6.
8.
Excise Taxes
How To Get Tax Help
You can get help with unresolved tax issues, order free
2003 Changes
publications and forms, ask tax questions, and get more
information from the IRS in several ways. By selecting the
method that is best for you, you will have quick and easy
New Tax Rates
access to tax help.
The tax rates for gasohol and for gasoline removed or
Contacting your Taxpayer Advocate. If you have at-
entered for the production of gasohol have increased for
tempted to deal with an IRS problem unsuccessfully, you
2003. See Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Re-
should contact your Taxpayer Advocate.
turn, for the new rates that apply to these fuels.
The Taxpayer Advocate represents your interests and
concerns within the IRS by protecting your rights and
Air Transportation Taxes
resolving problems that have not been fixed through nor-
mal channels. While Taxpayer Advocates cannot change
For amounts paid in 2003, the tax on the use of interna-
the tax law or make a technical tax decision, they can clear
tional air travel facilities will be $13.40 per person for flights
up problems that resulted from previous contacts and
that begin or end in the United States, or $6.70 per person
ensure that your case is given a complete and impartial
for domestic segments that begin or end in Alaska or
review.
Hawaii (applies only to departures). See Publication 510,
To contact your Taxpayer Advocate:
Excise Taxes for 2003, for information on air transportation
•
Call the Taxpayer Advocate at 1– 877 –777 –4778.
taxes.
•
Call, write, or fax the Taxpayer Advocate office in
Luxury Tax
your area.
•
Call 1–800 –829 –4059 if you are a TTY/TDD user.
The luxury tax on passenger vehicles does not apply after
2002.
For more information, see Publication 1546, The Tax-
payer Advocate Service of the IRS.
Free tax services. To find out what services are avail-
able, get Publication 910, Guide to Free Tax Services. It
7.
contains a list of free tax publications and an index of tax
topics. It also describes other free tax information services,
Foreign Issues
including tax education and assistance programs and a list
of TeleTax topics.
Personal computer. With your personal com-
2002 Change
puter and modem, you can access the IRS on the
Internet at While visiting our web
site, you can:
•
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
See answers to frequently asked tax questions or
request help by e-mail.
Increased
•
Download forms and publications or search for forms
For 2002, the maximum foreign earned income exclusion
and publications by topic or keyword.
is increased from $78,000 to $80,000. The maximum ex-
•
Order IRS products on-line.
clusion remains at $80,000 through 2007. See Publication
•
54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens
View forms that may be filled in electronically, print
Abroad, to see if you meet the requirements to exclude
the completed form, and then save the form for re-
your foreign income.
cordkeeping.
•
View Internal Revenue Bulletins published in the last
few years.
•
Search regulations and the Internal Revenue Code.
•
Receive our electronic newsletters on hot tax issues
and news.
Chapter 8 How To Get Tax Help
Page 27