February, 1999 Hot Topics
February's Hot Topics is dedicated to assisting those who need assistance in the preparation of their 1998 federal and state income tax returns. Unfortunately, many of the emails received by the Tax Prophet during this time of year deal with specific tax preparation questions and the Tax Prophet does not prepare or file tax returns.
Note: Many tax forms and publications are available in Adobe's PDF
format only. The freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader
is needed to read and print PDF
files. This can pose a problem for Internet users who cannot download or view PDF files.
You may obtain IRS form via fax from E1040.
Essential Link - Taxes - This is the most comprehensive and has the best organized collection of tax websites on the Internet. The major categories include: Major Tax Sites; Forms; International Taxation; Tips; Commercial Tax Sites; Discussion Groups; News and Newsletters; and Tax Software. Start with this website for your tax research.
Tax Resources - This website, maintained by Frank McNeil has not been updated since August, 1998, but continues to be an excellent source of tax information. It is especially strong for tax research and pending legislation.
Yahoo Finance - This is another comprehensive web page of tax-related information.
Snap Tax Center - The Snap search engine also has an excellent collection of tax-related websites.
The IRS provides its forms and publications on-line.
IRS forms : (http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/forms_pubs/forms.html)
A compilation of IRS forms you'll need to file your taxes.
IRS Publications: (http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/forms_pubs/pubs.shtml)
A comprehensive set of publications to answer your specific tax questions. Check out the following publications (Note: these publications are contain hypertext links for easy navigation):
- Pub 3 - Armed Forces Tax Guide
- Pub 4 - A Student's Guide to Federal Income Tax
- Pub 17 - Your Federal Income Tax - This is the key publication for individuals.
- Pub 54 - Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Residents Abroad
- Pub 334 - Tax Guide for Small Business (Schedule "C" filers) Use Form 1040-ES to estimate your taxes.
- Pub 519 - U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens
- Pub 1542 - Per Diem Rates
- For tax professionals, the Internal Revenue Manual is now on-line.
For individuals, IRS now has inter-active tax tables for taxable income under $100,000 and non-interactive tax rate schedules for incomes over $100,000.
Note: Starting January 15, 1999, taxpayers may pay the balance due by credit card. Call 1-888-2PAY-TAX and arrange to pay your 1998 federal income taxes with either a MasterCard, Discover or American Express card. Visa has not yet agreed to participate in this program. Your credit card company will set the fees for this service. The IRS receives the payment amount, but not the credit card number used. This service is available regardless of whether electronic or paper returns are filed.
Starting February 28, 1999, taxpayers may use their computer to make a credit card payment on their 1998 taxes, although this pilot program is limited to "e-filers" using Intuit tax preparation software and a Discover card.
The IRS push for e-filing is pervasive. Witness this inter-active program for young adults, jointly developed by IRS and the Tax Section of the American Bar Association.
State Forms and Publications
California Tax Forms: Go to the California Franchise Tax Board's website for the latest forms. The homepage has general information on taxes filing and legislation.
Other State Tax Forms - The website 1040.com has links to those state tax forms on the Web.
Tax Prophet
Also, be sure to review these Tax Prophet FAQ's before filing your returns:
April 5, 1998 - Last Minute Tax Tips for Filing 1997 Tax Returns
April 6, 1997 - 10 items to remember when filing your 1996 tax return
April 9, 1996 - 12 items to consider before filing your 1995 return.
The Tax Prophet's Cybersurfing section contains the leading web gateways for locating other tax-related web sites and tax information. Use it as a tax research tool.
If you think you are immune from paying taxes or believe there is a simple fool-proof way to avoid you tax obligations, there are plenty of cyber-thieves eager to take your money and leave you in financial ruin. Check out the Tax Prophet's Trust Scam Bulletin Board before you become victimized.
Tax Advice Websites
Taxweb: A gateway website with an excellent FAQ section.
Ernst and Young's Tax Corner: The international accounting firm, Ernst and Young, has an excellent website for tax and financial planning information and assistance. Check out their "1040 Survival Kit" for individuals, which contains basic information and tax forms. Also, the information in their International Tax Section (organized on a per-country basis) is first rate, although the interface is somewhat buggy (you need to return to the homepage each time you search on a new country).
For U.S. taxpayers living abroad, check out the Expatriate InfoCenter for tax advice and filing requirements.
On-Line Tax Calculators
For a free full-scale Java Form 1040 application, check out NetTax '9X tax calculation program.
For a simple approximation of your tax liability, try the "Quickie Tax Calculator" by E-1040. There is a suite of java-based financial calculators at this site.
Curious about the size of your refund? H &R Block has an on-line tax refund calculator.
If you are looking for a suite of tax and financial calculators, the financial calculators at Moneyadvisor.com should fit the bill. Taxmaster is another site containing tax calculators.
On-Line Tax Preparation and Filing
For $19.95, you can file your Federal income taxes using Turbo Tax Online.
Or, check out SecureTax for on-line tax filing for $9.95.
If you file a Form 1040EZ, you might be eligible to file your taxes using a touch-tone telephone. For details, here is the IRS's webpage.
Professional Tax Assistance
If you are looking for tax professionals to prepare and file your tax return, contact the following organizations:
Need to locate a tax preparer close to where you live or work? Use the Yahoo Yellow Pages to find one located near you. Looking for a list of tax preparer or tax information on the web? Yahoo is the place to start.
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**NOTE: The information contained at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended for any particular person or circumstance. A competent tax professional should always be consulted before utilizing any of the information contained at this site.**