It's a slow night in the big city. Joe Friday leans against the copier, his hands pressed deep into the pockets of his well worn trench coat. "Just the FAX, Ma'am," his whisper barely audible over the modem squealing in the corner. "Just the FAX, and the 200 forms and instructions available from the IRS TaxFax service, and ..." his voice trails off as he anticipates his lightning fast tax refund.

From a fax machine call: 703-368-9694.

Check the IRS Fax Forms index in Publication 2053 for the most frequently requested IRS tax forms. These items are generally available for fax transmission at all times. To use this service:

• Dial the fax number from your fax machine
• Follow the voice prompts; select up to three items from the index

To be acceptable for filing, forms must be on plain paper, not thermal paper (photocopy if necessary).

Do You Have a Fax Modem?

If you have a fax modem and fax software you can access IRS TaxFax through your personal computer:

• You need a touch-tone telephone connected to the same modem line. The touch-tone phone is necessary so you can call the fax number and respond to the voice prompts.
• Start the fax software on your personal computer.
• Dial the fax number above from the touch-tone phone.
• Follow the voice prompts; select up to three items from the index by pressing the keys of the touch-tone telephone to enter the catalog numbers.
• Begin your fax program's manual "receive" or "begin fax" mode when you are instructed to press the start or receive button of the fax machine.
• The requested items will be sent to your computer and you can print them from your fax software.

Forms and publications are also available by phone (1-800-TAX-FORM), at local IRS offices, many Post Offices and libraries, and by computer:

• WWW:  Forms and Pubs
• FTP: http://irs.gov/pub/

For help with transmission problems (Monday-Friday from 7:30am-5pm EST) call the FedWorld Help Desk at 703-487-4608.

Instructions for using the IRS Tax Fax system are available in English and Spanish by calling the Tax Fax number and selecting instructions in either English or Spanish. Tax Fax has Spanish language forms available for Puerto Rico residents. There is a separate Puerto Rico Tax Fax index/catalog available by making that selection from the voice menu.