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Note. Form 9000, Alternative Media Preference, or Form 9000(SP) allows you to elect to receive certain types of written correspondence in the following formats. • Standard Print. • Large Print. • Braille. • Audio (MP3). • Plain Text File (TXT). • Braille Ready File (BRF). Disasters. Go to Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses to review the availa- ble disaster tax relief. Getting tax forms and publications. Go to IRS.gov/ Forms to view, download, or print all the forms and publi- cations you may need. Or you can go to IRS.gov/ OrderForms to place an order. Getting tax publications and instructions in eBook format. You can also download and view popular tax publications and instructions (including the Instructions for Form 1040) on mobile devices as eBooks at IRS.gov/ eBooks. Note. IRS eBooks have been tested using Apple's iBooks for iPad. Our eBooks haven’t been tested on other dedicated eBook readers, and eBook functionality may not operate as intended. Access your online account (individual taxpayers only). Go to IRS.gov/Account to securely access infor- mation about your federal tax account. • View the amount you owe and a breakdown by tax year. • See payment plan details or apply for a new payment plan. • Make a payment or view 5 years of payment history and any pending or scheduled payments. • Access your tax records, including key data from your most recent tax return, your EIP amounts, and tran- scripts. • View digital copies of select notices from the IRS. • Approve or reject authorization requests from tax pro- fessionals. • View your address on file or manage your communi- cation preferences. Tax Pro Account. This tool lets your tax professional submit an authorization request to access your individual taxpayer IRS online account. For more information, go to IRS.gov/TaxProAccount. Using direct deposit. The fastest way to receive a tax refund is to file electronically and choose direct deposit, which securely and electronically transfers your refund di- rectly into your financial account. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that your check could be lost, stolen, destroyed, or returned undeliverable to the IRS. Eight in 10 taxpayers use direct deposit to receive their refund. If you don’t have a bank account, go to IRS.gov/ DirectDeposit for more information on where to find a bank or credit union that can open an account online. Getting a transcript or copy of a return. The quickest way to get a copy of your tax transcript is to go to IRS.gov/ Transcripts. Click on either “Get Transcript Online” or “Get Transcript by Mail” to order a copy of your transcript. If you prefer, you can order your transcript by calling 800-908-9946. Reporting and resolving your tax-related identity theft issues. • Tax-related identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit tax fraud. Your taxes can be affected if your SSN is used to file a fraudulent return or to claim a refund or credit. • The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages (including shortened links), tele- phone calls, or social media channels to request or verify personal or financial information. This includes requests for personal identification numbers (PINs), passwords, or similar information for credit cards, banks, or other financial accounts. • Go to IRS.gov/IdentityTheft, the IRS Identity Theft Central webpage, for information on identity theft and data security protection for taxpayers, tax professio- nals, and businesses. If your SSN has been lost or stolen or you suspect you’re a victim of tax-related identity theft, you can learn what steps you should take. • Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). IP PINs are six-digit numbers assigned to taxpayers to help pre- vent the misuse of their SSNs on fraudulent federal in- come tax returns. When you have an IP PIN, it pre- vents someone else from filing a tax return with your SSN. To learn more, go to IRS.gov/IPPIN. Ways to check on the status of your refund. • Go to IRS.gov/Refunds. • Download the official IRS2Go app to your mobile de- vice to check your refund status. • Call the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954. Note. The IRS can’t issue refunds before mid-Febru- ary for returns that claimed the EIC or the additional child tax credit (ACTC). This applies to the entire refund, not just the portion associated with these credits. Making a tax payment. Go to IRS.gov/Payments for in- formation on how to make a payment using any of the fol- lowing options. • IRS Direct Pay: Pay your individual tax bill or estima- ted tax payment directly from your checking or sav- ings account at no cost to you. • Debit or Credit Card: Choose an approved payment processor to pay online or by phone. Page 68 Chapter 12 How To Get Tax Help