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MiddletownJournal.com

Need help? Here are some suggestions

By HANK EZELL

Cox News Service

February 13, 2005

Got a question about your taxes? Help is plentiful — and it may be just a phone call or mouse click away. For instance:

•  Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Open Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

•  Check out the frequently asked questions at www.irs.gov/faqs.

•  Go to an IRS office.

More tax tips: This year's basics  Making the most of deductions   Don't-even-think-about-it deductions   Do-it-yourself tax preparation   Software to speed the process   Filing for free   Choosing a tax preparer  1.7 million unclaimed refunds  Recent Hank columns: Prompt filers will receive tax refunds quicker than ever  A new year calls for a new financial plan  Now's the time to assess spending, saving habits  More "Bank on Hank"

IRS offices

You can ask questions and pick up tax forms and publications at many IRS offices. IRS employees will complete returns for taxpayers with incomes of less than $35,000.

Need forms, instructions?

•  On the Internet, you can download forms, regulations and instructions at www.irs.gov.

•  Go to an IRS office.

•  Some local libraries will provide the more common forms, especially as April 15 approaches.

Need big-time help?

•  IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, has extensive instructions and explanations. Download it from www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html. Workbooks from Ernst & Young, H&R Block and J.K. Lasser have the same sort of information.

•  Check the Yellow Pages for walk-in, multilocation tax preparers like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt.

Volunteer help

•  The IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free tax help by trained volunteers at scores of sites around the state. For details on services, locations and hours, call 1-800 829-1040. (Select option 1, then option 4.)

•  AARP offers free assistance to people 60 or older who have low or moderate incomes. To locate the nearest AARP office, visit the organization's Web site at www.aarp.org/taxaide/home.htm or call 1-888-227-7669.

Read more "Bank on Hank" columns