Tax tour to make four area stops

The Internal Revenue Service's Tax Tour is headed to southwest Missouri in February, according to an IRS news release.

The IRS and Missouri Department of Revenue join on the tour to provide free tax assistance and forms to local citizens for preparing their 2000 federal and state income tax returns.

IRS and Missouri Department of Revenue representatives will visit the following southern Missouri communities:

West Plains; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 6 at the West Plains Public Library, 700 W. Broadway;

Branson; 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Taney Hills Library, 200 S. Fourth Street

Lebanon; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Cowan Civic Center, 500 E. Elm;

Salem; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Salem Public Library,102 N. Jackson.

Taxpayers who stop by for assistance should bring their 2000 forms W-2 (wage and tax statements) from their employers as well as any other information documents needed to prepare their 2000 federal and state income tax returns. Federal tax return preparation assistance will be limited to Forms 104OEZ, 1040A, Form 1040, Schedule A (itemized deductions), Schedule B (interest only), Schedule R (Credit for the Elderly or Disabled), and Schedule EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit). Taxpayers can also obtain copies of many federal and state forms and publications at the IRS Tax Tour location.

Taxpayers can get federal tax assistance and information from the IRS toll-free telephone information system at 1-800-829-1040. Telephone assistance is available 24 hours a day seven days a week. Federal tax information is available from the IRS on the Internet at www.irs.gov. State tax information is available from the Missouri Department of Revenue on the Internet at www.dor.statemo.us.