DogEarned Corners, those folded corners of book pages are to prompt yourself or someone else to read an item or a fact, or a tip or note on that page. Visit my DogEarned Corners pages for Tax Facts & Tips Etc. where I will be posting interesting items that I come across in the land of tax preparation and that I would DogEar for future reference because I think they might be of interest to many taxpayers.

•According to IRS Acting Commissioner Linda E. Stiff, IRS E-file is the easiest and most accurate way to file a tax return. Seven out of ten taxpayers or 97 million filers qualify for Free File. Taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of $54,000 or less are eligible to use free file. To access the authentic free file program you should go to www.irs.gov Taxpayers can also use Free File to file Form 4868 for an automatic extension of time to file. Even if you can’t use Free File using commercial software or going to a Tax Preparer who participates in the E-file Program should assist you in receiving your refund more quickly than mailing your return.

•After you file your return how can you check the status of your refund? If at least three weeks have passed you can call 1-800-829-4477 or go to www.irs.gov and click on where’s my refund. Now if you have E-filed your return and have also elected to have your refund direct deposited to your checking or savings account you can actually receive your refund in about two weeks. For example if you E-file between January 24 and January 31, a direct deposit could be sent to your account as early as February 8th or a paper check could be mailed on February 15th. These filing dates as well as a schedule of all potential refund dates are available on IRS E-file publication 2043. The IRS does not guarantee a specific date that a refund will be deposited into a taxpayers financial institution account or mailed.

•If you are a taxpayer experiencing economic harm and are seeking help in resolving your tax problems after attempting the resolve them through normal channels; or you believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should you may be eligible for assistance through the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Taxpayers may be eligible for assistance if:

• They are experiencing economic harm or significant cost (including fees
for professional representation);
• They have experienced a delay of more than 30 days to resolve a tax
issue; or
• They have not received a response or resolution to their problem by the
date promised by the IRS.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS. The service is free, confidential, tailored to meet taxpayer needs and is available for businesses as well as individuals. Taxpayers can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TTD 1-800-829-4059 to determine whether they are eligible for assistance. They can also call or write to their local taxpayer advocate, whose phone number and address are listed in the local telephone directory and in Publication 1546, The Taxpayer Advocate Service of the IRS - How to Get Help With Unresolved Tax Problems, available on the IRS website at IRS.gov.

I hope you're enjoying Tax Facts on the Taxing Subject of Taxes!

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