Tax Time...The Eleventh Hour

Is tax time a dreaded deadline every year, at which time you start sweating, become and insomniac, leave your body, go into intense calendar denial all the while visualizing yourself in jail for not filing your income tax return?

The IRS wants you to know they have many programs in place just for you. One of my favorites (in which I was trained in the 1970s) is VITA. VITA is an acronym for Voluntary Income Tax Assistance.

Volunteers (not IRS agents are trained to get together with people whose income does not exceed approximately $38,000 annually and help them prepare their tax forms free of charge. (One caveat...these are not expert tax preparers.) It is a good and helpful program and serves the needs of many, particularly folks for whom English is a second language.

There are also special programs for veterans, as well as a Tax Payer Advocate Service, if you should happen to have a current problem with the IRS.

In this day of electronic wizardry, you are encouraged to E-File. Directions and guidelines are on the IRS website at www.irs.gov. You can also download tax forms from this site.

Our local branch of the IRS is located at 450 Golden Gate, in San Francisco. They are open from 8:30 until 4:30 weekdays and can be reached by phone at (415) 522.4061.

Of course if you still need more time, file an extension, but don't forget to enclose a check for your estimated tax amount in order to avoid a penalty.