| Well, you don't need it, but you might want it in order to | | | | - just kind of ignore that column and look at the next |
| view many of the important files that you might find on | | | | column of information. This column will contain the |
| the Web. Files that you will find in Adobe's PDF format | | | | more familiar form name and number and it is in order! |
| are common documents like IRS forms, product | | | | You will see the more common forms like Form 1040 |
| manuals, reports, business information, maps, e-books | | | | and 1040A and when you do, you will notice that the |
| (electronic books) - which includes all formats like | | | | ones that are before it are forms in the 900 range of |
| novels, plays, poetry, magazines and historic | | | | numbers, so you can see that all you need to do is find |
| documents - and many other documents.Let's take an | | | | the number for the form you need and then choose |
| example: (sorry reader's outside of the USA, you may | | | | it.You choose it by clicking on the line that the form is |
| not totally 'get' this reference!) It's April and U. S. taxes | | | | on and then go down a bit on the page and click on |
| are due. You start your paperwork and realize that | | | | the button that says "Review Selected Files". You will |
| you did something different last year and need another | | | | have a link on a new page for that particular form that |
| form that's not in your regular packet.OK ... what's the | | | | you selected. Make sure that it is the correct form |
| procedure for this ... you get in the car, drive to the | | | | number and then go ahead and click on that link. If it |
| local post office, park the car, go in and rummage | | | | isn't correct, click on the back button and try again.By |
| around the piles of forms that are there and it isn't | | | | clicking on that link, you are choosing a PDF formatted |
| there. Oh well, get back in the car and drive to the | | | | document - by the way PDF stands for Portable |
| downtown federal buildings and again find a parking | | | | Document Format and is also the extension for each |
| place ... find the IRS office ... look through the stacks of | | | | document. So if you see a file in your folders on your |
| forms to find the right one ... finally find it and proceed | | | | computer that looks like this: filename.pdf - that file can |
| to make your way back to the car ... fight the | | | | only be viewed by the Adobe Reader |
| downtown traffic back home and now you are too | | | | software.Getting back to the IRS website, when you |
| tired to work on your taxes!Whew!! That sounds like a | | | | click on that link, you don't have to do anything else |
| lot of work! Well, I can tell you for certain that there is | | | | other than to watch it come up in your Adobe Reader |
| an easier way to get that form! Here's the new | | | | - that is, you will if you have it installed on your |
| procedure:Connect to the internet (however you | | | | computer. Need to get it? Simply go to where you will |
| connect); open up a browser (where you view web | | | | find a link to download the software for free!Now, so |
| pages: like Internet Explorer, Netscape, or AOL's | | | | you can find it and use it again, make sure that you |
| browser); go to the address bar (box) near the top of | | | | click on the "Save a Copy" button in the left corner to |
| the window; type in press the Enter key or click on the | | | | save that form that you searched so hard for! Also, |
| 'Go' button to get you to the site.Now, over to the left | | | | don't forget to go back to the list after you save the |
| you'll see a heading labeled "Most Requested Forms | | | | form to get any instructions that go with the form. |
| and Publications" and below it you'll see a list of the | | | | Bring it into your Adobe Reader software the same |
| most common forms that people request. If your form | | | | way and you're ready to work on your taxes!Now, |
| is not listed, then simply click on the last link in that | | | | even though it took a while to write out these |
| section labeled "More Forms and Publications" which | | | | instructions on how to get a form from the web site, it |
| will bring you to a different page.Now, this is the most | | | | is actually a very quick procedure!So, why do people |
| difficult part of the whole procedure ... remember now, | | | | and companies use PDF documents so |
| this is a government web site, it's not supposed to be | | | | extensively?PDF files are enormously popular because |
| easy! On the page there are about '500' links - well, it | | | | of 2 main features: they retain the original formatting |
| seems like that many! Anyway, at this point - don't give | | | | for the document and they are "portable".Formatting is |
| up now! - look at your situation - do you know the | | | | the design - the look and 'feel' of the document. Easily |
| name and or number of the form that you need? If | | | | represented by forms to fill out that need to look and |
| you do, then simply click on the very first link under the | | | | print the same for each person, like the tax forms, it's |
| heading: "Download Forms and Publications by:" which | | | | meant to be a standard 'view' no matter what |
| will get you to another page with the listing of all the | | | | 'platform' it's viewed on - Windows computers, |
| forms available on the site. It looks very confusing but | | | | Macintosh computers, Unix computers or any portable |
| don't give up yet!If you look at the first column to the | | | | device like a cell phone. Consistency is the key here |
| left of the list it looks like there's no rhyme or reason to | | | | and that is why people choose to create and transmit |
| it (oh, that's right, it doesn't have to! It's the IRS after all!) | | | | documents in PDF format. |