Tax Preparation Resources

Need the status of your refund?
You will need: your Social Security Number, Filing Status, and expected refund.

     Internal Revenue Service
     https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp, or 1-800-829-1954

    District of Columbia
    https://www.taxpayerservicecenter.com/individual/Ind_RefundStatus_Logon.jsp, 
    or 202-727-4829

    Maryland
    https://interactive.marylandtaxes.com/INDIV/refundstatus/home.aspx

    Virginia
    http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=WhereIsMyRefund, or (804) 367-2486

Finding Amount of 2009 Economic Recovery Payment Received 

    To verify or find out the amount received, taxpayers can:

1. Call the automated telephone service at 1-866-234-2942 and select Option 1, or
2. Use the Did I Receive a 2009 Economic Recovery Payment? online tool.

Finding Amount of 2008 Stimulus Payment Received
Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, Monday- Friday 7am to 10pm to find out the amount. 

Links to state tax forms and instructions: www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/forms.html

Finding Amount of Unemployment Received

• DC unemployment reported on form 1099: https://does.dcnetworks.org/claimantservices/
  (scroll down for “Form 1099 data” link)
• Maryland unemployment reported on 1099-G:
  www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/1099ginfo.htm
• Virginia Unemployment. Direct taxpayer to their unemployment office.

To find out if an Education institute is accredited: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

Finding information needed for Schedule A and Schedule D

• Resource for determining valuation of donated goods
  • Pub. 561: Determining the Value of Donated Property
  • http://www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about/howweoperate/donations/claimingtaxdeductions
  • http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-text-dynamic-arrays/D477340FFA28755C8525743D0049D1EF?openDocument
• Determining basis of investments.  Call the volunteers at Carnegie Library (10 or 20 available during tax season) at 412-281-7141.

Maryland Homeowner's Tax Credit and Renter's Tax Credit:

• Separate from the tax return, due September 1st
• Information on the Renter's Credit at: http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/rtc.html
• Information on the Homeowner's Credit at: http://www.dat.state.md.us/sdatweb/htc.html

DC Property tax database to find out:

• Amount of Property Tax Paid by client
• If property is paying tax (if not, may be tax exempt and client may not be eligible for renter's credit)
• Find out registered name and address of property owner

Steps to take:
1. Go to: https://www.taxpayerservicecenter.com/RP_Search.jsp?search_type=Assessment
2. Fill in address and click on "Search Now"
3. Click on the Square/Suffix/Lot number
4. Scroll down and click on "View Tax Information"
5. Click in the Real Property Tax tab

Marital Status Issues
www.unmarried.org (for determining which states have common law marriage)

Resources for clients needing help to determine if they are still married to a long-time separated spouse, or who are interested in divorce.  

• DC: http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/superior/family/selfhelp.jsp
      or, http://www.dcbar.org/for_the_public/programs_and_services/divorce.cfm
• MD: http://www.peoples-law.info/Home/PublicWeb/IndexPages/1390000