Last-Minute Tax Tips
With April 17 quickly approaching, here’s some help on where to find forms, information and a post office that’s open until midnight:
FORMS
It’s too late to request them from the Internal Revenue Service, but federal and state forms are usually available at libraries and post offices. If the form you need is not there, a tax preparer might provide you with one. If none of those low-cost solutions will do, consider buying Ernst & Young’s 1995 tax guide. It costs $13.95, but it includes most of the essential federal forms.
HELP
The IRS tax help hot line is (800) TAX-1040 and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call early in the day. The lines are inundated this time of year, and you’re likely to get several busy signals before you get through.
PROCRASTINATE
To delay filing, complete Form 4868, which is a request for an automatic extension. It gives you four more months to fill out the federal paperwork, but if you owe taxes, you are expected to send a check with the extension form before April 17.
POST OFFICES
About 50 Southern California post offices plan to stay open until midnight on April 17. To find one near you, call (213) 586-1463 or (213) 586-1467.
Additionally, IRS agents will be available at six Los Angeles-area locations to hand out tax forms and offer basic advice. The locations:
* 5800 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles
* 900 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles
* 7101 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles
* 15701 Sherman Way, Van Nuys
* 15421 Gale Ave., City of Industry
* 41 Wheeler Ave., Arcadia
