IR-2015-57: Taxpayers in Increasing Numbers Find Help from IRS.gov

IR-2015-57: Taxpayers in Increasing Numbers Find Help from IRS.gov March 20, 2015 follow above link to the IRS website for more information.

At the Vernal Equinox of 2015, the Internal Revenue Service have gathered some statistics based on taxpayer use of the IRS website www.irs.gov. 

This year more than ever users are making use of the many tools available on their website. 

11% more taxpayers have used irs.gov than they did last year in 2014. What is interesting to me is that the term eleven percent is relative to the other 88% - which is what?

The count of 11% of taxpayers is about 215 million users. Since March 13, 2015 "Where Is My Refund?, has been visited 164 million times in the last two weeks. 

From experience, I am sure that the same person, or firm may use the IRS website multiple times, even in the same day, but there is a decidedly larger bunch using the website this year. 

According to the article, there have been 15 (fifteen) million visits in the last seven days alone! 

?Cuando Recibire' Mi Reembolso? IRSvideosmultilingua

Where Is My Refund?

The second most visited link on the IRS.gov website, is "Get Transcript." So far in 2015, over 10 million people have ordered prior year tax returns from the IRS. Now that the IRS allows ordering on-line, it has made the process much faster. In the past the only way to get them was to visit you local IRS Office, or on phone, and/or by mail! Snail mail.

Obtaining Tax Transcripts by FAME Maine

There are many other handy tools available on the IRS website, such as; Request an Electronic Filing PIN, The Interactive Tax Assistant, Order Forms.

One other thing you may have noticed on the multilingual video placed within this article is that videos, pods, and other information can be found in many languages, as well as American Sign Language; 

ASL IRSVideos- Increase Fraud - The IRS Doesn't CALL!

It is my hope that your tax filing experiences are positive and that you are able to get the help you need with your Tax Return. 

IR-2015-54: Taxpayers Receiving Identity Verification Letter Should Use IDVerify.irs.gov

IR-2015-54: Taxpayers Receiving Identity Verification Letter Should Use IDVerify.irs.gov

DO NOT ACCEPT ANY PHONE CALLS FROM ANYONE SAYING THEY ARE FROM THE IRS ASKING FOR YOUR INFO** - THEY SEND LETTERS - LETTERS - LETTERS. THEY DO NOT CALL!

There have been reports that phishers, scammers and other thieves have come up with ways to take enough of a taxpayer's information that they are filing tax returns on unsuspecting citizens, who must go through months and possibly years of anguish over stolen refunds. 

Going in Person

There are a lot of laughs to be had in the movie, "Identity Theft" but it is not funny that it parallels the hell a person goes through when someone else decides to take a ride on their identity. 

Melissa McCarthy in "Identity Theft Trailer"

If you have any reason to think there is a possibility someone has stolen your identity, or you are a victim of identity theft, the video below gives simple information about what to do if this happens to you. 

IRS Video - YouTube - Identity Theft 

The IRS has a new tool called idverify.irs.gov. Taxpayers may receive a letter when the IRS stops suspicious tax returns that have indications of being identity theft but contains a real taxpayer’s name and/or Social Security number. 

Only those taxpayers receiving Letter 5071C should access idverify.irs.gov.

The website will ask a series of questions that only the real taxpayer can answer. 

Aside from waltzing into a local Internal Revenue Office with your 507-1C letter from the IRS,(which are usually contained in some type of Federal complexes, where you have to pass through metal detectors and be wand-ed by U.S. Marshall's), you can now go to "ID Verify dot irs dot gov and safely identify your identification. 

Pay attention to the bold warning when you land on the id verify site, because trying to use someone's personal information other than your own on that site will get you some serious trouble with State and Federal Law Enforcement, or maybe just the Internal Revenue Service, The Treasury and Department of Justice. It is not a very good idea. Those who do these things will get caught. It is a matter of time. 

For the hearing impaired, the IRS has informational videos to keep you in the loop as well, 
here are some Tax Scams.

                                     ASL: Tax Scams (Captions and Audio) - YouTube 

Here is hoping this is helpful in keeping you safe from #identityTheft or #TaxFraud.

• How To Place A Fraud Alert - Link to The Federal Trade Commission
• Report Fraud, Waste, Abuse - Link to Office of Inspector General , SSA

**unless you are already actively working with an agent at the IRS.

Taxpayers who Itemize must wait until February 15, 2011 to file

There are many people in an uproar over this, here January 18, 2011. So many Americans are in the rut of over withholding all year long, they are desperate to get this big payoff, right in January. This is the same as it always is, except, before Taxpayers could rush in, with partial information, getting large loans on a projected income, that never comes, saying they will just do a 1040X. 


In order to itemize, when you prepare, or pay someone else to file your 2010 taxes, you will be required to produce that evidence to the preparer, or IRS. Tax preparers, will no longer take the risk that the taxpayer has all of the figures needed, and lets file those taxes. It has become a mad game of give and git. The American taxpayers are doing themselves a grave injustice with financing the US Treasury.


Many American Taxpayers do not realize they can be fined for over withholding as easily as under withholding. The IRS does not prefer taxpayers to use the US Treasury as a savings account. Why, would anyone loan out thousands of dollars per year interest free, while paying around 23% interest to use their own purchasing power or money?

For those who think they are benefiting their financial means at all, I must say, NO! You are robbing yourself of Double the money! 


I have heard, listened and given some understanding to the practice, but it is a very harmful financial practice. What has started taxpayers on the road to poverty, are these type of practices, without realizing how much they are shorting themselves. Most Americans live on credit, or they did until 2009.


Millions of Americans loan thousands of dollars per year to the US Treasury, interest free. The thing that is strange, is that these same individuals pay around 23% interest to use their own money, all year long.

Paying tax on income, means you do your best to break even, or be very close. A taxpayer who has worked in the same income for more than one tax year, knows what he/she was required to pay in taxes. Or what their taxable income was for the prior year. This means, that the next year, you must pay in at least 90% of the taxes you paid the previous year. No more, no less.


There are reasons why one year can change drastically from the next. By keeping up with how much income tax, social security and Medicare, is being paid in through the year, one may stay within dollars of what they will owe, or be refunded when it comes time to divvy up at the tax table.


The IRS website, located at www.irs.gov has all the tools a taxpayer, or prospective taxpayer would need to keep up with how to optimize their entire financial outlook. The one tool that is rarely used, is the IRS Withholding Calculator. When using the IRS Withholding Calculator, found under the Individual Tab, and about 5 paragraphs down, you will know how much you have paid in, and how much is required, depending on your projected income. Projected is important, because you may like to do the majority of your withholding from day one of the new tax year. Something can happen, where your income increases, or decreases greatly. When this happens, it is time to adjust withholding correctly. At the end of each session of the IRS Withholding Calculator, you are offered an opportunity or chance to print off and download a new W-4. 

It is important that the taxpayer keep up with their own withholding throughout the year. If an employer under withheld, or did not pay in the Social Security, and/or Medicare, the individual taxpayer will be held responsible.


I understand it is not prestigious to live within ones means. It seems an illusive image American taxpayers have created for themselves. Somehow it is more fab, more popular, more 'with it' to charge purchases, living on credit, until someone else pulls the plug.


The average refund of those getting money back is about $3,000.00 per year. That is about $57.00 per week, $250.00 per month extra each taxpayer could have throughout their year. The only thing is, it isn't flashy, or doesn't carry with it some kind of image Americans think they must fit. Double your money, stop over withholding, and cut up those credit cards. They are NOT for Emergencies.

Free File - Fillible Forms From the IRS!

It's your Birthday - It's your Birthday - It's your Birthday - It's Your Birthday!!!! WEE HO!

If you can read instructions, you can file your Tax Return for ***FREE***

The Year of the Taxpayer!

• Low Income, you are eligible for Earned Income Credit, in 8 days you can have your Federal Tax Return for 2008 for Free. This means the $300.00 - $600.00 you would be charged in preparation and loan fees will be back in your home and family where it belongs.
• Consider yourself middle class in terms of pay? Do you know you are going to owe a little cheese to SAMMY, and now you are hacked off because you know you gotta pay some little twerp who just learned how to enter data in a machine around $100.00 bucks [or for some of us the $30.00 we may pay for "Free File" using other companies software] to do your return - AND have to pay in too...You can file free. All the forms you need are there. All instructions for each form are viewable while you are on that form. FREE *
• Tax person * hate filing your taxes where you work? Like keeping your financial business to yourself? YOU WILL LOVE THIS.
• Old School? - You know how to do your simple tax return on paper and by-Jobie that is the only true way? If you aren't familiar with the computer, ask that grand baby to show you how to get to the IRS website. Instructions are to follow:
• Haven't done your taxes for a few years? You can go back and do every year FREE. Do you know how much money this will save you? For those who were scrambling to file for the Stimulus check, and you didn't get it done, now is a good time to finish. If you can read instructions. You can do this.
• Rich? HATE giving anyone a penny to do what you may be able to do yourself? Do you wait until April 15Th [traditionally] to do your taxes to put off paying Uncle SAMMY, and the Big Twerp CPA who has been gouging you every year and you are ready to put it in his/her eye? Here is your chance...If you are High Income, you probably need to wait until the middle of March 2009 to do your Tax Return. This is when 2008 Tax Law Changes are done, and all Forms will be available.
• Love to File Extensions? Hate to pay $25.00 - $50.00 or more for that pleasure? You can electronically file an Extension. How much? FREE!
• Seniors - Disabled - Not required to file, you can file if you want to, just to stay in the system. Free * Free * Free

Go to www.irs.gov click on the "Individual" Tab. Under the picture of the happy mixed family at the picnic table, the third item down (02/02/09) is a Link to Free File. At the top of Free File page it gives options for Your choosing a Tax Software or letting the IRS find a company for you. The next option is Choose Your Forms, click on that. It will advise you that you are leaving the IRS website, go ahead. You will come to a simple pretty blue form 1040. Have your last year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) - that is the bottom line on the front page of your Last Year's Tax Return (2007). Come up with a pin number. Most choose last 5 of the Social Securtiy Number, because you always have it and can remember it. Choose your forms. If you are not sure if you will need a form, go ahead and choose it, you can delete it later. Come back later for further instructions....

If you have any questions. Leave them here, and I will do my best to get your Answer - This Year is the Year of the Tax Payer, because I am working for Free doing this as well. Any income I would earn is by over a thousand visits to my page...[maybe April 14Th huh?]. Really, let me help, this Old Grizzly knows her stuff! I have resources and training, that I get from the IRS. I am an approved e-file company. This is my Karma building year, and Americans and Visitor workers need all the Helps and benefits they can get.

For confidentiality - email: grizzly.bear@att.net

***Case examples from all past years may be used without names or any identifying features. Due Diligence is Primary! Any questions intended to commit fraud? Don't ask me, because I will advise you to the illegality and possible punishments. -0- Tolerance. Honest questions - Priceless! :8 - ) ***

Free File Forms - 2008 Tax Year

Good morning Taxpayers, [Happy Superbowl 43! Steelers vs Cardinals]
***Here is an update on the new Free File Forms available from the IRS Free File link.

Go to www.irs.gov, in the Search Box, type Free File. You will be directed to a split page. The top portion of the page gives income limitations for Free File using approved Software. The IRS gives two options with Free File with Software; 1). You choose the Company, 2). The IRS will choose for you after you answer a couple of questions. http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

The next option on Free File using Software is that you choose your own. There are different reasons to choose, but find the one who best suits your needs without charging too much.

On the Bottom half of this page, Taxpayers are given the option of choosing their own forms; 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ.

***** No income limits for using these forms. Some Forms for the more complicated returns will not be available until March of 2009. This is when Congress is done with 2008 Tax Law, and it is final.

***** Five Star rating for any Dependent who needs to file an income tax return. Remember Parents and Guardians; if you claim a dependent on your Tax Return who has earnings, they are required to File a Tax Return. After working for years at one of the big name tax firms, I can tell you the prices charged for a Dependent 1040EZ is too much. By getting your youngster started with Free Forms, this will give them a better understanding of their 'tax life". Oh yeah; It is completely free to file electronically. I have run into a glitch on the start-up, but on Monday I will be in touch with the IRS to find out Whatz up.

My tax return is more complicated because I legally take every penny possible, and I was up to 8 forms & worksheets last night when I realized I could not locate the place to enter W-2, 1099, 1099R [incoming money] forms. Again, I probably missed something on the sign in, but it should not be so hard to locate these areas of entry. Follow-up Monday night if I can get off of Eternal Hold.

~ Software - TaxSlayer is still my favorite. They are user friendly, provide links to information to what you are doing without charge. Under certain income limits; it is Free Fed & Free State = 9.95 E-File.

Many have used the same company for years. If you have had no problems and you are happy with the ease of use; don't change. Keep in mind when you purchase the Software in the stores, you are paying a lot more than 9.95, or 14.95. As they say, if you don't know how to use it correctly it will be problems without measure and you can be barred from the IRS by doing your own taxes.

Records, Records, Records. You must have them compiled before you File!

If you use a tax professional, do not put them in the position of "guessing" close to your numbers. This year more than ever, your Tax "people" will be held accountable for erroneous numbers. Do not let any Tax 'people' convince you to "use a Dependent" that you cannot prove the dependency.

I heard one guy in a school for a certain Large name firm say, "they told us no one ever goes to jail for that..."

Try this, go to the Department of Justice website, search Tax Firms & Preparers. Perhaps print out the 20 - 30 pages of firms that have been closed, the tax pros that have been fined and their punishments.