Publication 529
Miscellaneous Deductions

For use in preparing 2002 Returns

Deductions Not Subject
to the 2% Limit

You can deduct the items listed below as miscellaneous itemized deductions. They are not subject to the 2% limit. Report these items on line 27, Schedule A (Form 1040).

List of Deductions

• Amortizable premium on taxable bonds.
• Casualty and theft losses from income-producing property.
• Federal estate tax on income in respect of a decedent.
• Gambling losses up to the amount of gambling winnings.
• Impairment-related work expenses of persons with disabilities.
• Repayments of more than $3,000 under a claim of right.
• Unrecovered investment in an annuity.

Amortizable Premium
on Taxable Bonds

In general, if the amount you pay for a bond is greater than its stated principal amount, the excess is bond premium. You can elect to amortize the premium on taxable bonds. The amortization of the premium is generally an offset to interest income on the bond rather than a separate deduction item.

Pre-1998 election to amortize bond premium.   Generally, if you first elected to amortize bond premium before 1998, the above treatment of the premium does not apply to bonds you acquired before 1988.

Bonds acquired before October 23, 1986.   The amortization of the premium on these bonds is a miscellaneous itemized deduction not subject to the 2% limit.

Bonds acquired after October 22, 1986, and before 1988.   The amortization of the premium on these bonds is investment interest expense subject to the investment interest limit, unless you chose to treat it as an offset to interest income on the bond.

Deduction for excess premium.   On certain bonds (such as bonds that pay a variable rate of interest or that provide for an interest-free period), the amount of bond premium allocable to a period may exceed the amount of stated interest allocable to the period. If this occurs, treat the excess as a miscellaneous itemized deduction that is not subject to the 2% limit. However, the amount deductible is limited to the amount by which your total interest inclusions on the bond in prior periods exceed the total amount you treated as a bond premium deduction on the bond in prior periods. If any of the excess bond premium cannot be deducted because of the limit, this amount is carried forward to the next period and is treated as bond premium allocable to that period.

Pre-1998 choice to amortize bond premium. If you made the choice to amortize the premium on taxable bonds before 1998, you can deduct the bond premium amortization that is more than your interest income only for bonds acquired during 1998 and later years.

More information.   For more information on bond premium, see Bond Premium Amortization in chapter 3 of Publication 550.

Certain Casualty and Theft Losses

You can deduct a casualty or theft loss as a miscellaneous itemized deduction not subject to the 2% limit if the damaged or stolen property was income-producing property (property held for investment, such as stocks, notes, bonds, gold, silver, vacant lots, and works of art). First report the loss in Section B of Form 4684. You may also have to include the loss on Form 4797 if you are otherwise required to file that form. Your deduction is the amount of the loss included on lines 32 and 38b of Form 4684 and line 18b(1) of Form 4797. For more information on casualty and theft losses, see Publication 547.

Federal Estate Tax on Income
in Respect of a Decedent

You can deduct the federal estate tax attributable to income in respect of a decedent that you as a beneficiary include in your gross income. Income in respect of the decedent is gross income that the decedent would have received had death not occurred and that was not properly includible in the decedent's final income tax return. Get Publication 559 for information about figuring the amount of this deduction.

Gambling Losses Up to the
Amount of Gambling Winnings

You must report the full amount of your gambling winnings for the year on line 21, Form 1040. You deduct your gambling losses for the year on line 27, Schedule A (Form 1040). You cannot deduct gambling losses that are more than your winnings.

You cannot reduce your gambling winnings by your gambling losses and report the difference. You must report the full amount of your winnings as income and claim your losses (up to the amount of winnings) as an itemized deduction. Therefore, your records should show your winnings separately from your losses.

Diary of winnings and losses. You must keep an accurate diary or similar record of your losses and winnings.

Your diary should contain at least the following information.

1. The date and type of your specific wager or wagering activity.
2. The name and address or location of the gambling establishment.
3. The names of other persons present with you at the gambling establishment.
4. The amount(s) you won or lost.

Proof of winnings and losses.   In addition to your diary, you should also have other documentation. You can generally prove your winnings and losses through Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings, Form 5754, Statement by Person(s) Receiving Gambling Winnings, wagering tickets, canceled checks, credit records, bank withdrawals, and statements of actual winnings or payment slips provided to you by the gambling establishment.

For specific wagering transactions, you can use the following items to support your winnings and losses.

• Keno: Copies of the keno tickets you purchased that were validated by the gambling establishment, copies of your casino credit records, and copies of your casino check cashing records.
• Slot machines: A record of the machine number and all winnings by date and time the machine was played.
• Table games (twentyone, blackjack, craps, poker, baccarat, roulette, wheel of fortune, etc.): The number of the table at which you were playing. Casino credit card data indicating whether the credit was issued in the pit or at the cashier's cage.
• Bingo: A record of the number of games played, cost of tickets purchased, and amounts collected on winning tickets. Supplemental records include any receipts from the casino, parlor, etc.
• Racing (horse, harness, dog, etc.): A record of the races, amounts of wagers, amounts collected on winning tickets, and amounts lost on losing tickets. Supplemental records include unredeemed tickets and payment records from the racetrack.
• Lotteries: A record of ticket purchases, dates, winnings, and losses. Supplemental records include unredeemed tickets, payment slips, and winnings statements.

These recordkeeping suggestions are intended as general guidelines to help you establish your winnings and losses. They are not all-inclusive. Your tax liability depends on your particular facts and circumstances.

Impairment-Related Work Expenses

If you have a physical or mental disability that limits your being employed, or substantially limits one or more of your major life activities, such as performing manual tasks, walking, speaking, breathing, learning, and working, you can deduct your impairment-related work expenses.

Impairment-related work expenses are ordinary and necessary business expenses for attendant care services at your place of work and other expenses in connection with your place of work that are necessary for you to be able to work.

Where to report.   If you are an employee, you enter impairment-related work expenses on Form 2106 or 2106-EZ. Enter on line 27, Schedule A (Form 1040) that part of the amount on line 10 of Form 2106, or line 6 of Form 2106-EZ, that is related to your impairment. Enter the amount that is unrelated to your impairment on line 20, Schedule A (Form 1040).

Repayments Under Claim of Right

If you had to repay more than $3,000 that you included in your income in an earlier year because at the time you thought you had an unrestricted right to it, you may be able to deduct the amount you repaid, or take a credit against your tax. See Repayments in Publication 525 for more information.

Unrecovered Investment in Annuity

A retiree who contributed to the cost of an annuity can exclude from income a part of each payment received as a tax-free return of the retiree's investment. If the retiree dies before the entire investment is recovered tax free, any unrecovered investment can be deducted on the retiree's final income tax return. Get Publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income, for more information about the tax treatment of pensions and annuities.

Performing Artists

If you are a qualified performing artist, you can deduct your employee business expenses as an adjustment to income rather than as a miscellaneous itemized deduction. To qualify, you must meet all three of the following requirements.

1. You perform services in the performing arts for at least two employers during your tax year. (You are considered to have performed services in the performing arts for an employer only if that employer paid you $200 or more.)
2. Your allowable business expenses related to the performing arts are more than 10% of your gross income from the performing arts.
3. Your adjusted gross income is not more than $16,000 before deducting these business expenses.

If you do not meet all of the above requirements, you must deduct your expenses as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2% limit.

Special rules for married persons.   If you are married, you must file a joint return unless you lived apart from your spouse at all times during the tax year.

If you file a joint return, you must figure requirements (1) and (2) above separately for both you and your spouse. However, requirement (3) applies to your and your spouse's combined adjusted gross income.

Where to report.   If you meet all of the above requirements, you should first complete Form 2106 or Form 2106-EZ. Then you include your performing-arts related expenses from line 10 of Form 2106 or from line 6 of Form 2106-EZ on line 34 of Form 1040. Then write QPA and the amount of your performing-arts related expenses on the dotted line next to line 34 (Form 1040).

Officials Paid on a Fee Basis

If you are a fee-basis official, you can claim your expenses in performing services in that job as an adjustment to income rather than as a miscellaneous itemized deduction. To qualify as a fee-basis official, you must be employed by a state or local government and be paid in whole or in part on a fee basis.

Where to report.   If you qualify as a fee-basis official, you should first complete Form 2106 or Form 2106-EZ. Then include your expenses in performing services in that job (line 10 of Form 2106 or line 6 of Form 2106-EZ) on line 34 of Form 1040. Then write FBO and the amount of those expenses on the dotted line next to line 34 (Form 1040).

Nondeductible Expenses

You cannot deduct the following expenses.

List of Expenses

• Adoption expenses.
• Broker's commissions that you paid in connection with your IRA or other investment property.
• Burial or funeral expenses, including the cost of a cemetery lot.
• Campaign expenses.
• Capital expenses.
• Check-writing fees.
• Certain club dues.
• Commuting expenses.
• Fees and licenses, such as car licenses, marriage licenses, and dog tags.
• Fines and penalties, such as parking tickets.
• Health spa expenses.
• Hobby losses - but see Hobby expenses, earlier.
• Home repairs, insurance, and rent.
• Home security system.
• Illegal bribes and kickbacks - see Bribes and kickbacks in chapter 13 of Publication 535.
• Investment-related seminars.
• Life insurance premiums.
• Lobbying expenses.
• Losses from the sale of your home, furniture, personal car, etc.
• Lost or misplaced cash or property.
• Lunches with coworkers.
• Meals while working late.
• Medical expenses as business expenses.
• Personal disability insurance premiums.
• Personal legal expenses.
• Personal, living, or family expenses.
• Political contributions.
• Professional accreditation fees.
• Professional reputation, expenses to improve.
• Relief fund contributions.
• Residential telephone line.
• Stockholders' meeting, expenses of attending.
• Tax-exempt income, expenses of earning or collecting.
• The value of wages never received or lost vacation time.
• Travel expenses for another individual.
• Voluntary unemployment benefit fund contributions.
• Wristwatches.

Adoption Expenses

You cannot deduct the expenses of adopting a child but you may be able to take a credit for those expenses. For details, see Publication 968, Tax Benefits for Adoption.

Campaign Expenses

You cannot deduct campaign expenses of a candidate for any office, even if the candidate is running for reelection to the office. These include qualification and registration fees for primary elections.

Legal fees.   You cannot deduct legal fees paid to defend charges that arise from participation in a political campaign.

Capital Expenses

You cannot currently deduct amounts paid to buy property that has a useful life substantially beyond the tax year or amounts paid to increase the value or prolong the life of property. If you use such property in your work, you may be able to take a depreciation deduction. Get Publication 946. If the property is a car used in your work, also get Publication 463.

Check-Writing Fees on Personal Account

If you have a personal checking account, you cannot deduct fees charged by the bank for the privilege of writing checks, even if the account pays interest.

Club Dues

Generally, you cannot deduct the cost of membership in any club organized for business, pleasure, recreation, or other social purpose. This includes business, social, athletic, luncheon, sporting, airline, hotel, golf, and country clubs. For exceptions, see Dues to Chambers of Commerce and Professional Societies under Unreimbursed Employee Expenses, earlier.

Commuting Expenses

You cannot deduct commuting expenses (the cost of transportation between your home and your main or regular place of work). If you haul tools, instruments, or other items in your car to and from work, you can deduct only the additional cost of hauling the items, such as the rent on a trailer to carry the items.

Fines or Penalties

You cannot deduct fines or penalties you pay to a governmental unit for violating a law. This includes an amount paid in settlement of your actual or potential liability for a fine or penalty (civil or criminal). Fines or penalties include parking tickets, tax penalties, and penalties deducted from teachers' paychecks after an illegal strike.

Health Spa Expenses

You cannot deduct health spa expenses, even if there is a job requirement to stay in excellent physical condition, such as might be required of a law enforcement officer.

Home Security System

You cannot deduct the cost of a home security system as a miscellaneous deduction. However, you may be able to claim a deduction for a home security system as a business expense if you have a home office. See Home Office under Unreimbursed Employee Expenses, earlier, and Publication 587.

Homeowners' Insurance Premiums

You cannot deduct premiums that you pay or that are placed in escrow for insurance on your home, such as fire and liability or mortgage insurance.

Investment-Related Seminars

You cannot deduct any expenses for attending a convention, seminar, or similar meeting for investment purposes.

Life Insurance Premiums

You cannot deduct premiums you pay on your life insurance. You may be able to deduct, as alimony, premiums you pay on life insurance policies assigned to your former spouse. See Publication 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals, for information on alimony.

Lobbying Expenses

You generally cannot deduct amounts paid or incurred for lobbying expenses. These include expenses to:

1. Influence legislation,
2. Participate, or intervene, in any political campaign for, or against, any candidate for public office,
3. Attempt to influence the general public, or segments of the public, about elections, legislative matters, or referendums, or
4. Communicate directly with covered executive branch officials in any attempt to influence the official actions or positions of those officials.

Lobbying expenses also include any amounts paid or incurred for research, preparation, planning, or coordination of any of these activities.

Covered executive branch official.   A covered executive branch official, for the purpose of (4) above, is any of the following officials.

• The President.
• The Vice President.
• Any officer or employee of the White House Office of the Executive Office of the President, and the two most senior level officers of each of the other agencies in the Executive Office.
• Any individual serving in a position in Level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of Title 5, United States Code, any other individual designated by the President as having Cabinet-level status, and any immediate deputy of one of these individuals.

Dues used for lobbying.   If a tax-exempt organization notifies you that part of the dues or other amounts you pay to the organization are used to pay nondeductible lobbying expenses, you cannot deduct that part.

Exceptions.   You can deduct certain lobbying expenses if they are ordinary and necessary expenses of carrying on your trade or business.

1. You can deduct expenses for attempting to influence the legislation of any local council or similar governing body (local legislation). An Indian tribal government is considered a local council or similar governing body.
2. You can deduct in-house expenses for influencing legislation or communicating directly with a covered executive branch official if the expenses for the tax year are not more than $2,000 (not counting overhead expenses).
3. If you are a professional lobbyist, you can deduct the expenses you incur in the trade or business of lobbying on behalf of another person. Payments by the other person to you for lobbying activities cannot be deducted.

Lost or Mislaid Cash or Property

You cannot deduct a loss based on the mere disappearance of money or property. However, an accidental loss or disappearance of property can qualify as a casualty if it results from an identifiable event that is sudden, unexpected, or unusual. See Publication 547.

Example.   A car door is accidentally slammed on your hand, breaking the setting of your diamond ring. The diamond falls from the ring and is never found. The loss of the diamond is a casualty.

Lunches With Coworkers

You cannot deduct the expenses of lunches with coworkers, except while traveling away from home on business. See Publication 463 for information on deductible expenses while traveling away from home.

Meals While Working Late

You cannot deduct the cost of meals while working late. However, you may be able to claim a deduction if the cost of the meals is a deductible entertainment expense, or if you are traveling away from home. See Publication 463 for information on deductible entertainment expenses and expenses while traveling away from home.

Personal Legal Expenses

You cannot deduct personal legal expenses such as those for the following.

1. Custody of children.
2. Breach of promise (to marry) suit.
3. Civil or criminal charges resulting from a personal relationship.
4. Damages for personal injury.
5. Preparation of a title (or defense or perfection of a title).
6. Preparation of a will.
7. Property claims or property settlement in a divorce.

You cannot deduct these expenses even if a result of the legal proceeding is the loss of income-producing property.

Political Contributions

You cannot deduct contributions made to a political candidate, a campaign committee, or a newsletter fund. Advertisements in convention bulletins and admissions to dinners or programs that benefit a political party or political candidate are not deductible.

Professional Accreditation Fees

You cannot deduct professional accreditation fees such as the following.

