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Complete List of Tax Topics

Getting Help for Federal Taxes from the Federal Government

How To Get Tax Help

You can get help with unresolved tax issues, order free publications and forms, ask tax questions, and get information from the IRS in several ways. By selecting the method that is best for you, you will have quick and easy access to tax help.

Contacting your Taxpayer Advocate

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers who are experiencing economic harm, who are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, or who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should. You can contact the TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059 to see if you are eligible for assistance. You can also call or write to your local taxpayer advocate, whose phone number and address are listed in your local telephone directory and in Publication 1546, Taxpayer Advocate Service - Your Voice at the IRS. You can file Form 911, Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance (And Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order), or ask an IRS employee to complete it on your behalf. For more information, go to www.irs.gov/advocate. Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP). The TAP listens to taxpayers, identifies taxpayer issues, and makes suggestions for improving IRS services and customer satisfaction. If you have suggestions for improvements, contact the TAP, toll free at 1-888-912-1227 or go to
www.improveirs.org.

Low income tax clinics (LITCs)

LITCs are independent organizations that provide low income taxpayers with representation in federal tax controversies with the IRS for free or for a nominal charge. The clinics also provide tax education and outreach for taxpayers with limited English proficiency or who speak English as a second language. Publication 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List, provides information on clinics in your area. It is available at www.irs.gov or at your local IRS office.

Free tax services

To find out what services are available, get Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services. It contains a list of free tax publications and describes other free tax information services, including tax education and assistance programs and a list of TeleTax topics. Internet. You can access the IRS website at
www.irs.gov 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to:

• E-file your return. Find out about commercial tax preparation and e-file services available free to eligible taxpayers.
• Check the status of your 2006 refund. Click on Where's My Refund. Wait at least 6 weeks from the date you filed your return (3 weeks if you filed electronically). Have your 2006 tax return available because you will need to know your social security number, your filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund.
• Download forms, instructions, and publications.
• Order IRS products online.
• Research your tax questions online.
• Search publications online by topic or keyword.
• View Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRBs) published in the last few years.
• Figure your withholding allowances using our withholding calculator.
• Sign up to receive local and national tax news by email.
• Get information on starting and operating a small business.

Internet

You can access the IRS website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at www.irs.gov to:

• E-file your return. Find out about commercial tax preparation and e-file services available free to eligible taxpayers.
• Check the status of your 2005 refund. Click on Where's My Refund. Be sure to wait at least 6 weeks from the date you filed your return (3 weeks if you filed electronically). Have your 2005 tax return available because you will need to know your social security number, your filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund.
• Download forms, instructions, and publications.
• Order IRS products online.
• Research your tax questions online.
• Search publications online by topic or keyword.
• View Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRBs) published in the last few years.
• Figure your withholding allowances using the Form W-4 calculator.
• Sign up to receive local and national tax news by email.
• Get information on starting and operating a small business.

Free tax services

To find out what services are available, get Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services. It contains a list of free tax publications and an index of tax topics. It also describes other free tax information services, including tax education and assistance programs and a list of TeleTax topics. Internet. You can access the IRS website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at www.irs.gov to:

• E-file your return. Find out about commercial tax preparation and e-file services available free to eligible taxpayers.
• Check the status of your 2006 refund. Click on Where's My Refund. Be sure to wait at least 6 weeks from the date you filed your return (3 weeks if you filed electronically). Have your 2006 tax return available because you will need to know your social security number, your filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund.
• Download forms, instructions, and publications.
• Order IRS products online.
• Research your tax questions online.
• Search publications online by topic or keyword.
• View Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRBs) published in the last few years.
• Figure your withholding allowances using our Form W-4 calculator.
• Sign up to receive local and national tax news by email.
• Get information on starting and operating a small business.

Phone

Many services are available by phone.

