Where can you turn when you have tax questions and need help with your taxes? Who can you trust? What should you do?
Here’s a quick checklist:
1) Grab all your tax-related documents, everything, and store them safely in a safe, clearly marked place such as a large envelope.
2) Check out the IRS website before you go anywhere else. They wrote the book on taxes and so they know their own confusing, ever-changing rules and regulations better than anyone else.
3) Then call them after you have exhausted the resources on their website. Your questions will be better prepared, and you’ll know what to ask for.
4) Once you have made your phone calls and asked IRS tax specialists all your important questions, you’ll be ready to present less important questions to the non-experts (everyone except the IRS): other companies, universities, communities, churches, fraternal programs, AARP and VITA/TCE (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/Tax Counseling for the Elderly).
5) Now you’re ready to ask CPAs and maybe get some free time with them.
6) Lastly, now that you’re ready to do your taxes, you can save time and money, along with your acquired help with taxes, and use software and the associated help that comes with those programs.
So have a great time and enjoy finding help with taxes from the other sources!