1. Accounting certificate fees paid for the initial right to practice accounting.
2. Bar exam fees and incidental expenses in securing admission to the bar.
3. Medical and dental license fees paid to get initial licensing.

Professional Reputation

You cannot deduct expenses of radio and TV appearances to increase your personal prestige or establish your professional reputation.

Relief Fund Contributions

You cannot deduct contributions paid to a private plan that pays benefits to any covered employee who cannot work because of any injury or illness not related to the job.

Residential Telephone Service

You cannot deduct any charge (including taxes) for basic local telephone service for the first telephone line to your residence, even if it is used in a trade or business.

Stockholders' Meetings

You cannot deduct transportation and other expenses you pay to attend stockholders' meetings of companies in which you own stock but have no other interest. You cannot deduct these expenses even if you are attending the meeting to get information that would be useful in making further investments.

Tax-Exempt Income Expenses

You cannot deduct expenses to produce tax-exempt income. You cannot deduct interest on a debt incurred or continued to buy or carry tax-exempt securities.

If you have expenses to produce both taxable and tax-exempt income, but you cannot identify the expenses that produce each type of income, you must divide the expenses based on the amount of each type of income to determine the amount that you can deduct.

Example.   During the year, you received taxable interest of $4,800 and tax-exempt interest of $1,200. In earning this income, you had total expenses of $500 during the year. You cannot identify the amount of each expense item that is for each income item. Therefore, 80% ($4,800/$6,000) of the expense is for the taxable interest and 20% ($1,200/$6,000) is for the tax-exempt interest. You can deduct, subject to the 2% limit, expenses of $400 (80% of $500).

Travel Expenses for Another Individual

You generally cannot deduct travel expenses you pay or incur for a spouse, dependent, or other individual who accompanies you (or your employee) on business travel. See Publication 463 for more information on deductible travel expenses.

Voluntary Unemployment
Benefit Fund Contributions

You cannot deduct voluntary unemployment benefit fund contributions you make to a union fund or a private fund. However, you can deduct contributions as taxes if state law requires you to make them to a state unemployment fund that covers you for the loss of wages from unemployment caused by business conditions.

Wristwatches

You cannot deduct the cost of a wristwatch, even if there is a job requirement that you know the correct time to properly perform your duties.

How To Report

You must itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) to claim miscellaneous deductions.

• Report your miscellaneous deductions subject to the 2% limit on lines 20 through 22 and the total on line 23.
• Report your miscellaneous deductions not subject to the 2% limit on line 27.

See Instructions for Schedule A in your Form 1040 instruction booklet for more information.

Form 2106 and Form 2106-EZ.   If you have deductible employee business expenses, you usually must file either Form 2106 or Form 2106-EZ.

You must file Form 2106 or Form 2106-EZ if any of the following applies to you.

1. You are a qualified performing artist claiming performing-artist-related expenses. (See Performing Artists under Deductions Not Subject to the 2% Limit, earlier.)
2. You are a fee-basis state or local government official claiming expenses in performing that job. (See Officials Paid on a Fee Basis under Deductions Not Subject to the 2% Limit, earlier.)
3. You are an individual with a disability and are claiming impairment-related work expenses. (See Impairment-Related Work Expenses under Deductions Not Subject to the 2% Limit, earlier.)
4. You are claiming job-related vehicle, travel, transportation, meal, or entertainment expenses. This does not apply if either of the following is true.
   1. None of your expenses are deductible because of the 2% limit on miscellaneous itemized deductions.
   2. Your only entry on Form 2106 or Form 2106-EZ is on line 4. If this is true and (a) above is not true, enter the expenses directly on line 20 of Schedule A (Form 1040).

Who can use Form 2106-EZ.   You can use the shorter Form 2106-EZ instead of Form 2106 if both of the following apply.

1. You are not reimbursed by your employer for any expenses. (Amounts your employer included as wages in box 1 of your Form W-2 are not considered reimbursements.)
2. Either:
   1. You are not claiming vehicle expense, or
   2. You are using the standard mileage rate for your vehicle.

