IRS Resources and Assistance for Spanish-Speaking Taxpayers

Tax info is difficult to grasp in any language. it’s even harder be harder to get if it’s not in your mother tongue. The IRS offers a good assortment of free and easy-to-use resources and services for spanish-speaking taxpayers. Here are some tips if you would like federal tax help from the agency in Spanish.

Get answers twenty four hours on a daily basis seven days every week. IRS.gov/espanol encompasses a wealth of data accessible daily for people and businesses. you’ll notice links to tax-related info and warnings regarding common tax scams that may victimize taxpayers. you’ll additionally check the standing of your tax refund through the improved on-line tool “¿Dónde está mi reembolso?” victimization the Asistente EITC, you’ll ascertain if you qualify for the attained tax Credit, a refundable reduction for several people that attained but $50,270.

Use Free File to arrange and e-file your taxes for complimentary. authority Free File offers free tax preparation and e-file choices for all taxpayers. The Free File program could be a partnership between the authority and also the Free File Alliance. The Alliance could be a cluster of private-sector software package corporations. If your 2012 financial gain was $57,000 or less, you qualify to use free tax software. If your financial gain was higher, otherwise you area unit snug getting ready your own income tax return, there is Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic versions of authority paper forms. Visit IRS.gov/freefile and choose ‘En Español’ to review your choices.

Try authority e-file to file your come. authority e-file is that the safe, simple and most typical thanks to file a income tax return. The authority has processed over one billion returns safely and firmly. If you owe taxes, you have got payment choices to file early and pay by the Gregorian calendar month fifteen tax point in time. Visit IRS.gov/espanol and choose Opciones Electrónicas to review your choices.

Get up-to-date at the transmission Center. Watch YouTube video tax tips and hear podcasts on numerous authority topics in Spanish and English. Enter the keywords “Centro Multimediático” into the search box of the authority.gov web site.

TeleTax offers you tax and refund info. TeleTax could be a fee, automatic utility. It provides useful pre-recorded tax topic messages and refund info. you’ll realize an inventory of over one hundred twenty five TeleTax topics on the market in Spanish and English within the directions for type 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. after you decision to see your refund standing, have a replica of your income tax return handy. this can assist you reply to the system prompts. TeleTax is accessible twenty four hours on a daily basis, seven days every week at 800-829-4477.

Get tax forms and publications. you’ll read and transfer many tax forms and publications in Spanish directly from authority.gov/espanol at any hour of the day or night.

Visit the authority Spanish Newsroom. realize the agency’s most up-to-date announcements, tips and data on new tax laws that would have an effect on you. Avoid missing any advantages and maintain to this point by typewriting the keywords “Noticias linear unit Espanol” into the search box of the authority.gov web site.

Call the authority for complimentary tax facilitate in Spanish. The authority’ fee signal offers service from communicatory IRS representatives. decision the authority client baseline at eight00-829-1040 so press the amount 8.

Stay connected through Twitter linear unit Español. Get all the latest info and useful tax tips in Spanish by following the authority on Twitter @IRSenEspanol. Get multilingual help at authority remunerator help Centers. guests will get facilitate at authority remunerator help Centers in additional than a hundred and fifty languages, as well as Spanish, either in the flesh or through associate degree Over-the-Phone Interpreter. Before you visit, it’s invariably a decent plan to see TAC locations, hours and on the market services by visiting authority.gov and clicking on ‘Help & Resources’ so on ‘Contact Your native authority workplace.’

Many people look for help from professionals when it’s time to file their tax return. If you use a paid tax preparer to file your federal income tax return this year, the IRS urges you to choose that preparer carefully. Even if someone else prepares your return, you are legally responsible for what is on it.

Here are ten tips to keep in mind when choosing a tax return preparer:

1. Check the preparer’s qualifications.  All paid tax return preparers are required to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number. In addition to making sure they have a PTIN, ask if the preparer belongs to a professional organization and attends continuing education classes.
2. Check on the preparer’s history.  Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the preparer has a questionable history. Also check for any disciplinary actions and for the status of their licenses. For certified public accountants, check with the state boards of accountancy. For attorneys, check with the state bar associations. For enrolled agents, check with the IRS Office of Enrollment.
3. Ask about service fees.  Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of your refund or those who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers can. Also, always make sure any refund due is sent to you or deposited into an account in your name. Taxpayers should not deposit their refund into a preparer’s bank account.
4. Ask to e-file your return.  Make sure your preparer offers IRS e-file. Any paid preparer who prepares and files more than 10 returns for clients must file the returns electronically, unless the client opts to file a paper return. IRS has safely and securely processed more than one billion individual tax returns since the debut of electronic filing in 1990.
5. Make sure the preparer is accessible.  Make sure you will be able to contact the tax preparer after you file your return, even after the April 15 due date. This may be helpful in the event questions arise about your tax return.
6. Provide records and receipts.  Reputable preparers will request to see your records and receipts. They will ask you questions to determine your total income and your qualifications for deductions, credits and other items. Do not use a preparer who is willing to e-file your return by using your last pay stub before you receive your Form W-2. This is against IRS e-file rules.
7. Never sign a blank return.  Avoid tax preparers that ask you to sign a blank tax form.
8. Review the entire return before signing.  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.
9. Make sure the preparer signs and includes their PTIN.  A paid preparer must sign the return and include their PTIN as required by law. The preparer must also give you a copy of the return.
10. Report abusive tax preparers to the IRS. You can report abusive tax preparers and suspected tax fraud to the IRS on Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer. If you suspect a return preparer filed or altered a return without your consent, you should also file Form 14157-A, Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit. Download the forms on the IRS.gov website or order them by mail at 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). 

