Need a Tax Identification Number? A Tax Identification Number or TIN is an identifying number used for tax purposes in the United States. It may be assigned by the Social Security Administration or by the IRS. A business need a Federal Tax Identification Number or Employer Tax Identification Number, so that they can maintain their own image or entity in the market. It is to be noted that, the tax ID number could not be transfer in case of the transferring of any business. If the structure or ownership would be changed then a new tax ID number is required for the business. But above all you have to collect the relevant information to get an EIN.

Need a Copy of Past Tax Return? Taxpayers have two easy and convenient options for getting copies of their federal tax return information — tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts — by phone or by mail. If you need a photocopy of a previously processed tax return and attachments, complete Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Form, and mail it to the IRS address listed on the form for your area. Copies are generally available for the current and past 6 years.

Labels: Get Copy Of Past Tax Return and Tax ID Number

Online Tax Return Brings Appliance To Your Doorstep

Tax return online has done away with the concept of voluminous paperwork, long hours in the line to acquire the forms in the first place and then submit the same to the state or local tax collection agency. The internal revenue service prepares the forms that are then collected by the tax filers, filled and submitted for tax return. As all financial documents like profit and loss statements, balance sheets, trail balances and other financial statements are required to be in perfect order for filing tax return the expertise of a competent accountant is essential for any individual or business filing tax return. Nowadays as all such details and financial records are usually prepared online with the use of specially designed accounting software.

Hence filing Tax Returns online makes it much more convenient as all the documents required are already stored online. Also the process of filing tax return online does not require the cumbersome paperwork which was earlier an essential part of any work related to tax preparation and tax return filing. As the tax season approaches every business and individual starts preparing for the ordeal of getting all their financial records in place and try to hire the best certified public accountant available. The process of filing tax return online has made it possible to locate an accountant through the internet and send him the required documents through the internet itself. Many accounting websites provide the option of filing tax return online and one can simply visit these sites, verify the authenticity of the website and the accountants involved and simply file your tax return online.

Almost every individual and firm is in favor on the process of filing tax return online as it saves much time and effort and enables the individual to concentrate on his core business and utilize these resources in other business areas. Also every firm offering the service of filing tax return online also has the facility of calculating the exact tax amount. Also the fees charged by a firm filing tax return online on your behalf will have nominal charges as compared to the amount which would otherwise have to be paid to the in-house staff. Hence, filing tax return online works out to be a convenient solution for all involved.

Conventional Way for Tax Filing

The easiest and quickest way to file a return and obtain a refund, is to do this electronically--a practice already used by more than half of all taxpayers. The conventional way of Free IRS efile tax has been opposed by online tax filing systems in recent times. Filing online will allow you to get your tax refund in as little as 10 days.

• Proof of identification
• Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents and/or a Social Security Number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration
  
• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return
  
• Current year’s tax package if you received one
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)
• A copy of last year’s Federal and State returns if available
• Bank Routing Numbers and Account Numbers for Direct Deposit
• Total paid for day care provider and the day care provider's tax identifying number (the provider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number)
• To file taxes electronically on a married filing joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

• Active duty pay earned in any month served in a combat zone.
• Imminent danger/hostile fire pay and military pay earned while hospitalized as a result of wounds, disease or injury incurred in the combat zone.
• A reenlistment bonus if the voluntary extension or reenlistment occurs in a month served in combat zone.
• Pay for accrued leave earned in any month served in combat zone. (The Department of Defense must determine that the unused leave was earned during that period.)
• pay received for duties as a member of the Armed Forces in clubs, messes, post and station theaters and other non-appropriated fund activities earned in a month served in a combat zone.
• Awards received for suggestions, inventions or scientific achievements because of a submission made in a month in a combat zone.

• The last day of qualifying combat zone service, or
• The last day of any continuous qualified hospitalization for injury from service in the combat zone.

• The following locations (and airspace above) in the Persian Gulf area were designated as a combat zone beginning Jan. 17, 1991.The area includes the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, the part of the Arabian Sea that is north of 10 degrees north latitude and west of 68 degrees east longitude, the Gulf of Aden and the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
• Kosovo area, beginning Mar. 24, 1999 — Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Albania, the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea north of the 39th Parallel.
• Afghanistan, beginning Sept. 19, 2001.
  Public Law 104-117 designates three parts of the former Yugoslavia as a Qualified Hazardous Duty Area, to be treated as if it were a combat zone, beginning Nov. 21, 1995 — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Macedonia.
  In addition, the Department of Defense has certified these locations for combat zone tax benefits due to their direct support of military operations in the Afghanistan combat zone (Operation Enduring Freedom), beginning on the listed dates:
  
• Pakistan, Tajikistan and Jordan, Sept. 19, 2001
• Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Sept. 21, 2001
• Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Oct. 1, 2001
• Philippines, Jan. 9, 2002
• Yemen, Apr. 10, 2002
• Djibouti, July 1, 2002

• Questions and answers on exclusions, extensions and other tax benefits available to members of the Armed Forces serving in a combat zone.
• Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide, which covers the special tax situations of active members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Several recent news releases and notices, including Tax Tip 2003-41, Reservists, New Enlistees May Get Deferral for Back Taxes; news release IR-2002-18, Tax Relief for Troops in Afghanistan Combat Zone; Notice 2002-17, Tax Relief for those Involved in Operation Enduring Freedom.
• A special e-mail address for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their spouses, authorized agents or representatives, which can be used to notify the IRS about someone serving in a combat zone.

"At this important time, our dedicated military personnel in combat zones should not be worried about tax issues," said IRS Acting Commissioner Bob Wenzel. "We want each of them to receive all of the tax benefits that they are entitled to. We want all of our servicemen and servicewomen — and their families — to know that we are here to help."

Generally, enlistees up to warrant officers (including commissioned warrant officers) exclude all their military pay received for military service in a combat zone. For commissioned officers, the monthly exclusion is capped at the highest enlisted pay, plus any hostile fire or imminent danger pay received. For 2002, this limit was $5,532.90 and for 2003, it is $5,882.70. Amounts excluded from gross income are not subject to federal income tax.

The IRS automatically extends the deadline for filing tax returns, paying taxes, filing claims for refund and taking other actions related to federal income tax for U.S. Armed Forces personnel serving in a combat zone. The IRS also extends the deadline for those in the U.S. Armed Forces deployed overseas away from their permanent duty station in support of operations in a qualified hazardous duty area but who are outside that area.

The deadline for filing returns, making payments or taking any other action with the IRS is extended for at least 180 days after:

• The last day of qualifying combat zone service, or
• The last day of any continuous qualified hospitalization for injury from the combat zone.The IRS is currently working with the military to obtain information about reservists and regular military personnel serving in combat areas. During this interim period, people in the military, their spouses or their authorized representatives have several options to claim the filing extensions or filing exclusions:
  
• When filing returns, mark “Combat Zone” at the top of the form along with the date of deployment.
• Contact the IRS through the special e-mail address at IRS.gov. Correspondence should include the name,stateside address, date of birth, and date of deployment of the service member. (No Social Security numbers should be included in the e-mail.) The IRS emphasizes only military-related e-mails should go to this address. Calls can also be made to the main IRS help line at 800-829-1040.
  
  These two steps also apply if a notice inadvertently goes to an individual serving in a combat zone or his or her spouse. The notice can be deferred by following the e-mail steps or by sending the notice back to the IRS marked with the words “Combat Zone” and the date of deployment.
  The IRS plans to take additional steps and provide additional guidance on issues involving military personnel and combat zones. This new information will also be posted to the Armed Forces page on IRS.gov.