Frequently Asked Tax Questions

 IRS Warns About Suspicious E-Mails and Phishing Schemes

GENERAL QUESTIONS

• Where is your company located?

• What are your operating hours?

• What should I bring to my tax appointment?

• When is my employer REQUIRED to give me a Form W-2?

• HELP! I lost my Form W-2. How do I get another copy?

• Do I have to file a Federal income tax return for year 2007?

• What's NEW for tax year 2007?

• What's NEW for tax year 2008?

FILING STATUS

• How is a taxpayer's "Filing Status" determined?

• Can I file "Married Filing Jointly" claiming common law marriage?

DEPENDENTS

• How do I determine if someone is a "dependent"?

EARNED INCOME CREDIT

• What are the qualifications to claim the "Earned Income Credit"?

INCOME

• What is included in "gross income"?

• What types of income are "nontaxable"?

• Are any of my Social Security benefits taxable?

DEDUCTIONS

• What expenses can I deduct as an EMPLOYEE?

• What expenses can I deduct in my BUSINESS (Self-employed / Independent Contractor)?

• What taxes are deductible?

• Is "student loan interest" deductible?

• Is tuition for higher education deductible?

• Is "child care and dependent care" deductible?

• Are "moving expenses" deductible?

• What is the "child tax credit"?

• Can I deduct "child support"?

• I went through a divorce and paid legal fees. Are they deductible?

• I just bought a home. What can I deduct from the settlement statement?

• Can I write-off a personal (nonbusiness) "bad debt"?

OTHER TAX RELATED QUESTIONS

• What happens if I change my name?

• How can I get a copy of my tax return that I filed with the IRS?

• Can I make changes to my tax return after it is filed?

• Do I have to make "Estimated Tax" payments?

• How long should tax records be kept?

• Will I be charged interest and penalties for paying and filing my taxes late?

• I'm expecting a REFUND, but I have NOT filed my tax return and the deadline has passed. Is it too late to file? Will I be charged a late filing penalty?

• Should I notify the IRS if I change my address?

• Can I ask to make installment payments on the amount I owe?

• Can I pay my taxes with a credit/debit card?

• Will my refund be taken to pay other debts that I owe?

• Am I an "Injured Spouse"?

• I recently opened up a new account at the bank, and they asked me to complete IRS Form W-9. Is this necessary?

• I already filed my tax return and just received another W-2 Form. Now what?

• How can I get a copy of my tax return from a prior year?

• I have investment property. Can you explain the term "basis of assets"?

• How am I taxed if I sell my "main home"?

• What are the "Social Security and Medicare Rates"?

• What is "Depreciation"?

• How do I determine if a person is an "Employee or Independent Contractor"?

• Are gifts, bequests, or inheritances taxable?