Accountants help ease pressure of filing taxes By Josh Funk Staff Reporter It’s said there are only two things in life that are inevitable: death and taxes. While you may be able to delay the first, taxes are due April 15. Traditionally, people wait until the last minute to file. Bob Carver, assistant to the president of H&R Block tax services, worked for the Inter nal Revenue Service for more than 31 years. He was in Lincoln visiting the regional H&R Block office Thursday. Carver said it was important for people to file their returns promptly and correctly, but, according to the IRS, it takes 30 hours to file a simple personal tax return. Instead of making tax filing a part-time job, people are turning to professional accountants. “By ‘contracting out’ to have your taxes done you can take advantage of the preparer’s tax expertise,” Carver said. “If an accountant can’t find a tax advantage equal to his salary, he’s not doing his job.” Accountants have the time and knowledge to devote to tax codes and procedures. They are able to take advantage of the most possible exemptions. For those people who prepare their own re turns, Carver warned to be aware of three com mon mistakes: ■ Make sure the math is correct. ■ Use the name and number listed on your social security card. ■ Most importantly, sign the bottom of the form before mailing. “Any one of these mistakes could cause a 10- to 12-week delay, and the IRS can just make corrections to your form, which may cost you deductions,” Carver said. Contrary to public opinion, the IRS is will ing to work with people who cannot pay what they owe, he said. “If you make a reasonable offer to make payments, they are not going to say no,” Carver said. “The important thing is you can’t ignore the IRS. They won’t just go away.” In fact, the IRS now is easier to find. And it is slowly trying to find ways to make filing taxes more convenient. This year, the IRS unveiled its new TeleFile program, which allows people to file their re turns over the phone. TeleFile was sent out to people who had previously filed the 1040EZ form. Another innovation in tax filing is electronic filing. “Hopefully, in the future, the IRS can cre ate an electronic filing system anyone can use with their computer,” Carver said. “The main problem now is the security of the transmis sion, but they are working on a one-time en cryption system to secure the returns.” Taxpayers will not have to worry about ad justing to new tax laws this year, Carver said. “(Legislators) were too busy getting them selves elected in Washington to change the tax code,” Carver said, jokingly. But, he said, students should start looking for a tax code change later this year that will give them a deduction for attending college. “Clinton and the Republicans have been talking about a tax tweak for college so it should go through,” Carver said. “It just remains to be seen how big the tax break is.” iwjspbi I I I I Roundtrip Rates Within Zone A or B $129 roundtrip Between Zone A & Zone B $189 roundtrip Between Zone A & Zone C $269 roundtrip Between Zone B & Zone C $189 roundtrip Within Zone C $109 roundtrip Not valid for travel to/from IL/CO/AK/HI. ® To enjoy these low Weekender Zone Fares - plus earn Mileage Plus® y) credit on your trip - just call your travel professional or United to