IRS Essentials: How to Find What You Need Before Tax Day

With the Monday, April 18 federal income tax deadline rapidly approaching, the IRS offers self-help tools to make filing taxes easier.

Taxpayers seeking last minute help can find key information through the IRS website.

• IRS.gov is "open" 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• The 2011 Filing Season Tax Tips, available on www.IRS.gov, provide  information and links to help taxpayers meet the deadline. 
• 1040 Central is the source for individual income tax information.
• Interactive Tax Assistant is a tax law resource that guides taxpayers through a series of questions and provides responses on credits, deductions and general filing questions.

The IRS daily filing season tax tips also available on the website provide plain language information to help taxpayers.  Here are a few of the available tax tips covering some of the most common taxpayer questions:

Want to file your return electronically for free?

Free File on IRS.gov is always open: See IRS Tax Tip 2011-11. Let Free File Do the Hard Work for You.

Want to know more about filing electronically?

Electronic filing is no longer the exception, it’s the norm. See IRS Tax Tip 2011-10. Prepare and File Your Taxes Electronically

Need more time to file?   

Request an Extension until October 17: See IRS Tax Tip 2011-69 and learn about the seven things about getting more time to file your tax return.

Can’t pay or need an installment agreement? 

File on time and the IRS may be able to grant more time to pay: See IRS Tax Tip 2011-64－Read this if you need more time to pay your taxes.  

Need a form or publication?  

No need to call, download it from IRS.gov: See IRS Tax Tip 2011-04－Five Ways to Obtain IRS Forms and Publications.

Not sure if you have to file a tax return?  

Your age, income, marital status all make a difference: See IRS Tax Tip 2011-02－Do I Have to File a Tax Return?

Need IRS Individual Tax Law Information?  

The IRS has a pub for that: See IRS Tax Tip 2011-30－Six Facts About IRS Publication 17.

Have a question about your refund?  

Check out the "Where's My Refund" tool: See IRS Tax Tip 2011-66－Ten Things to Know about Tax Refunds.

What other information is available on the IRS website? 

Need to know more? See IRS Tax Tip 2011-05－Top Ten Reasons to Visit IRS.gov.