Looking for a Irs Publications? Download it for free!

•

Get information on starting and operating

certain forms, instructions, and publica-

How To Get Tax Help

a small business.

tions. Some IRS offices, libraries, grocery

stores, copy centers, city and county gov-

ernment offices, credit unions, and office

You can get help with unresolved tax issues,

supply stores have a collection of products

order free publications and forms, ask tax ques-

Phone. Many services are available by

available to print from a CD or photocopy

tions, and get information from the IRS in sev-

phone.

from reproducible proofs. Also, some IRS

eral ways. By selecting the method that is best

offices and libraries have the Internal Rev-

for you, you will have quick and easy access to

•

Ordering forms, instructions, and publica-

enue Code, Regulations, Internal Revenue

tax help.

tions. Call 1-800-TAX-FORM

Bulletins, and Cumulative Bulletins avail-

(1-800-829-3676) to order current-year

Free help with your return. Free help in pre-

able for research purposes.

forms, instructions, and publications, and

paring your return is available nationwide from

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Services. You can walk in to your local

prior-year forms and instructions. You

IRS-certified volunteers. The Volunteer Income

Taxpayer Assistance Center every busi-

should receive your order within 10 days.

Tax Assistance (VITA) program is designed to

ness day for personal, face-to-face tax

help low-moderate income taxpayers and the

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Asking tax questions. Call the IRS with

help. An employee can explain IRS letters,

Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program is

your tax questions at 1-800-829-1040.

request adjustments to your tax account,

designed to assist taxpayers age 60 and older

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or help you set up a payment plan. If you

Solving problems. You can get

with their tax returns. Most VITA and TCE sites

need to resolve a tax problem, have ques-

face-to-face help solving tax problems

offer free electronic filing and all volunteers will

tions about how the tax law applies to your

every business day in IRS Taxpayer As-

let you know about credits and deductions you

individual tax return, or you are more com-

sistance Centers. An employee can ex-

may be entitled to claim. To find the nearest

fortable talking with someone in person,

plain IRS letters, request adjustments to

VITA or TCE site, visit IRS.gov or call

visit your local Taxpayer Assistance

your account, or help you set up a pay-

1-800-906-9887 or 1-800-829-1040.

ment plan. Call your local Taxpayer Assis-

Center where you can spread out your

As part of the TCE program, AARP offers the

tance Center for an appointment. To find

records and talk with an IRS representa-

Tax-Aide counseling program. To find the near-

the number, go to

tive face-to-face. No appointment is nec-

est AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 or

tacts

or look in the phone book under

essary — just walk in. If you prefer, you

visit AARP’s website at

United States Government, Internal Reve-

can call your local Center and leave a

nue Service.

message requesting an appointment to re-

For more information on these programs, go

solve a tax account issue. A representa-

to IRS.gov and enter keyword “VITA” in the

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TTY/TDD equipment. If you have access

tive will call you back within 2 business

upper right-hand corner.

to TTY/TDD equipment, call

days to schedule an in-person appoint-

1-800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to

Internet. You can access the IRS web-

ment at your convenience. If you have an

order forms and publications.

site at IRS.gov 24 hours a day, 7 days

ongoing, complex tax account problem or

a week to:

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TeleTax topics. Call 1-800-829-4477 to lis-

a special need, such as a disability, an

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ten to pre-recorded messages covering

appointment can be requested. All other

E-file your return. Find out about commer-

various tax topics.

issues will be handled without an appoint-

cial tax preparation and e-file services

ment. To find the number of your local

available free to eligible taxpayers.

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Refund information. To check the status of

office, go to

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your 2011 refund, call 1-800-829-1954 or

Check the status of your 2011 refund. Go

or look in the

1-800-829-4477 (automated refund infor-

to IRS.gov and click on Where’s My Re-

phone book under United States Govern-

mation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

fund. Wait at least 72 hours after the IRS

ment, Internal Revenue Service.

Wait at least 72 hours after the IRS ac-

acknowledges receipt of your e-filed re-

knowledges receipt of your e-filed return,

turn, or 3 to 4 weeks after mailing a paper

Mail. You can send your order for

or 3 to 4 weeks after mailing a paper re-

return. If you filed Form 8379 with your

forms, instructions, and publications to

turn. If you filed Form 8379 with your re-

return, wait 14 weeks (11 weeks if you

the address below. You should receive

turn, wait 14 weeks (11 weeks if you filed

filed electronically). Have your 2011 tax

a response within 10 days after your request is

electronically). Have your 2011 tax return

return available so you can provide your

received.

available so you can provide your social

social security number, your filing status,

security number, your filing status, and the

and the exact whole dollar amount of your

exact whole dollar amount of your refund.

Internal Revenue Service

refund.

If you check the status of your refund and

1201 N. Mitsubishi Motorway

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Download forms, including talking tax

are not given the date it will be issued,

Bloomington, IL 61705-6613

forms, instructions, and publications.

please wait until the next week before

checking back.

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Taxpayer Advocate Service. The Taxpayer

Order IRS products online.

Advocate Service (TAS) is your voice at the IRS.

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Other refund information. To check the

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Research your tax questions online.

Our job is to ensure that every taxpayer is

status of a prior-year refund or amended

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treated fairly, and that you know and understand

Search publications online by topic or

return refund, call 1-800-829-1040.

your rights. We offer free help to guide you

keyword.

through the often-confusing process of resolving

Evaluating the quality of our telephone

•

Use the online Internal Revenue Code,

tax problems that you haven’t been able to solve

services. To ensure IRS representatives give

regulations, or other official guidance.

on your own. Remember, the worst thing you

accurate, courteous, and professional answers,

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can do is nothing at all.

View Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRBs)

we use several methods to evaluate the quality

published in the last few years.

TAS can help if you can’t resolve your prob-

of our telephone services. One method is for a

lem with the IRS and:

second IRS representative to listen in on or

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Figure your withholding allowances using

record random telephone calls. Another is to ask

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the withholding calculator online at

www.

Your problem is causing financial difficul-

some callers to complete a short survey at the

irs.gov/individuals.

ties for you, your family, or your business.

end of the call.

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Determine if Form 6251 must be filed by

You face (or your business is facing) an

using our Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)

Walk-in. Many products and services

immediate threat of adverse action.

Assistant available online at

are available on a walk-in basis.

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You have tried repeatedly to contact the

individuals.

IRS but no one has responded, or the IRS

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Products. You can walk in to many post

has not responded to you by the date

news by email.

offices, libraries, and IRS offices to pick up

promised.

Publication 536 (2011)

Page 17

Publication 536 - Net Operating Losses (Nols) For Individuals, Estates, And Trusts - 2011 Page 17

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