The extended deadline for filing last year's tax returns came and went last week. If you find yourself enmeshed in a dispute with the IRS, or if you see one coming, these sites may assist you.
Smart list. SmartMoney.com explains "10 things the IRS won't tell you." The list is humorous. Items include, "Fear is often our best weapon," "Just because we billed you doesn't mean you owe us money," and "We may be a government agency, but that doesn't mean your data's safe." Imagine a government agency being so frank.
Advocate calling. If you happen to find yourself in conflict with the IRS, normal channels haven't settled the problem, and the situation is about to cause you financial hardship, the agency itself is required to offer you a free independent representative who just might help save the day. Here's the page for the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
And if that doesn't work, you can hire a lawyer, or you can call in a special breed of advocate called an "enrolled agent." These are individuals licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department to represent taxpayers in IRS proceedings. Find one here at the National Association of Enrolled Agents.
Off your back. In this video, Ken and Daria Dolan, who bill themselves as the "America's first family of finance," point out the supreme importance of keeping meticulous financial records in case of a dispute with the IRS. Their videos are offered here on 5min.com, a site that syndicates instructional videos.
Tax procrastination. Half of the people who put off paying taxes are actually due a refund, according to the IRS. If you are among the millions who didn't file in April, check out this ThirdAge.com article on "the psychology behind tax procrastination." One of several "delusions" noted is the thought that, "I don't need to go to all the trouble of filing because I didn't make enough money to make it worth the IRS's trouble to come after me."
Contact staff writer Reid Kanaley at 215-854-5114 or rkanaley@phillynews.com.
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