| In elementary school, kids come up with creative | | | | very burdensome to get corrected.If you |
| excuses why they did not bring in their | | | | havent't filed in years you can call the IRS at |
| homework. "My dog ate it" or "It was stolen by | | | | 1-800-829-1040 and after lots of time on hold and |
| invisible space aliens" might be given as a reason | | | | maybe a few transfers, you will eventually get |
| why something was not turned in on time. Don't | | | | somebody who can help you get your W2 info |
| try those excuses with the IRS! Don't blame | | | | mailed to you. Your local library may have old tax |
| divorce, business failures, or family troubles either, | | | | forms and tax books to help you do the returns. |
| because except under extreme circumstances, | | | | You can do it yourself, but I suggest getting a |
| they won't register with the taxman.If you have | | | | professional to help you.Don't go to some guy or |
| unfiled tax returns, you need to file at least the | | | | gal advertising on TV with a big company. Go to |
| last 6-7 years. Although under law IRS could | | | | a professional person or small firm where you can |
| make you go back and file that return from the | | | | talk one on one with a CPA, Enrolled Agent, or |
| late 1970's when you were a disco diva or urban | | | | Tax Attorney. It doesn't have to be a local |
| cowboy, the good news is that as a matter of | | | | person, you could hire someone across the |
| policy they don't! In most cases, filing the last 6-7 | | | | country. With email, fax, etc. you can avoid some |
| years will be OK and IRS will consider you in | | | | embarassment of going to a local tax pro if you |
| compliance. So don't procrastinate any further, file | | | | live in a small town by hiring someone far away. |
| the returns if you made over the standard | | | | But don't hire somebody without checking them |
| deduction and personal exemption amounts during | | | | out. Read any contract they send you. Don't part |
| those years or were self-employed.People delay | | | | with your hard earned money unless you are sure |
| filing returns for 3 main reasons:1. They are afraid | | | | of their qualifications.Members of the following |
| or embarrassed;2. They have lost the records or | | | | organizations must adhere to high ethical |
| don't know where to go to get the returns done; | | | | standards and might be a good choice for you: |
| or3. Some crackpot advised them income taxes | | | | National Society of Accountants (NSA); National |
| are bogus and that they don't have to file.Don't | | | | Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA); or the |
| be afraid of filing, be afraid of what will happen if | | | | American Insitute of Certified Public Accountants |
| you don't file. IRS could file for you and you might | | | | (AICPA). You might also look for professionals |
| owe more than if you would have done it | | | | holding the Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP) or |
| yourself or IRS could send somebody out looking | | | | Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA) designation.Don't |
| for you. It is not a crime to owe IRS money, it | | | | let your cousin Jimmy do your returns or that |
| can be a crime under some circumstances for not | | | | nice neighbor who says he is an expert. I have |
| filing a tax return or a false return.If you lost your | | | | seen more screwed up returns done by friends |
| records relax, in most case you can get all your | | | | and relatives than I care to remember. Get peace |
| income data from IRS so that you can prepare | | | | of mind, file those returns. You may owe money |
| the tax returns. If you had deductions, you may | | | | but you may have a refund waiting. Guess what, |
| have to dig those up and organize your | | | | if you file the return more than three years after |
| records.IRS is a legitimate government agency | | | | the due date; you lose the refund!Here are some |
| and they can and do enforce the laws on filing a | | | | sites that can give you more info: |
| Federal Tax Return. It sounds good when | | | | |
| somebody says IRS is a fraud, but it is a lie. We | | | | |
| all have to pay taxes. If you do not file, IRS can | | | | |
| file a tax return for you. Once that happens, it is | | | | Robert Coleman, E.A., A.T.A. |