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Tips for quality tax help; deals today, this week
Tax day is still more than three months away, but it is never too early to have information that can save you some cash — be it on your tax preparation or your subsequent return.
The key is to know what options are available, and to take advantage of them.
Tax help for free
The best source for tax information is on the Internal Revenue Service Web site at www.irs.gov.
Not only is it comprehensive, but it’s also free.
Eric Erickson of IRS media relations for Ohio and West Virginia recommends reading Publication 17 on the site, which provides a general overview of the tax filing process.
“It is a catch-all publication,” he said.
Another publication on the site, No. 910, is the IRS Guide to Free Tax Services. Among those services is Free File, which allows individuals to file for free if they qualify. Check the IRS site for more details.
Erickson noted that, as of Friday, Jan. 15, people can start filing their 2009 taxes online. The IRS has toll-free customer service lines that will answer tax questions for free.
For individuals, call (800) 829-1040, and for business-related tax issues, call (800) 829-4933.
Tips for choosing a tax preparer
If you need more help than a Web site or phone call can provide, there are software and tax preparers to consider.
However, since your finances are at stake, make sure you choose wisely.
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in a statement last week that, because more than 80 percent of Americans use a tax preparer or software to complete their tax returns, the IRS is recommending new rules to boost standards.
“It’s critical to taxpayers and it’s also critical to the revenues of the country,” Shulman said in a briefing.
Toward that end, the IRS also released these eight tips to help identify a good tax preparer and to avoid related issues with your return:
Check qualifications. Ask if the preparer is affiliated with a professional organization that provides its members with continuing education and resources, and holds them to a code of ethics.
Check on the preparer’s history with the Better Business Bureau, the state’s board of accountancy for CPAs or the Ohio bar association for attorneys.
Find out about their service fees. Avoid preparers that base their fee on a percentage of the amount of your refund or those who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers.
Make sure the tax preparer is accessible. Make sure you will be able to contact the tax preparer after the return has been filed, even after April 15, in case questions arise. Consider whether the individual or firm will be around months, or even years, after the return has been filed.
Provide all records and receipts needed to prepare your return. Most reputable preparers will request to see your records and receipts and will ask you multiple questions to determine your total income and your qualifications for expenses, deductions and other items.
Never sign a blank return. And avoid tax preparers that ask you to sign a blank tax form.
Review the entire return before signing it. Before you sign your tax return, review it and ask questions. Make sure you understand everything and are comfortable with the accuracy of the return before you sign it.
Make sure the preparer signs the form. A paid preparer must sign the return as required by law. Although the preparer signs the return, you are responsible for the accuracy of every item on your return. The preparer must also give you a copy.
This week’s big sales
Speaking of tax preparation options, Office Max, Office Depot and Staples have sales on related software when you buy TurboTax or H&R Block software. Their prices on the actual tax software are the same between the stores.
For the best price on TurboTax software alone, visit TurboTax.com.
Office Max also is having a sale on furniture, marking down desk chairs, desks and metal file cabinets up to 50 percent off.
Some area stores are having short sales with big savings that end today.
My favorite overall of these is the sale at JCPenney. There are many items for 60 percent off and clearance items for 70 percent off. Guys’ fleece hoodies are 70 percent off and toddlers’ Okie Dokie fleece tops and bottoms are 60 percent off. There also are juniors’ T-shirts for $3.99.
JCPenney also is having a Stock-up White Sale, with 50 percent to 60 percent off all towels, blankets and throws (excluding Snuggies), and sheets. There also is 40 percent to 50 percent off small appliances, cookware, floor care and more.
Kohl’s is finishing up a three-day sale today, with many items for 50 percent off, clearance items for 60 percent to 80 percent off.
Also, if you really like Kohl’s, you can sign up for free e-mail sales alerts and get a $5 in-store coupon and a 10 percent off online coupon.
Elder-Beerman is concluding a great four-day sale today, with 50 percent to 75 percent off sale and clearance storewide. The clearance items include women’s clothes, boots, outerwear for men and women, all down comforters, and all bath and accent rugs, among others.
As for sales just starting today, Target has workout wear for $8 to $15, and 30 percent off select indoor games, scooters and bikes.
Dell is offering savings of more than $200 on select laptops, and HHgregg has big TVs on sale. At HHgregg, you can get $1,000 off Toshiba 46-inch and a 55-inch LED HDTVs. They now cost $1,299.97 and $1,999.97, respectively.
Like it did at Christmas, HHgregg also is offering its free Blu-ray player worth $200 with the purchase of a 50-inch Panasonic HDTV.
Best Buy also is going the TV sale route, and has a 55-inch Samsung LCD HDTV for $1,699, for a savings of $900.
Sears is having a home sale this week, with big savings on mattresses and all pillows for buy one, get one free.
CVS/Pharmacy, Rite Aid and Walgreens also are joining the B1G1 party. CVS has coffee, batteries, vitamins, toothpaste and more for that deal with the use of an Extra Care Bucks card.
Rite Aid has Tylenol for B1G1, as well as Valentine’s Day candy, and Walgreens has select household cleaners for the same deal.
Michaels has a winter clearance of up to 70 percent off, and both Kmart and Walmart have extra discounts during their Dollar Days.
Williams-Sonoma closeout sale
The lone area Williams-Sonoma store is closing, effective Jan. 17.
The store at The Mall at Fairfield Commons had sales of 25 percent to 75 percent off last week, although those sales may be better today, as is often the case with going-out-of-business sales.
Also, as of Thursday, the store had up to 75 percent off in their clearance section online.
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