Check Refund Status
You can check the status of your federal income tax refund using IRS2Go.  Simply enter your Social Security number, which will be masked and encrypted for security purposes, then select your filing status and enter the amount of your anticipated refund from your 2013 tax return.  A status tracker has been added so you can see where your tax return is in the process.  If you filed your return electronically, you can check your refund status within a 24 hours after we receive your return.  If you file a paper tax return, you will need to wait about four weeks to check your refund status because it takes longer to process a paper return.

Tax Records
You can request your tax return or account transcript using your smartphone.  IRS2Go allows you to request this information, which will be mailed to you within several business days.

Free Tax Prep Providers
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.  You can use this brand new tool to help you find a VITA site right near your home.  You simply enter your zip code and select a mileage range.  To make it even more convenient if you click on the directions button within the results the maps application on your device will load with the address, making it easy to navigate to your desired location.

Stay Connected
You can interact with the IRS by following us on Twitter, watching helpful videos on YouTube, sign up for email updates, or contact us.

Download the IRS2Go App
If you have an Apple iPhone or iTouch, you can download the free IRS2Go app by visiting the iTunes app store.  If you have an Android device, you can visit Google Play to download the free IRS2Go app.

An unusually helpful bit of pop psychology holds that we should worry only about things we can control or effect and put aside the anxieties we cannot.  That advice holds true for worrying about money and investing.  Although  some fears cannot be controlled by the individual or have little likelihood of happening, addressing a related fear that can be controlled may help alleviate some of the anxiety.

Fear: Stock Market Crash

While visions of the NASDAQ tech crash still haunt many, the reality is, your biggest worry should be getting mediocre returns from your investments.  We often abandon the buy low, sell high principle when it is most needed.  God markets make many investors feel invincible, so they don’t sell or re-balance.  When markets decrease and prices are low, investors get scared that they will lose out on potential gains; they jump ship figuring a small return is better than none, but ignoring the potential upside if the stock price rises again.  Diversification and dollar-cost averaging may help you avoid mediocre returns.  By making sure your portfolio is invested for the long haul across a variety of markets, countries, and investment vehicles, you may reduce your risk exposure and potentially open yourself up to more than mediocre returns.

Fear: Identity Theft

We, as a country, have a great deal of fear about identity theft; and for very good reason.  It can wreak havoc on your personal finances.  Mistakes on your credit report, however, are far more likely and can severely damage credit ratings.  Consumers find more than 13 million inaccuracies on their credit reports each year, according to Consumer Reports.  Those mistakes can range from minor to inaccurate, or false delinquencies that can ruin your credit.  Be cautious about giving out your social security number and check you credit report once a year for inaccuracies.

Fear: Failing Economy

High energy prices, terrorism, and natural disasters are all enough to make Chicken Little look rational.  With our penchant to view the future as a continuation of the past, it’s no surprise that many Americans fear another 1920a-style depression, or worse.  By investing in a wide variety of investment vehicles, you can help increase the chances that if one major world economy starts to fail, you’re gaining in another that is booming.  For those in retirement, where income distribution is so important, having a strategy that generates income in good times and bad is critical.

Many of us fear the worse on a consistent basis, and we all face risks everyday.  The real task is rooting out which financial fears can be controlled and then working with your financial professional to minimize your risk.