by: ARA Content

(ARA) - The IRS publishes a lot of tax information to help small business owners and there are many ways to get it. You can always visit an IRS office to pick up copies of IRS forms and publications, although the IRS continues to make it easier for you to get these materials without leaving your office or maybe even your home.

The IRS will send you forms and publications free of charge when you call them at 1-800-829-3676 with your request. Normally, you will receive the materials within 10 days, although there is another way to get tax materials right away.

If you have access to a personal computer, you can browse and download IRS forms and publications from the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov.You also can get interactive help with your taxes while you're on line. For the latest information on business-related tax topics, click on the "Tax Info for Business" section. You'll find links to other Internet sites that may be helpful for your type of business.

Tax Fax is another way to get business or individual tax forms and instructions instantly. Dial 1-703-368-9694 from a fax machine and follow the voice prompts to get an index of IRS tax forms faxed to you. From this index, key in the catalog number of the form you want faxed back to you.

Some IRS publications that small businesses may find helpful include IRS Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Businesses, and Publication 910, Guide to Free Tax Services. Publication 910 provides a listing and brief description of 100 IRS tax publications, including publications targeted at specific audiences such as Publication 225, Farmer's Tax Guide, and Publication 595, Tax Highlights for Commercial Fishermen.

IRS Publication 1518, Year 2001 Tax Calendar for Small Businesses, is a wall calendar designed to remind businesses of key due dates for submission of tax forms and payments. It also provides information on general business taxes, electronic filing options, starting a small business, business expenses, record keeping, retirement planning, and business publications and forms.

Your tax questions often can be answered by reading tax publications and related forms, but if you need more information, you may call the IRS, 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week until April 16 at 1-800-829-1040.