Web Wealth: Tax season aids

Here's a wake-up call: The Internal Revenue Service began accepting 2008 tax returns Friday. So, it's time to pass along Web sites that could help to see you through this year's tax season.

IRS central. For the first time, the IRS says almost any individual taxpayer may file IRS "fillable forms" online for free. These are Web versions of paper tax forms. If you're not good with the forms, the IRS Web site also directs filers who have adjusted gross income up to $56,000 to companies that handle preparation and filing for free using question-and-answer formats. Among other things to check out are provisions for tax credits to first-time home buyers, and a "recovery rebate credit" you might qualify for if, for example, you had a baby after receiving that handy 2008 economic-stimulus check.

Tax mess? Don't Mess With Taxes is the name of this blog by Texan and self-proclaimed "tax geek" Kay Bell (to prove she's a tax geek, she's got a second blog, called Eye on the IRS). Don't Mess provides a short tax glossary, including "Aarrgghh" as the "Most common nonprofane exclamation used during tax filing season."

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This is the URL for Bell's Eye on the IRS, which is a feature at Bankrate.com:

More Bankrate. The Bankrate site will get you started on how to handle finances for the 2009 tax season, as well as how to deal with last year's woes. Also, you can click on the "state tax roundup" map for a quick look at state income tax rates and links for finding other local tax levies.

Tax dodges. Looking into nifty tax shelters or offshore refuges? You'd better sober up and peruse the rules and warnings gathered by the IRS under the heading "Regulations on Abusive Tax Shelters and Transactions." All in all, the agency seems to take a dim view of the "honest mistake" defense.

www.irs.gov/businesses/corporations/article/0,,id=120671,00.html

Contact staff writer Reid Kanaley at 215-854-5114 or rkanaley@phillynews.com.