Did you hear this one?
“Today the White House unveiled its latest high-tech weapon: the IRS audit,” joked late-night comedian Jay Leno recently about the news that the IRS targeted Tea Party groups.
So, I like to pass on a joke or two about the IRS once in awhile. But in reality, the federal agency has a job to do. In an effort to be more consumer-friendly, the IRS offers a number of tools to help taxpayers via its’ website, www.irs.gov.
I’m offering a link to the IRS via my website, but you can visit www.irs.gov anytime of day, if you have a question. The website’s top features include:
WITHHOLDING CALCULATOR – Now is a good time to double check if you are withholding the right amount from your pay check. The IRS Withholding calculator can help you figure out if you need a new Form W-4 or if you should fill out a new Employee Withholding Allowance.
IRS NEWS – The IRS releases new information periodically about changes in the law or about the agency. Check in frequently to make sure you have the most up to date information.
INTERACTIVE TAX ASSISTANT – This is a tax law resource tool that is easy to use and offers answers to a variety of tax law questions.
CHECK THE VALIDITY OF A CHARITY – The agency offers a tool called the Exempt Organizations’ Select Check that will search if a charity is legit, so you can make a tax-deductible donation.
PAY YOUR TAXES/CHECK ON REFUND STATUS – If you still owe the IRS money, you can always use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System or EFTPS to pay your taxes online or via phone.
APPLY FOR A PAYMENT AGREEMENT/SETTLE YOUR TAX DEBT – Whether you have to apply for a payment agreement or hope to settle with the IRS, you can do both on-line, if you owe $50,000 or less in taxes. Or you can make the smarter choice and contact a great tax attorney who can handle this headache for you. I highly recommend Steven Klitzner http://www.floridataxsolvers.com/.
The IRS website is a great tool for taxpayers, but make sure you go to the correct website and not one ending in .com, .net or .org. Your best bet is to follow our link, or you can always call someone on the DM Accounting team for knowledgeable answers to you tax-related questions. We are here for you.
Have a great week!
