hypertext versions of Publication 17, "Your Federal Income Tax"
taxpayers
can move from one section to a reference with a click of the mouse to search for the tax
answers they need;
- all TeleTax topics;
- answers to the most frequently asked tax questions;
- a library of tax regulations;
- the weekly Internal Revenue Bulletin, which contains all the latest revenue rulings,
revenue procedures, notices, announcements, proposed regulations and final regulations.
Taxpayers can access IRS's electronic information services at the following addresses:
- on the World Wide Web - http://www.irs.gov
- via Telnet - iris.irs.ustreas.gov
- via FTP - ftp.irs.ustreas.gov
- by direct dial - 703-321-8020
RECORDED TAX INFORMATION
TeleTax has 148 topics available 24 hours a day using a Touch-Tone phone. Taxpayers can
call (toll-free) 1-800-829-4477 to hear recorded information on tax subjects such as
earned income credit, child care/elderly credit, dependents or other topics such as
electronic filing, which form to use, or what to do if you can't pay your taxes. Nearly
nine million taxpayers used TeleTax last year for recorded tax information.
AUTOMATED REFUND INFORMATION
Last year more than 52 million taxpayers used the Automated Refund Information system
on TeleTax to check on the issuance of their refund checks. Taxpayers may call
1-800-829-4477 to check on their refund status Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11:30
p.m. if using a Touch-Tone phone, or 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. for rotary or pulse service.
WALK-IN HELP
Tax assistance, including tax law information, tax return preparation, and forms and
publications, is available at more than 400 IRS offices nationwide. Or taxpayers may want
to consider the free volunteer programs available in many communities.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS
Four million taxpayers were assisted last filing season at more than 8,000 IRS
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites and more than 11,000 Tax Counseling for the Elderly
sites. These volunteer programs are set up in shopping centers, libraries, churches or
community centers. Taxpayers should check their local newspapers to find these site
locations.
TAX FORMS
On-Line
Taxpayers with access to a personal computer, a modem and a printer can download most
tax forms and publications from the IRIS or, for those with Internet access, the IRS
homepage.
By Fax
Taxpayers can receive about 100 different tax forms 7 days a week, 24 hours a day from
IRS TaxFax. In addition to forms and instructions, taxpayers can receive faxed copies of
TeleTax topics and small business newsletters. Taxpayers must use the voice unit of their
fax machine to dial the service at 703- 487-4160. The only cost to the taxpayer is the
cost of the call.
On CD-ROM
The 1996 Federal Tax Forms CD-ROM contains more than 600 tax forms and instructions,
and some 3,000 pages of topic-oriented tax information. Users can electronically search,
view-on-screen, or print-out any of the items contained on the CD. Available through the
Government Printing Office's Superintendent of Documents, the three-issue subscription is
$25.
By Phone
Tax forms and publications are available Monday through Friday during normal business
hours by calling IRS at 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
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