IRS.gov has last-minute answers
IT’S NO SECRET by now that budget cuts at the Internal Revenue Service mean taxpayers trying to reach the agency by phone or trudging to tax assistance centers nationwide are being subjected to interminable wait times.
If you need answers to your questions, the agency strongly suggests going to its website, IRS.gov, on the chance you may find what you need. Here are several tools available on the site:
Pay your bill. If you owe on your taxes, you can pay with IRS Direct Pay, a safe, easy and free way to transfer money from your checking or savings account. Go to IRS.gov/directpay to settle your federal tax bill.
Apply for a payment plan. If you can’t pay all your taxes at once, apply for an IRS Online Payment Agreement. Try the direct debit payment plan, which has a lower setup fee and guarantees you won’t miss a payment.
Check on a refund. The Where’s My Refund? tool allows you to trace the money Uncle Sam owes you. Use the IRS2Go mobile app to access the tool, or click on the “Refunds” tab on IRS. gov.
File for free. You can prepare and efile your taxes using free brand name tax software via IRS Free File. If you made more than $60,000, you can use Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms.
Find health care
tax info. IRS.gov has information about the Affordable Care Act at IRS.gov/ aca that includes reporting health insurance coverage, claiming an exemption from the coverage requirement and claiming the premium tax credit. Get forms and publications. View, download and print federal tax forms and publications anytime.
Calculate withholding. If you get a larger refund or owe more taxes than you expect when you file your tax return, you may need to change your tax withholding. You can complete and give your employer a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Use the IRS Withholding Calculator tool to help you fill out a new form.
Get answers to questions. The Interactive Tax Assistant covers many common tax topics. Type in your question or search terms and it can lead you stepby-step to the answer.