• Ordering forms, instructions, and publications. Call 1-800-829-3676 to order current-year forms, instructions, and publications and prior-year forms and instructions. You should receive your order within 10 days.
• Asking tax questions. Call the IRS with your tax questions at 1-800-829-1040.
• Solving problems. You can get face-to-face help solving tax problems every business day in IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers. An employee can explain IRS letters, request adjustments to your account, or help you set up a payment plan. Call your local Taxpayer Assistance Center for an appointment. To find the number, go to www.irs.gov/localcontacts or look in the phone book under United States Government, Internal Revenue Service.
• TTY/TDD equipment. If you have access to TTY/TDD equipment, call 1-800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to order forms and publications.
• TeleTax topics. Call 1-800-829-4477 and press 2 to listen to pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics.
• Refund information. If you would like to check the status of your 2005 refund, call 1-800-829-4477 and press 1 for automated refund information or call 1-800-829-1954. Be sure to wait at least 6 weeks from the date you filed your return (3 weeks if you filed electronically. Have your 2005 tax return available because you will need to know your social security number, your filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund.

Evaluating the quality of telephone services. To ensure that IRS representatives give accurate, courteous, and professional answers, the IRS useS several methods to evaluate the quality of telephone services. One method is for a second IRS representative to sometimes listen in on or record telephone calls. Another is to ask some callers to complete a short survey at the end of the call.

Walk-in

Many products and services are available on a walk-in basis.

• Products. You can walk in to many post offices, libraries, and IRS offices to pick up certain forms, instructions, and publications. Some IRS offices, libraries, grocery stores, copy centers, city and county government offices, credit unions, and office supply stores have a collection of products available to print from a CD-ROM or photocopy from reproducible proofs. Also, some IRS offices and libraries have the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, Internal Revenue Bulletins, and Cumulative Bulletins available for research purposes.
• Services. You can walk in to your local Taxpayer Assistance Center every business day for personal, face-to-face tax help. An employee can explain IRS letters, request adjustments to your tax account, or help you set up a payment plan. If you need to resolve a tax problem, have questions about how the tax law applies to your individual tax return, or you're more comfortable talking with someone in person, visit your local Taxpayer Assistance Center where you can spread out your records and talk with an IRS representative face-to-face. No appointment is necessary, but if you prefer, you can call your local Center and leave a message requesting an appointment to resolve a tax account issue. A representative will call you back within 2 business days to schedule an in-person appointment at your convenience. To find the number, go to
  www.irs.gov/localcontacts or look in the phone book under United States Government, Internal Revenue Service.

Mail

You can send your order for forms, instructions, and publications to the address below and receive a response within 10 business days after your request is received.
 

• A CD that is released twice so you have the latest products. The first release ships in January and the final release ships in March.
• Current-year forms, instructions, and publications.
• Prior-year forms, instructions, and publications.
• Bonus: Historical Tax Products DVD - Ships with the final release.
• Tax Map: an electronic research tool and finding aid.
• Tax law frequently asked questions.
• Tax Topics from the IRS telephone response system.
• Fill-in, print, and save features for most tax forms.
• Internal Revenue Bulletins.
• Toll-free and email technical support.

Buy the CD from National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at www.irs.gov/cdorders for $25 (no handling fee) or call 1-877-CDFORMS (1-877-233-6767) toll free to buy the CD for $25 (plus a $5 handling fee). Price is subject to change.

• Helpful information, such as how to prepare a business plan, find financing for your business, and much more.
• All the business tax forms, instructions, and publications needed to successfully manage a business.
• Tax law changes for 2006.
• Tax Map: an electronic research tool and finding aid.
• Web links to various government agencies, business associations, and IRS organizations.
• “Rate the Product” survey—your opportunity to suggest changes for future editions.
• A site map of the CD to help you navigate the pages of the CD with ease.
• An interactive “Teens in Biz” module that gives practical tips for teens about starting their own business, creating a business plan, and filing taxes.

An updated version of this CD is available each year in early April. You can get a free copy by calling 1-800-829-3676 or by visiting www.irs.gov/smallbiz.

Comments and suggestions

We welcome your comments about any publication and your suggestions for future editions.

You can write to us at the following address:

Internal Revenue Service
Individual Forms and Publications Branch
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I
1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6406
Washington, DC 20224

You can email us at *taxforms@irs.gov. (The asterisk must be included in the address.) Please put “Publications Comment” on the subject line. Although we cannot respond individually to each email, we do appreciate your feedback and will consider your comments as we revise our tax products.

Tax questions

If you have a tax question, visit www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. We cannot answer tax questions at either of the addresses listed above.

Ordering forms and publications

Visit www.irs.gov/formspubs to download forms and publications, call 1-800-829-3676, or write to the National Distribution Center at the address shown under How To Get Tax Help in the back of this publication.

