Free Reference: IRS.gov -- The IRS Taketh Away, but the IRS also Giveth

Throughout my thirty-year tenure as a reference librarian in a medium-large urban public library, I have accrued a fair number of red and black letter days.

September 27, 1983—our first public access personal computer workstations (four Commodore 64s: yikes!). May 12, 1986—the creation of our database office and service using the Texas Instruments Silent 700 (can you say “Brontosaurus?”). October 11, 2003—our switch to centralized selection (more black and blue than red or black).

One of the blackest, most coyote-ugly days, however, occurred several weeks ago when I received a memo from our department manager citing the IRS three-megaton nuke of a press release informing us that tax forms and instructions would no longer be mailed to individuals. Take it away, Bill Murray: “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!” OK, Bill exaggerates, but not by much. Fortunately, the problem—the IRS—is also the solution, at www.irs.gov.

While irs.gov won’t score many points in the style competiton of the website beauty pageant, the densely concentrated information juxtaposed with its efficient and clear organization is an unmitigated government kindness for all. Prominent on the homepage is, of course, the portal to over a thousand downloadable tax forms and publications, the complete IRS canon accessible for current and retrospective tax years. Crossing this threshold provides additional entry to numerous IRS resources (FAQs, local IRS addresses, compliance issues, taxpayer advocate services, etc.), important changes, special ordering instructions, information on a diversity of tax-related subjects, and links to related websites, including the all-important and often requested state tax forms. Indeed, the most salient feature of the site for us library folk, the Forms and Publications feature, is only one of many useful buttons. The lead banner provides detailed tax information with buttons for the following constituencies: individuals, businesses, charities and nonprofits, government entities, tax professionals, retirement plans community, and tax exempt bond community. Entry into each category offers opportunities for further drilling into a wide range of individual topics and IRS resources.

Other prominent headers include online services, filing and payments, special interest topics, general news items, a flash banner for various high-profile items, and a link to YouTube IRS instructional videos. An overarching free-text search window enables direct access to the site by entering a form number, publication, term, or topic.

BOTTOM LINE Ah, the IRS taketh away, but the IRS also giveth. And it is in this spirit of the giving vein, especially in this taxing time—and season—that it is exceedingly prudent to revisit and bookmark the Internal Revenue Service’s bountiful and exceedingly taxpayer-friendly website.—Barry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX