Getting help

If you find completing your tax return intimidating or you want to be sure you take advantage of all the tax saving opportunities that are available to you, you may want to get professional help.

The place to start is the IRS website, an IRS regional office, or one of the agency’s toll-free numbers. The printed and recorded material is free and accurate. And you’ll want to see if you qualify for free help preparing your taxes through the VITA program. VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, which is available to low and moderate income people who earn less than the annual cap. Visit www.irs.gov and type VITA in the search box for more information.

IRS-approved tax-preparation software packages, such as TaxCut® and TurboTax®, have lots of helpful information and simplify preparing a correct return. Or, you may want to look at one of the tax-preparation guides that are updated every year. Among the well-known titles are those published by J.K. Lasser, Ernst & Young, Consumer Reports, and others. They’re reasonably priced and thorough.