The IRS offers an interactive online module, Tax Trails, to assist taxpayers in quickly finding answers to simple tax questions.
The IRS website is an invaluable resource for individuals with general tax questions; with a little digging, all of the information needed to prepare an individual tax return can be found on the IRS website. However, sometimes taxpayers just want an answer to a simple tax question without having to wade through a lengthy IRS publication or scour the website for guidance.
Quickly Locate IRS Guidance on Specific Tax Topics
Taxpayers may use the interactive module to find answers related to tax deductions and exclusions, tax credits, and taxable income, as well as several other tax topics. The Tax Trails menu lists a few business-related topics, but is geared primarily to individuals as of early 2008. The following topics are currently available:
Eligibility to deduct moving expenses
Deductibility of home mortgage interest or points
50% limitation on expense deductions (business, travel, entertainment, gift, & car expenses
Limitations on itemized deductions
Medical expenses
Business use of the home
Higher education and work-related education expenses
Miscellaneous deductions
Qualified individuals (elderly or disabled)
Child and dependent credits
Earned income and education tax credits
Charitable contributions
Employee compensation
Self-employment and other income
Capital gains and losses
Tip income
Child’s income and using Form 8615 to figure a child’s tax
Withholding exemption (Form W-4)
Estimated tax
Simplified method of computing taxable part of pension or annuity
Using short schedule SE or long schedule SE for self-employment tax
Filing status, dependents, and personal exemptions
Extension to file tax return
Student loan and other interest
Social security and equivalent railroad retirement benefits
Amended tax returns
Injured spouse claims
How Tax Trails Works
From the main menu, taxpayers may click on a topic to explore. They will be asked “Yes” and “No” answer questions until the appropriate answer is reached based on the responses. Some answers are so straightforward that they will be directed to the primary IRS guidance without having to answer any questions, but most topics require at least one answered question before the appropriate guidance will be pinpointed.
It is important to note that further reading may be required once the “answer” portion of the module has been reached. For example, clicking on “Medical Expenses” returns a description of the types of expenses that are deductible on a tax return; however, for actual examples taxpayers must read Publication 502 (to which a link is provided on the answer page).
In addition to offering free guidance on its website, the IRS sponsors free federal tax return preparation programs for qualifying individuals.
The copyright of the article IRS Answers to Tax Questions in Taxes is owned by Lena Gott. Permission to republish IRS Answers to Tax Questions in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
My wife and i have been looking after our 11 year old grandsun for the past
(5) years we receive no money from family or goverment . When i file my
income tax someone has allrady clamwd him. I want to know how to adress
this for the 2007 tax year.
Sep 24, 2008 6:33 AM
Lena Gott
:
This is a tricky one. I can provide general direction, but I suggest you
consult a tax professional who is familiar with your situation.
Here is a link to a general tax tutorial on dependents on the IRS
website: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/mod_4_-_tax_tutorial.pdf It sounds
like your grandson should be a Qualifying Relative to you & eligible as
an exemption on your return, but you cannot claim him if he is eligible to
be claimed on another person's return (possibly as a Qualifying Child).
Oct 13, 2008 1:16 PM
Guest
:
i provide more than 50% of my mother inlaw support..her only income is
socail security about 1000 a month ..can i claim her as a dependent
Jan 21, 2009 1:37 PM
Guest
:
my fiance and i have been living together for the past 2 years and he
provides for myself and my son, we recently had our daughter and i was
wanting to know if he would be able to claim me and my son since he has
supported us 100% in the last year due to me being out of work for the
birth of our daughter....
Apr 5, 2009 3:51 PM
Guest
:
My husband and I make about 112,000 a year and we have to pay taxes at the
end of the year. I am trying to figure out what to do. I have some money
taken out for an IRA. I am using a flexiable spending account for extra
medical expenses. I am also having extra money taken out of my check for
taxes. We both claim married 0. What can I do to reduce the amount I pay
April 15th each year. I don't mind paying something at that time, but
don't want it to be 1,500, like it was this year.
Apr 5, 2009 6:51 PM
Lena Gott
:
Hi Guest on April 5th -
One sure way to reduce the amount you
owe at tax time is to send in quarterly estimated payments to make up the
difference between what is being withheld and what you believe you will owe
on April 15th. The only other option is to reduce your taxes, which you
could do by finding tax deductions (think: charity) or reducing taxable
income (like pre-tax retirement contributions).
~Lena
Apr 21, 2009 9:20 AM
Guest
:
I used Turbo Tax Deluxe this year and it was different then last year. It
wouldn't let me claim my 17 yr old son who is in 11th grade and doesn't
work and lives with me. So I missed out on $1,000 this year. Can I file an
amendment right now? I haven't recieved my refund yet, but I paid the
state?
Jun 23, 2009 12:31 PM
Guest
:
No job, but I'd like to use my IRA to pay-off my house. Will the payoff
amount be counted as income?
Jan 26, 2008