While each individual tax return is unique, there are some tax rules that affect every person who files a federal income tax return. These rules involve dependents and exemptions. The IRS has six important facts about dependents and exemptions that will help you file your 2012 tax return.

1. Exemptions reduce taxable income.  There are two types of exemptions: personal exemptions and exemptions for dependents. You can deduct $3,800 for each exemption you claim on your 2012 tax return.
2. Personal exemptions.  You usually may claim one exemption for yourself on your tax return. You also can claim one for your spouse if you are married and file a joint return. If you and your spouse file separate returns, you may claim the exemption for your spouse only if he or she had no gross income, is not filing a joint return and was not the dependent of another taxpayer.
3. Exemptions for dependents.  Generally, you can claim an exemption for each of your dependents. A dependent is either your qualifying child or qualifying relative. If you are married, you may not claim your spouse as your dependent. You must list the Social Security Number of each dependent you claim on your return. See Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information, for information about dependents who do not have Social Security numbers.
4. Some people do not qualify as dependents.  While there are some exceptions, you generally may not claim a married person as a dependent if they file a joint return with their spouse.
5. Dependents may have to file.  If you can claim someone else as your dependent on your tax return, that person may still be required to file his or her own tax return. Whether they must file a return depends on several factors, including the amount of their gross income (both earned and unearned income), their marital status and any special taxes they owe.
6. Dependents can’t claim a personal exemption.  If you can claim another person as a dependent on your tax return, that person may not claim a personal exemption on his or her own tax return. This is true even if you do not actually claim that person as your dependent on your tax return. The fact that you could claim that person disqualifies them from claiming a personal exemption.

Remember that a person must meet several tests in order for you to claim them as your dependent. See Publication 501 for the tests you will use to determine if you can claim a person as your dependent.

The IRS’s e-file (electronic filing) makes it a lot simpler for taxpayers to choose which IRS tax form to file. For the most part, the e-file software chooses the best form for your particular situation for you. Most folks e-file in this eletronic age but if you prefer the old fationed way, the Iternal Revenue Service has some tips to help you choose the right form.

Those who choose to file a paper tax return should know that the IRS no longer mails paper tax packages. The best 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, most libraries in your area and post offices carry the forms.

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:

Your taxable income is below $100,000;
Your filing status is single or married filing jointly;
You are not claiming any dependents; and
         
If you can’t use Form 1040EZ, you may qualify to use the 1040A if:

Your taxable income is below $100,000;
You have capital gain distributions;
You claim certain tax credits; and
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:

Your taxable income is $100,000 or more;
You claim itemized deductions;
You are reporting self-employment income; and         
IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, provides helpful information about which form is best for you.

Access to IRS forms and instructions or information about e-filing, including IRS Free File, 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 the Home page.

Don’t say the IRS never does anything for the “little guy”. The earned income credit EITC is a refundable tax credit designed for working families and individuals with low to moderate income. The amount of the credit varies depending on your level of income and how many dependents you support.

To be eligible for the earned income credit, your earned income and adjusted gross income need to be within certain ranges. The amount of the tax credit varies based on your earned income and how many qualifying children you are supporting in your household.

For the years 2009 through 2012, the Earned Income Credit is temporarily increased for working families with three or more dependents. Previously the earned income credit maxed out at two dependents. The earned income credit will revert back to maxing out with two dependents starting in 2013.

The earned income tax credit is a great benefit for workers who don’t make much money or to those who did work but then lost a job. This tax break returns to qualified individuals a portion of the taxes they paid. It can actually produce a tax refund for eligible filers who had no tax liability. Unfortunately, most tax credits are nonrefundable meaning they simply zero out a tax bill. For example, if you owe $800 and have a $1,000 credit, your bill of $800 is zeroed out but the remaining $200 is not returned to you. With a refundable credit such as the earned credit income, the IRS would refund the extra $200 to you.

There is however, a drawback to the credit. The filing process is rather complicated and typically eligible taxpayers don’t have much cash to spare; they normally cannot afford professional help in filing for it. The IRS has an online program to help these filers.

The easiest way to find out if you qualify for the earned income credit is to use an application found on the IRS Web site called the EITC Assistant. This process will help you determine if you are eligible for the Earned Income Credit and will help you calculate the amount of the credit. You do not have to be a parent to qualify. Be aware that there are links to applications for more than one tax year so be sure to pick the right one.

Married couples who file separate returns are not eligible for the earned income credit. If you are married but haven’t lived in the same home as your spouse for the last six months of the year, then you may be able to file as head of household and take the credit.

The rules governing the earned income tax credit are rather complicated. Do yourself a favor and use the IRS website to determine if you qualify.

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