Stupid Tax Question- What to include when mailing in tax returns?

[brig2221]

Sorry for yet another question regarding my taxes. I finally got everything figured out on my return, and I have my tax return printed out all nice and neat.

I know that I am supposed to attach my W2's to the front of the return. That said, I have a stupid question. Please forgive me, as I have not prepared our returns in over 5 years. Here we go....

Am I supposed to make copies of, and include, all of my other tax documents along with my W2's and the return itself?

By this I mean, copies of property taxes paid, interest paid statement from the bank on my mortgage, 1099-B forms, 1099-INT forms, copies of statements showing charitable contributions, and copies of the sales tax that I paid on both of my car purchases this year that I claimed on my taxes?

Thanks!

[safari]

No, you don't need to send any copies with your tax return. Your banks have already reported all that information to the IRS. You will need to save all receipts for charitable contributions and other expenses, and you will be required to supply those in case you're audited, but you don't need to send those with your tax return. By the way, why not E-file your taxes? I've been filing my taxes electronically for the last 6 years.

[gekkoplus]

E-Filing is not free, is it? There are a lot of programs that claim free efiling, but all of them have certain criteria such as a very low income limit which makes most of us ineligible most of the time.

I am due a refund of around 10K+, and I was thinking about paying $50 for efiling to TurboTax because of big refund amount. (e-file -> quick money back -> interest earned would offset efiling charges) If my refund were anything less than 5K or so, I would have no hesitation in printing and mailing my returns instead of efiling.

[scfr]

In addition to your W-2, you will want to send any IRS Forms or Schedules that you had to fill out. For example, it sounds like you may have the following forms and schedules:

Form 1040
Schedule A (Itemized Deductions)
Schedule B (Interest and Dividends)

Copies of things such as interest statements from banks, property tax statement, etc. are supporting evidence. You don't need to send them, but you'll want to file them away with your copy of your return in case of an audit.

[huffydeb2003]

If your income was less than $54,000 in 2007, you can file your taxes for free by visiting the IRS website.

[brig2221]

Thanks a lot! Unfortunately I owe taxes this year, so I won't be e-filing. There is just something wrong in my book in paying extra money to pay Uncle Sam his due more conveniently

Thanks again.