In most cases you get your W-2 forms by the end of January. Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, shows your income and the taxes withheld from your pay for the year. You need your W-2 form to file an accurate tax return.
If you haven’t received your form by mid-February, here’s what you should do:
• Contact your employer. Ask your employer (or former employer) for a copy. Be sure that they have your correct address.
• After Feb. 23. If you can’t get a copy from your employer, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 after Feb. 23. The IRS will send a letter to your employer on your behalf. You’ll need the following when you call:
o Your name, address, Social Security number and phone number;
o Your employer’s name, address and phone number;
o The dates you worked for the employer; and
o An estimate of your wages and federal income tax withheld in 2014. You can use your final pay stub for these amounts.
• File on time. Your tax return is normally due on or before April 15, 2015. Use Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, if you don’t get your W-2 in time to file. Estimate your wages and taxes withheld as best as you can. The IRS may need more time to process your return while it verifies your information. If you can’t finish your tax return by the due date, you can ask for more time to file. Get an extra six months by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. You can also e-file a request for more time. You can do this for free with IRS Free File.
• Correct if necessary. You may need to correct your tax return if you get your missing W-2 after you file. If the tax information on the W-2 is different from what you originally reported, you may need to file an amended tax return. Use Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return to make the change.
Note: Important New Health Insurance Form. If you bought health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you should have received a Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, by early February. You will need the new form to help you complete an accurate federal tax return. You will use the information from the Form 1095-A to calculate the amount of your premium tax credit. The form is also used to reconcile advance payments of the premium tax credit made on your behalf with the amount of premium tax credit that you are eligible to claim.
If you did not receive your Form 1095-A, you should contact the Marketplace from which you received coverage to get a copy. You are not required to send in proof of health care coverage, including Form 1095-A, to the IRS when filing your tax return. However, it’s a good idea to keep these records on hand to verify coverage.
Additional information about the Form 1095-A is available on IRS.gov/aca and on HealthCare.gov/taxes.
You can visit the Tax On Wheels, LLC forms page to search for the state and federal tax forms you need right away. To get IRS forms by mail go to IRS.gov/orderforms and place an order.
Which form should you use to file your federal income taxes? These days, most people use a computer to prepare and e-file their tax forms. It’s easy, because tax software selects the right form for you. If you file on paper, you’ll need to pick the right form to use.
If you still prefer paper and pen, here are some tips on how to choose the best form for your situation.
You can generally use the 1040EZ if:
The 1040A may be best for you if:
However, reasons you must use the 1040 include:
Read more about which form to use in IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax. The quickest way to get tax forms and instructions is to visit IRS.gov and click on the ‘Forms & Pubs’ tab. New tax forms often appear online well before the printed forms are available.
You can also have forms mailed to you by calling the IRS at 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676), or you can pick them up at a local IRS office. Some libraries and post offices also have tax forms.
Tax On Wheels, LLC is here to assist you with all of your tax filing needs. You can download many of the most commonly used forms here on our website. You also can prepare and electronically file your tax return here as well. Just click on that flashing blue button at the very top of the page to get started. If are eligible to file 1040EZ your federal return is free. Not everybody wants to prepare their own tax return, that’s why we are here. We help you the way you want to be helped. So give us a call at 803 732-4288
There are many reasons why you should keep a copy of your federal tax return. For example, you may need it to answer an IRS inquiry. You may also need it to apply for a student loan or a home mortgage. If you can’t find your tax return, the IRS can provide a copy or give you a transcript of the tax information you need.
Here’s how to get your federal tax return information from the IRS:
1. Transcripts are free and you can get them for the current year and the past three years. In most cases, a transcript includes all the information you need.
2. A tax return transcript shows most line items from the tax return you originally filed. It also includes items from any accompanying forms and schedules you filed. It does not reflect any changes made after you filed your original return.
3. A tax account transcript shows any changes either you or the IRS made to your tax return after you filed it. This transcript includes your marital status, the type of return you filed, your adjusted gross income and taxable income.
4. You can get transcripts on the web, by phone or by mail. To request transcripts online, go to IRS.gov and use the Order a Transcript tool. To order by phone, call 800-908-9946 and follow the prompts.
5. To request a 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ tax return transcript by mail or fax, complete Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript. Businesses and individuals who need a tax account transcript should use Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return.