Statutory employee.   If you are a statutory employee, deduct the business expenses related to being a statutory employee on Schedule C or C-EZ (Form 1040).

You are a statutory employee if you meet one of the following four descriptions.

1. You are a driver who is either an agent for someone else or paid on commission and you:
   1. Distribute meat, vegetable, fruit, or bakery products,
   2. Distribute beverages (other than milk), or
   3. Pick up and deliver laundry or dry cleaning.
2. You are a full-time life insurance sales agent whose principal business activity is selling life insurance or annuity contracts, or both, primarily for one life insurance company.
3. You work at home on materials or goods supplied by someone else. That person must provide guidelines for the work you do, and you must return the work to that person or someone else named by that person.
4. You are a full-time traveling or city salesperson who works only for one firm or person (except for sideline sales activities). You turn in orders from customers who are wholesalers, retailers, contractors, or operators of hotels, restaurants, or other similar establishments. The goods sold must be merchandise for resale or supplies for use in the buyer's business operation. This work must be your principal business activity.

If you are a statutory employee, you will receive a Form W-2 from your employer with box 13 checked to indicate Statutory employee.

Example

Debra Smith is employed as a salesperson. Her adjusted gross income is $40,000, and she did not receive any reimbursement for her expenses. She has the following qualifying miscellaneous deductions:

Her filled-in Form 2106-EZ and part of her Schedule A (Form 1040) are shown. Of Debra's deductions, only gambling losses are not subject to the 2%-of- adjusted-gross-income limit. She enters the gambling losses on line 27 of Schedule A. The other items are subject to the 2% limit and are shown on lines 20, 21, and 22 of Schedule A.

Debra completes Part I of Form 2106-EZ. She enters the transportation expenses of $500 on line 2. The home office expenses of $1,100 are entered on line 4. The entertainment expenses of $500 are subject to the 50% limit and are entered on line 5. She then completes the rest of the form. The total expenses of $1,850, shown on line 6, are entered on line 20 of Schedule A.

Debra's expenses for tax return preparation are entered on line 21 of Schedule A. Her expenses for investment counseling are entered on line 22. She then totals the amounts on lines 20, 21, and 22 and enters this total of $2,350 on line 23. She enters $40,000, her adjusted gross income, on line 24. She multiplies this amount by 2% (.02) and enters the result of $800 on line 25. She subtracts the amount on line 25 from the amount on line 23 and enters $1,550, her allowable deduction, on line 26.

Schedule A of Form 2106–EZ

How To Get Tax Help

You can get help with unresolved tax issues, order free publications and forms, ask tax questions, and get more information from the IRS in several ways. By selecting the method that is best for you, you will have quick and easy access to tax help.

Contacting your Taxpayer Advocate.   If you have attempted to deal with an IRS problem unsuccessfully, you should contact your Taxpayer Advocate.

The Taxpayer Advocate represents your interests and concerns within the IRS by protecting your rights and resolving problems that have not been fixed through normal channels. While Taxpayer Advocates cannot change the tax law or make a technical tax decision, they can clear up problems that resulted from previous contacts and ensure that your case is given a complete and impartial review.

To contact your Taxpayer Advocate:

• Call the Taxpayer Advocate at 1-877-777-4778.
• Call, write, or fax the Taxpayer Advocate office in your area.
• Call 1-800-829-4059 if you are a TTY/TDD user.

For more information, see Publication 1546, The Taxpayer Advocate Service of the IRS.

Free tax services.   To find out what services are available, get Publication 910, Guide to Free Tax Services. It contains a list of free tax publications and an index of tax topics. It also describes other free tax information services, including tax education and assistance programs and a list of TeleTax topics.

Personal computer. With your personal computer and modem, you can access the IRS on the Internet at www.irs.gov. While visiting our web site, you can:

• See answers to frequently asked tax questions or request help by e-mail.
• Download forms and publications or search for forms and publications by topic or keyword.
• Order IRS products on-line.
• View forms that may be filled in electronically, print the completed form, and then save the form for recordkeeping.
• View Internal Revenue Bulletins published in the last few years.
• Search regulations and the Internal Revenue Code.
• Receive our electronic newsletters on hot tax issues and news.
• Learn about the benefits of filing electronically (IRS e-file).
• Get information on starting and operating a small business.

