rm ([personal profile] rm) wrote2004-04-14 05:34 am

dumb last minute question

Um... where do I get tax forms? (not on the Internet, I've no printer, and I'm not filing electronically).

Also, does anyone know if you can deduct expenses related to looking for work?

I totally should have paid someone to deal with this shit.

Hey and guess who has to go hand out free smoothy samples now? Uh-huh.

Yeah, I do it for the love. I don't even like smoothies, especially not nasty pre-bottled yogurt ones. Someone tell me why I shouldn't be bitter.

Also... Germans. owe. me. money. A lot. I'm currently waiting for an answer on what will be 7 weeks of pay as of tomorrow.

[identity profile] marzipan-pig.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
post offices have them here, and the community colleges?

[identity profile] rm.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
My local ghetto post office didn't, hence my confusion. I'm planning to go to the IRS help center today, figuring if they have help, they have forms.

[identity profile] laughingirl.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
I think you can usually get forms at the post office and/or a library.

[identity profile] rm.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
I suppose juding by this and other messages I should go to not my post office.

[identity profile] laughingirl.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
If you can't find them anywhere and are really strapped, I could always print them for you. I'm just not sure how we'd synch up in time to get them to you by tomorrow...

[identity profile] rm.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, no... I'm asuming the IRS has to like have the forms available somewhere, the push to e-file aside.

[identity profile] laughingirl.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
*nod* I think you're right about the IRS help center... or maybe a bigger post office.

[identity profile] drfardook.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
Looking for work expenses: yes but there are rules.

If you define the looking for work as advertising for your own business/self-employment you can definately deduct. I use a program (taxcut) and will get an accountant next year so I don't know what the percentage is and there are several catagories of expenses.

[identity profile] schpahky.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
Try libraries. Also definitely ask around - my coworkers clued me in to which post offices were totally out and which still had them.

[identity profile] rani23.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 06:35 am (UTC)(link)
Libraries are another good source. Also, if you can get to a Kinkos, you can download the forms from the IRS (fill the out on the screen), save them on a disk and then print them at Kinkos.
lawnrrd: (Default)

[personal profile] lawnrrd 2004-04-14 07:11 am (UTC)(link)
As I recall, the Science, Industry and Business Library of the New York Public Library has just about every tax form imaginable. They're on Madison in the thirties.

The link has contact information: call them and see if they still have anything left. There's also the big post office near Penn Station, which probably has the forms if anyone does, but it's not very convenient.

[identity profile] lllvis.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 07:17 am (UTC)(link)
Tax office might have them: http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/article/0,,id=98318,00.html

New York (Harlem) 55 W. 125th St.
New York, NY 10027 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

*Office will be open until 6:30 p.m. on Thursday 4/15.


(212) 436-1000
New York (Downtown) 290 Broadway
New York, NY 10008 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

*Office will be open until 6:30 p.m. on Thursday 4/15.


(212) 436-1000
New York (Midtown) 110 W. 44th St.
New York, NY 10036 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

*Office will be open until 6:30 p.m. on Thursday 4/15.
(212) 436-1000


Forms can be available by fax if you have one available to you: http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=97730,00.html

I've run into that. Post Offices are supposed to carry them, but a few years ago I think that changed to only a few PO's carry them. And with the deadline being ever so close, some forms could be difficult to find. With enough lead time, you can order them (http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/page/0,,id=10768,00.html) but they want 1-2 weeks delivery time.

Libraries are another good idea.

lawnrrd: (Default)

[personal profile] lawnrrd 2004-04-14 07:20 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, and you can deduct expenses related to work, too. That generally goes for both expenses you incur doing a job and expenses you incur while looking for work in your current field(s).

For example, I deduct most of my Internet-related costs because I need the connection to do my job. I know someone who's often on TV, and who thus deducts the cost of cable. That last seems a little aggressive to me, but I just mean it as an example.

[identity profile] who-is-she.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 07:52 am (UTC)(link)
I was at the post office the other day and I heard one counter-person comment to a customer that "We don't have tax forms anymore here".

I work at the local county library here.. and they have a huge display of tax forms in the lobby.
so, I'd guess that's where you can get them.

Used to be able to get them at the post office. Wonder why the change?

[identity profile] czarchasm.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
Well, the info I had for finding tax schwag has been well-covered, by the looks of it.

Given the state of affairs, mayhaps you should just file an Extension to File. It's form 4868.

Good luck!

[identity profile] rm.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 08:21 am (UTC)(link)
Because I already have a payment plan for previous taxes owed to the IRS, which i pay monthly, I am barred from filing an extension, to my knowledge.

[identity profile] nnp.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
post office, library... or, go to the library & download them off the irs site - you should be able to print them out there, no?

you can deduct expenses from self owned businesses (acting,) looking for work or moving to find work... there are many rules & a limit on what you can deduct. if you're going to do that i'd go to someplace like h&r block - it sucks to be audited down the road.

also - if you have a student loan - you can deduct the interest from this as a tax credit... just in case you didn't know.

so... what the heck is up with that job of yours? i don't know if i'd last seven weeks w/no paycheck. have you considered letting them know that if they don't resolve the matter post haste (like the next day) you'll have to seek the advice of an attorney to help you recover your owed wages? i would really consider doing this... this situation seems way out of control from what you write & perhaps you need some assistance in resolving it.

:)
hope you get a refund!
kate

[identity profile] rm.livejournal.com 2004-04-14 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Job prospects are really grim here -- if I did this then I'd have no job and no money owed to me, until I can find other wor, I don't really have a choice.