Paper Tax Forms Getting Tough To Find

ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- Nowadays filling out your taxes can be as easy as typing a little information into your computer. But what if you want to do it the old fashioned way -- on paper?

That may take you a little extra effort, especially trying to find the proper papers to fill out your taxes because the IRS has been going away from using the paper forms.

For years, most people did their taxes on paper, picking up the forms at the local library or getting them by mail and then going to work crunching the numbers.

But now that the computer is taking over, taxpayers are scaling back and so is the IRS.

Last year, 78 percent of Minnesotans filed their taxes online. So this year, the IRS saved $10 million by sending out a postcard instead of 13.6 million forms. The postcard told people they can access forms online, at IRS taxpayer assistance centers or participating post offices or libraries.

"Generally, people start coming in right after the first of the year asking if we've gotten the tax forms yet," said Phyllis Kendig, a librarian at the main branch of the St. Paul Public Library. "And the demand of course continues through April 15."

The St. Paul Public Library stocks popular forms at many of its branches and virtually all of them at the main branch. And at least there, demand it still high for paper forms.

"Pretty much the same as it's been in prior years," said Kendig. "We do have a lot of people who still file with the paper form, so I think it's been a steady demand."

Still, the IRS will continue its push to move filers online to save money and mistakes. The IRS said the most common are problems people have with their taxes are with Social Security numbers and math mistakes, which don't happen as often online.

Don't forget that this year we have a few extra days to file our taxes because the deadline is actually April 18.

Click on the links below for more information on finding tax forms.
St. Paul Public Library
Hennepin County Library
IRS