If you haven't filed your 2007 1040 forms yet, you might consider using an online service such as TurboTax or H&R Block TaxCut.

We've used TurboTax for several years and have found it to be comprehensive and easy to understand. We used to buy the program on a CD, but now prefer TurboTax's online services, which include a 1040EZ edition (for free), along with a Basic, Deluxe, and Premier edition. After going to www.turbotax.com, you can choose the most suitable edition for minimizing your tax obligation.

All editions provide step-by-step directions (both visual and audio) along with alerts if you appear to be making an invalid entry or are inserting something that might be to your bottom-line disadvantage. They also make it easy to correct errors and/or start over. When finished, you can make a print-out to send via US mail or you can file directly online.

TurboTax maintains copies of your files, so that previous returns can be accessed for information that might be needed in a return you are currently filing. If you are a Quicken or QuickBooks user, all pertinent data can be automatically inserted into the return being prepared.

Even if you use an accountant to prepare your tax returns, you will make his/her job much easier by supplying your records via TurboTax print-outs.

One caveat regarding online tax filing is that you should be running anti-virus and anti-spyware programs to protect against having sensitive data stolen.

Also be aware that the IRS does NOT contact tax payers via e-mail. If you receive an e-mail offering to get you get you a faster refund, it will be a fraud from someone who is out to steal your identity and your money. Likewise be on guard against phone calls from someone who claims to be with the IRS and who is calling because of an "irregularity" in your return, which he will "fix" after you give him certain information.

All kinds of helpful information can be found on the IRS web site — but make sure you go to www.irs.gov. If you type in www.irs.com you'll be accessing another online tax preparation service.

Regarding scams, I recently received an email that claimed to be from Bank of America. Well, I do have an arrangement with my local BOA to exchange certain information via email, so I took a close look at this one before deleting it. Although it was very professionally designed to look like a legitimate BOA message, I could see right away it was a scam. For one thing it was addressed to "Dear Bank of America customer." Legitimate mail from your bank (or other professional entity with which you do business) would be addressed to your name.

Another clue that the letter was a "phishing" scam was the fact that it bore the typical "you will not be able to access your account if you don't fill out this form" ploy. Beyond that, I right-clicked the www.bankofamerica.com link, left-clicked Properties and saw the real www address, which had nothing to do with BOA.