You can also reach us with your computer using File Transfer Protocol at ftp.irs.gov.

TaxFax Service. Using the phone attached to your fax machine, you can receive forms and instructions by calling 703-368-9694. Follow the directions from the prompts. When you order forms, enter the catalog number for the form you need. The items you request will be faxed to you.

For help with transmission problems, call the FedWorld Help Desk at 703-487-4608.

Phone. Many services are available by phone.
 
 

• Ordering forms, instructions, and publications. Call 1-800-829-3676 to order current and prior year forms, instructions, and publications.
• Asking tax questions. Call the IRS with your tax questions at 1-800-829-1040.
• Solving problems. Take advantage of Everyday Tax Solutions service by calling your local IRS office to set up an in-person appointment at your convenience. Check your local directory assistance or www.irs.gov for the numbers.
• TTY/TDD equipment. If you have access to TTY/TDD equipment, call 1-800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to order forms and publications.
• TeleTax topics. Call 1-800-829-4477 to listen to pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics.

Evaluating the quality of our telephone services. To ensure that IRS representatives give accurate, courteous, and professional answers, we use several methods to evaluate the quality of our telephone services. One method is for a second IRS representative to sometimes listen in on or record telephone calls. Another is to ask some callers to complete a short survey at the end of the call.

Walk-in. Many products and services are available on a walk-in basis.

• Products. You can walk in to many post offices, libraries, and IRS offices to pick up certain forms, instructions, and publications. Some IRS offices, libraries, grocery stores, copy centers, city and county governments, credit unions, and office supply stores have an extensive collection of products available to print from a CD-ROM or photocopy from reproducible proofs. Also, some IRS offices and libraries have the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, Internal Revenue Bulletins, and Cumulative Bulletins available for research purposes.
• Services. You can walk in to your local IRS office to ask tax questions or get help with a tax problem. Now you can set up an appointment by calling your local IRS office number and, at the prompt, leaving a message requesting Everyday Tax Solutions help. A representative will call you back within 2 business days to schedule an in-person appointment at your convenience.

Mail. You can send your order for forms, instructions, and publications to the Distribution Center nearest to you and receive a response within 10 workdays after your request is received. Find the address that applies to your part of the country.

• Western part of U.S.:
  Western Area Distribution Center
  Rancho Cordova, CA 95743-0001
• Central part of U.S.:
  Central Area Distribution Center
  P.O. Box 8903
  Bloomington, IL 61702-8903
• Eastern part of U.S. and foreign addresses:
  Eastern Area Distribution Center
  P.O. Box 85074
  Richmond, VA 23261-5074

CD-ROM for tax products. You can order IRS Publication 1796, Federal Tax Products on CD-ROM, and obtain:
 

• Current tax forms, instructions, and publications.
• Prior-year tax forms and instructions.
• Popular tax forms that may be filled in electronically, printed out for submission, and saved for recordkeeping.
• Internal Revenue Bulletins.

The CD-ROM can be purchased from National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling 1-877-233-6767 or on the Internet at http://www.irs.gov/cdorders. The first release is available in early January and the final release is available in late February.

CD-ROM for small businesses. IRS Publication 3207, Small Business Resource Guide, is a must for every small business owner or any taxpayer about to start a business. This handy, interactive CD contains all the business tax forms, instructions and publications needed to successfully manage a business. In addition, the CD provides an abundance of other helpful information, such as how to prepare a business plan, finding financing for your business, and much more. The design of the CD makes finding information easy and quick and incorporates file formats and browsers that can be run on virtually any desktop or laptop computer.

It is available in March. You can get a free copy by calling 1-800-829-3676 or by visiting the website at www.irs.gov/smallbiz.

Tax Publications and Commonly Used Tax Forms for Individual Taxpayers