How to Talk to Someone at the Irs

How to Print IRS Forms Online

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Taxes generally don't show up on anybody's list of fun things to do. But they're a necessary part of life and your duties as a U.S. citizen. At the very least, the Internet and tax-preparation software have made doing taxes far simpler than this task used to be. Even if you still prefer to fill out your tax forms by hand, the Internet can help. It's easy to find the forms that you need and print them online. Wondering how to do it? Check out this simple guide to how to print IRS forms online.

Figure Out What Forms You Need

The first step is to figure out what forms you need in order to fill out your taxes properly. There are many different types of tax forms designed to meet different needs. Thankfully, you don't have to fill them all out — not all of them will apply to you and your specific tax situation.

The most commonly used form is one of the various versions of Form 1040. You'll need the printable IRS forms 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040NR or the standard 1040, depending on your situation. Plenty of other forms exist, and you'll have to do your research to determine which ones apply to you.

Have the Right Equipment

The next step is to ensure that you have the proper equipment at your disposal to print the forms. The IRS website provides the forms in PDF files that you can read with Adobe Reader software. If you don't already have this program installed on your computer, it's a simple, free download. The IRS even provides a link for the software download on its website.

You'll also need a high-quality printer with dark ink. The IRS doesn't accept forms that cannot easily be read. If your printer's ink cartridge is old and the printed page it produces is faint, change it before printing your forms.

Visit the IRS Online

Now that you're prepared, it's time to visit the IRS website itself to download and print your forms. Go to IRS.gov. Across the top of the page, you'll notice a few different options. The last one is Forms & Instructions. Click on this link. Here, you can find a list of all the printable IRS forms that are available. Now you can simply click on the forms you need, download them and print everything. You can also print the instructions pages to help simplify the arduous task of filling out your forms.

E-Filing

To speed up your tax-filing process, you may want to consider e-filing. Instead of printing the forms and filling them out by hand, you can take advantage of the IRS's fillable forms. You still have full control over your form; you just fill it out on the computer rather than by hand. Then you can e-file your taxes. If you're due a refund, that means that you'll get your money sooner, which is always a nice bonus.

However, you decide to handle your taxes, good luck. Taxes may be confusing, but finding the right forms doesn't have to be.

Macleod Laboyes