Internal Revenue Service

These three words will bring you to an immediate halt, but hold on a minute.  Every once in a while, I wander around www.IRS.gov just for ‘fun.’  Sort of like paging through my old fifteen pound copy of Webster’s Unabridged for a few minutes…the truth is you might learn something or remember something you could use today.

Take a few minutes to log into the IRS website.  When I did this recently, I went to “Don’t Fall Prey to the 2011 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams” and looked through them quickly, especially the stuff on Identity Theft.  This was especially interesting to me, since one of my family members has been hit recently.

On the left menu is a Newsroom Topic on 2011 Tax Tips.  Under that topic are tax tips posted for each month of the year of 2011.  Glancing through this list for January, I found one entitled “Tax Tips for Small Business and Self Employed.”  Some interesting facts are that the IRS offers both a Video Portal and Virtual Small Business Tax Workshops for help to business owners.

In February, the first subject is “Four Ways to Find Free Tax Help.”  One of the links under this subject is Small Business/Self Employed. 

Under the March menu I found “Walk-In:  Eight Reasons to Visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.”  Do you have any idea where your local IRS Center is should you need it?

April tips are mostly about filing individual forms, but there are lots of tips about timing and extensions as well as tips on managing your records.

May has one line only and gives the dates and places for 2011 IRS Nationwide Tax Forums.  That is Forums not forms.  These are three day events offering up-to-date information on federal and state tax issues.  There are sign-up information, YouTube Videos, relevant links in English and Spanish, and, believe it or not, Twitter @IRStaxpros for the latest news. 

Also, on the left side menu is a list of IRS Resources for which includes the NewsRoom which I found more informative than watching the news on TV. 

I guess I would have to say the Internal Revenue Service is getting more involved in the Social Media than some of us.  I have to tell you that while spending a few minutes studying this site may seem minor, I jotted down notes for further investigation later. 

Contact us at ManApp1.com for questions or issues on taxes or how taxes are affecting your business.  Leave your contact information and we will help you resolve your issues.

See you next week.