Taxes research guide

Worthington Libraries is a great place to find tax information. Every year Old Worthington Library and Northwest Library receive a large selection of the most popular tax forms from both the state and federal government. Internet access makes finding additional forms quick and easy. You can also take advantage of the library's Internet computers to file your taxes online. While library staff cannot prepare taxes or answer specific tax-related questions, they can assist you in locating the information you need.

General Tax Guides

The following books are published annually. They come from commercial sources and not a government agency. They are designed to provide basic tax information to the general public. Remember the dates on these publications run a year ahead of the forms, so when filling out a 2011 tax return, use a 2012 tax guide. If you cannot locate copies of these in the Library, please inquire at the Information Desk. It is possible that reference copies may be available for use in the Library.

Internal Revenue Code

Federal tax law is compiled in Title 26 of the United States Code, available on the Web. Please note the tax code is written in specialized legal language and may not be accessible to the average reader.

  • United States Code
    Cornell University provides this electronic version of the United States Code. From the main page, scroll down to Title 26 Internal Revenue Code.

Tax Forms and Publications on the Web

Every year Worthington Libraries participate in the IRS Tax Forms Outlet Program (TFOP). Our goal is to provide print versions of the most popular and requested forms. Since we do not receive all forms from all agencies, we often rely on the following websites to provide additional materials.

  • 1040.com
    1040.com is a useful tax information clearinghouse. In addition to federal forms and tax news, there are also links to individual state sites and forms. Remember, this is not the official IRS site.
  • City of Columbus, Ohio: Income Tax Division
    The City of Columbus Income Tax Division provides Columbus tax forms and instructions online.
  • Internal Revenue Service
    The official IRS site has a comprehensive list of federal forms and publications.
  • Ohio Department of Taxation
    Ohio tax forms and instructions are available through the Department of Taxation's web site. Recently, Ohio began offering a free I-File service for individuals. This provides a convenient alternative for many filers.
  • Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA)
    RITA provides services to collect income tax for select Ohio municipalities.

Other Tax Sites

The Web is home to a number of tax-related sites that provide information and tips. Those listed below are some of the most useful.

revised Jan. 2012