Services Available Outside the United States

During the filing period (January to mid-June), you can get the necessary federal tax forms and publications from U.S. Embassies and consulates. You can request Package 1040-7 for Overseas Filers, which contains special forms with instructions and Publication 54.

Also during the filing season, the IRS conducts an overseas taxpayer assistance program. To find out if IRS personnel will be in your area, you should contact the consular office at the nearest U.S. Embassy.

Overseas taxpayers can also call the U.S. for help at (215) 516-2000.

If you are in Guam, the Bahamas, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico, you can call 1-800-829-1040.

Special IRS assistance to Those Affected by Terrorist Attacks

The IRS is providing special help for those affected by the terrorist attacks, as well as survivors and personal representatives of the victims. We have set up a special toll-free number for people who may have trouble filing or paying their taxes because they were affected by the terrorist attacks, or who have other tax issues related to the attacks.

Call 1–866–562–5227
Monday through Friday
In English–7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time
In Spanish–8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time

IRS Offers New Toll-Free Numbers to Assist Taxpayers

IR-2002-130, Nov. 27, 2002

WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service announced today two new toll-free telephone numbers to provide taxpayers with better service. Small businesses and taxpayers requesting refunds will each have a special toll-free number; these two numbers become operational on Dec. 2, 2002.

"Providing these new toll-free numbers to help taxpayers is one more step toward providing the customer service taxpayers deserve,"; said IRS Acting Commissioner Bob Wenzel.

Small businesses, corporations, partnerships and trusts who need information or help preparing business returns should now call 1-800-829-4933. Customers calling this number can apply for a new Employer Identification Number (EIN) and receive help on employment taxes, partnership, corporation, estate, gift, trust and excise taxes or other small business issues.

People looking for their refunds have a new toll-free number: 1-800-829-1954. Individuals who filed a 1040 series return can check on the status of their current year tax refund with this toll-free number.

News

IRS Urges Caution about Internet Sites that Resemble the Official IRS Site

IR-2007-58, March 13, 2007

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers that the address of the official IRS government Web site is www.irs.gov.

Taxpayers may be confused by the proliferation of Internet sites that contain some form of the Internal Revenue Service name or IRS acronym with a .com, .net, .org or other designation in the address instead of .gov. Since many of these sites also bear a striking resemblance to the real IRS site, taxpayers may be misled into thinking that the site they have accessed is indeed the official IRS government site. These sites are not the official IRS Web site and have no connection to the official IRS site or to the IRS.

“There is one legitimate IRS site: IRS.gov,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. “Always check carefully and make sure you know what Web site you are using.”

Because .com, .net and .org are such common parts of Internet addresses, taxpayers may automatically or inadvertently type these extensions, instead of .gov, into the address line of their Web browser when trying to find the genuine IRS Web site.

Following recent concerns that Internet sites may be causing confusion among taxpayers, the IRS is working with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration on this matter. TIGTA has authority to review issues protecting the integrity of tax administration, including impersonation of the IRS. The IRS and TIGTA are committed to ensuring that taxpayers are not misled.

Although the IRS Web site offers interactive features, the tax or private financial information that these features ask the taxpayer for is extremely limited. The IRS reminds consumers who access unfamiliar sites, or sites they have never dealt with before, that they should never reveal any personal or financial information, such as credit, bank account or PIN numbers, without verifying the validity of the site.

The IRS also reminds consumers to be alert to an on-going Internet scam in which consumers receive an e-mail informing them of a federal tax refund. The e-mail, which
claims to be from the IRS, directs the consumer to a link — often a Web site resembling the IRS Web site — that requests personal and financial information, such as Social Security number and credit card information.   

This scheme is an attempt to trick the e-mail recipients into disclosing their personal and financial data. The practice is called “phishing” for information.

The information fraudulently obtained is then used to steal the taxpayer’s identity and financial assets. Generally, identity thieves use someone’s personal data to steal his or her financial accounts, run up charges on the victim’s existing credit cards, apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim’s name and even file fraudulent tax returns.

Taxpayers who receive an unsolicited e-mail purporting to be from the IRS should never click on any links in the message, open any attachments or provide any personal or financial information to the sender.

Related Items:

• IR-2007-37,  Fraudulent Telephone Tax Refunds, Abusive Roth IRAs Top Off 2007 “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams

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