IRS Essentials – Find What You Need Before Tax Day

The IRS wants to remind taxpayers that they can find a wide variety of useful products and information from the comfort of their home through the IRS website as the April 17 tax filing deadline approaches.

Taxpayers seeking last-minute help can access several self-help tools on the IRS website to make filing taxes easier.

• IRS.gov is "open" 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• 1040 Central is a comprehensive 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.
• Our 2012 Filing Season Tax Tips provide a wealth of information and links to help taxpayers meet the deadline.

Here are a few of the available tax tips covering some of the most common taxpayer questions.

Not sure if you have to file a tax return?

Your age, income, marital status all make a difference - See IRS Tax Tip 2012-02 – Do I Need to File a Tax Return This Year?

Want to know more about filing electronically?

Electronic filing is no longer the exception, it’s the norm - See IRS Tax Tip 2012-10 – IRS Offers Several Reasons to File Your Return Electronically.

Want to file your return electronically for FREE?

Free File on IRS.gov is always open - See IRS Tax Tip 2012-11 – Everyone is Eligible to Free File!

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 2012-64 – Tips for Taxpayers Who Can’t Pay Their Taxes on Time.

Need a form or publication?

No need to call, download it from IRS.gov - See IRS Tax Tip 2012-04 – Four Ways to Get IRS Forms and Publications.

Did you know the IRS uses social media to educate taxpayers?

Let these social media tools from the IRS help you navigate last minute tax-time tasks – See IRS Tax Tip 2012-55 – IRS Social Media Tools Help at Tax Deadline.

What other information is available on the IRS website?

Need to know more? - See IRS Tax Tip 2012-05 – Top 10 Helpful Features on the IRS Website.