It’s that time of year again-the 1099’s and W-2’s are starting to show up in your mailbox and you realize that there is a long Saturday afternoon in your future where you will wrestle with these forms and struggle through the preparation and filing of your 2008 taxes. More people than ever before are preparing their tax returns on their own instead of paying for an accountant, and with good reason. Taxpayers have more tools and resources at their fingertips than ever before, making it easy for everyone from high-powered attorneys to Joe the Plumber to get their taxes done quickly and with minimal cost.

Here are some ways that taxpayers can get the help they need to file taxes on their own this year:

- www.freefillableforms.com: This is a website that the IRS has provided that will work well for people who traditionally use a pencil and calculator to labor through their taxes. This site gives users access to the forms they need, but allows them to work their way through these forms line by line. The calculations will be done for you, but you are responsible to enter the numbers on the correct forms. You can file directly from the site, and your refund can be deposited directly into your bank account.

One downside is that this service currently can not be used to file state returns. Also, this site will not prompt you to make sure you use all of the correct forms-this is for people who really already know what they’re doing when it comes to filing taxes.

- Online Filing Services: Growing in popularity, these sites walk you through the tax reporting process by asking questions and prompting you to answer those questions with your financial data for the year. The site then populates the appropriate forms on your behalf. Several sites allow users to file for free, however most taxpayers have a situation that is complex enough that they end up paying for premium services that can add up before they file. State returns can also be filed at these sites for additional costs. These sites generally offer support either by phone or online for users with questions about their return.

- In Person Help: There are organizations in most major cities that enlist volunteers to help with tax preparation. Some of these are open to anyone, while others cater to people below a threshold income or senior citizens. Contacting the IRS is one way to track down some of these services in cities across the U.S.

Remember that you should never file a return without reviewing the numbers to make sure they are an accurate reflection of your financial situation. Certain omissions and oversights can prompt an IRS audit that can cost you a great deal of both time and money. These resources are great tools for taxpayers, but remember that in more complex situations, professional tax help might be your best option.

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Tags: IRS, tax help, tax tools, taxes

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