6. If you order online or by phone, you should receive your tax return transcript within five to 10 calendar days. You should allow 30 calendar days for delivery of a tax account transcript if you order by mail.
7. If you need an actual copy of a filed and processed tax return, it will cost $57 for each tax year. Complete Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, and mail it to the IRS address listed on the form for your area. Copies are generally available for the current year and past six years. Please allow 60 days for delivery.
8. If you live in a Presidentially declared disaster area, the IRS may waive the fee to obtain copies of your tax returns. Visit IRS.gov and select the ‘Disaster Relief’ link in the lower left corner of the page for more about IRS disaster assistance.
9. Forms 4506, 4506-T and 4506T-EZ are available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676) or you may contact Tax On Wheels, LLC for assistance at 803 732-4288.
IRS e-file makes it easy for taxpayers to choose which tax form to file. Tax software automatically chooses the best form for your particular situation. Most people e-file these days, but if you prefer taking pen to paper, the IRS has some tips to help you choose the right form.
Taxpayers who choose to file a paper tax return should know that the IRS no longer mails paper tax packages. The quickest way to get forms and instructions is by visiting the IRS website at IRS.gov. You can also order forms and have them mailed to you by calling the IRS forms line at 1-800-TAX-FORM (829-3676). You may also pick up tax forms from a local IRS office, and some libraries and post offices carry tax forms. Most IRS forms and publications are available here on this website under the “Resources” tab or by clicking here
Here are some tips that will help paper tax return filers choose the best tax form for their situation.
You can generally use the 1040EZ if:
If you can’t use Form 1040EZ, you may qualify to use the 1040A if:
You claim adjustments to income for IRA contributions and student loan interest.
If you cannot use the 1040EZ or the 1040A, you’ll probably need to file using the 1040. The reasons you must use the 1040 include:
IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, provides helpful information about which form is best for you. Everyone can use the 1040 form, even if you qualify for one of the simpler forms. Tax clients of Tax On Wheels, LLC will notice that everyone is placed on the 1040. It is just simpler to have one form for administrative purposes but there is no loss of accuracy by using a more complicated form.
Access to IRS forms and instructions or information about e-filing is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on IRS.gov. Tax products often appear online well before they are available on paper. You’ll find downloadable tax products on IRS.gov by clicking on the “Forms and Pubs” link on this website.
Tax On Wheels, LLC endeavors to empower consumers with the knowledge and skills to understand and manage their own tax affairs; that’s why we post this information to the web. However, not everyone is built to handle their own tax affairs; that’s why we are here. If after taking a look at those forms you decide that you would rather have some assistance with your tax obligations please give feel free to give us a call at 803 732-4288 to see if we can help you.
The Internal Revenue Service provides free tax forms and publications on a wide variety of topics – from tax credits for individuals to a tax guide for small businesses.
Here are four easy ways to obtain tax forms and publications from the IRS:
1. On the Internet. You can get IRS forms and instructions quickly and easily by visiting the IRS.gov website 24 hours a day 7 days a week. They often appear online before they are available on paper. To view and download tax products, select “Forms and Pubs.”
2. By Telephone. Call 1-800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676) Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time to order current or prior year forms and instructions or IRS publications. Hours of service in Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific Time. You will receive your order by mail, usually within 7 to 10 days.
3. In IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers. There are Taxpayer Assistance Centers located across the country where you can pick up many IRS forms and publications. IRS offices also offer face-to-face help for taxpayers who want personal tax assistance.
To find the Center nearest to you, visit IRS.gov and click on “Help & Resources” and then “Contact Your Local IRS Office.” Select your state for a list of offices, as well as a list of services available at each office. You can also find a Center near you by using the “Office Locator” link, which allows you to search by using your zip code.
4. In Your Community. Many libraries and post offices offer free tax forms during the tax filing season. Some libraries also have copies of commonly requested IRS publications.
You may also obtain official state and federal tax forms and publications by clicking on the “Resources” link at the top of the page.
Tax On Wheels, LLC endeavors to empower consumers with the knowledge and skills to understand and manage their own tax affairs; that’s why we post this information to the web. However, not everyone is built to handle their own tax affairs; that’s why we are here. If after taking a look at those forms you decide that you would rather have some assistance with your tax obligations please give feel free to give us a call at 803 732-4288 to see if we can help you.