Millions of Americans wait until the last minute to file their taxes, so as April 15 approaches it’s not too late to offer readers some last minute tax tips.
The IRS isn’t exactly known for its customer service, as anyone who’s tried calling knows. But the IRS recently redesigned its website, and believe it or not, it’s quite good — and not just for downloading forms.
The site offers a bevy of helpful advice and is also packed with great story ideas.
Here are just a few:
• Beware the “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams: A few of the more common ploys that promise no or reduced taxes. Plus more tax fraud alerts.
• Weight-loss programs may qualify as a tax deduction.
• Tax relief for troops in Afghanistan and their families.
• New tax relief for victims of terrorist attacks.
• The IRS has been offering daily tax tips on its site. Here’s the
archive, packed with useful tidbits for your readers.
• Tax statistics.
• Why Pay Taxes? The Truth About Frivolous Tax Arguments.
And a few other interesting items from other sites:
• The Tax History Project includes historical tax cartoons and
presidential tax returns.
• TaxMama’s Tax Humor.
• New Tax Laws.
• Dave Shedden’s great Tax Resources Galore here on Poynter.org:
Now when your editor comes to you asking for a last-minute tax story you’ll know just what to do, and you can use your extra time to dream about how you’re going to spend that hefty refund check.
What do you think? Got a tip?
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