New Internal Revenue Service Web Site Debuts

The Internal Revenue Service is unveiling a new Web site today designed to help small-business owners and the self-employed get a grip on their taxes. The site at https://www.irs.gov/smallbiz includes such features as a tutorial on creating business plans, suggestions on finding start-up financing and links to news and articles from trade magazines and other government Web sites. News for restaurant owners, for example, includes an article from Restaurant Report on how to use benefits to retain skilled workers. The site also includes “audit technique guides”--industry-specific manuals developed to guide IRS auditors that can also help business owners and tax preparers recognize audit flags. So far, only one guide--for the construction industry--has been posted, although the IRS promises more will follow. The site also includes tax forms, publications and a research library, as well as links to the IRS’ main Web site at https://www.irs.gov.