The Deadlines Haven’t Changed
You Can Find Out Some Information Online
Some Individuals Can Use Free Software
Getting Your Tax Information
In order to file your taxes you will need to get your W-2 or 1099 for 2018. You should expect to receive these documents by the end of January. If you don’t receive them, contact your current or former employer to make sure that they mailed these documents to the correct address. For those that are still waiting to receive these documents at the end of February, you can call 1-800-829-1040 to speak to a representative at the IRS to request a substitute. They will contact the employer, by sending them a letter on the taxpayer’s behalf, to request these documents.
If you are looking for information that is from past years, you can visit IRS’ get transcript page to get a tax summary or transcript. Remember that the IRS will not waive penalties for late tax filing even if don’t receive your 2018 tax information from your employer.
Speaking To Someone At The IRS May Be Difficult
While you can call the IRS if you are in need of assistance, it may not be that easy to actually get a hold of someone. In fact, it’s always been pretty difficult. With the government shutdown (and potentially impending one), they are even more short staffed than they have been in the past which can result in difficulties dealing with customer service inquiries. You are better off trying to find answers to your questions online before attempting to call the IRS.
Now that the government has reopened, you will need an appointment to speak to someone in person. Fortunately, most taxpayers don’t need to speak to an IRS representative in person. You still can easily get automated information by calling the IRS. In fact, most questions are answered through automated responses. If your question is more complex, you will need to get ahold of someone, but it may take you awhile so a CPA may be the better route.
Expect Delays
Government shutdown or not, there seems to be some sort of delay each year when it comes to filing your taxes. Keep this in mind and don’t wait until the last minute to file them. You are better off paying a tax professional to help you with your taxes if you aren’t 100% sure how to correctly file them. This will help you avoid unnecessary delays and make the process go as smoothly as possible despite any issues that the government is having.