It's that dreaded time of year. Your mailbox has become the enemy. Lurking in there are the forms that cause you so much work. Now you have to gather up all the receipts that you threw in the shoebox and sort them out. You have to try to remember and prove what money you gave to charity. It's tax time.

Federal, state and City of Alliance tax forms have started arriving in the mail. There are several means to obtain information and assistance with your tax questions and concerns. Some of those are listed on the tax forms you receive. There are also many on-line tax help sites available to those who are computer literate. One site is www.irs.gov. The City of Alliance web site at www.cityofalliance.com/taxes has the 2002 Alliance Income Tax form, which can be downloaded and printed. There are also past year's forms on the same web page in case you need them.

In agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, Alliance Mayor Toni Middleton has established a Community Based Outlet Program to provide taxpayers with convenient access to federal and local tax materials. In the hallway going back to the Income Tax office at 504 E. Main St., there are shelves with free information and forms. Mayor Middleton, along with 4,400 other government agencies with 5,000 outlet locations nationwide, has volunteered to provide this valuable service to citizens in their communities.

Currently there is information available for business and individual federal taxpayer education. There is also information and assistance for those do-it-yourself preparers, small business and/or self-employed types. If you want to get your business off to a successful start, try the "Introduction to Federal Taxes", self-help for small business and self-employed.

"The Small Business Resource Guide 2002" provides assistance for what you need to know about taxes and other topics. "Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About EFTPS", provides important information on the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System for business and individual taxpayers. EFTPS is a service offered free by the U.S. Department of Treasury. Individual taxpayers can now file electronically online without paying a special tax-preparer.

The City of Alliance Income Tax office located at 504 E. Main St. has a limited quantity of the federal tax reference education and self-help information CD’s and pamphlets available to the public, free of charge. Visit the Income Tax office weekdays from 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. and pick up your free CD-ROM on federal taxes. Tax office staff is also available to answer any of your City of Alliance tax questions as well.

This service and information material is provided free through the cooperation of Alliance Income Tax Office staff, Administrator Ron Crosser, Sandy Antonasanti and Mary Anne Carper, the Department of Treasury ~ Internal Revenue Service, Washington D.C. and its Government Agency Partner, Mayor Toni Middleton. Additional tax preparation information and materials will be made available when received.

Paying taxes can be painful. We're trying to make it more palatable. Stop by and pick up the information you need and ask questions. If you need to call, the phone number of the Income Tax Office is 330-821-9190. Questions about Mayor Middleton's partnership with the Community Based Outlet Program can be answered by calling the mayor's office at 330-821-3110.