It may be expensive for your state to distribute the forms.

I understand that some people do not have computers, but most people have access to computers either via friends and family or the local library.

Our state (PA) has mailed just the pre-printed label for filing the return for years, if your return was prepared by a tax professional the prior year. Since we've e-filed the last couple years, we don't even get the label. I don't know if people who paper file their own return still get the booklets.

If the US IRS provides them, why would the state do so in the first place? The publications come from the federal agency, the state would only be distributing them, no? I have to order payroll forms every year, it never occurred to me to ask the state. I do it at irs.gov, but I'm sure there is a phone number for people without a computer.

Our libraries have some forms but not all -

Lucille,

It may be expensive for your state to distribute the forms.

If they want to charge a fee for these publications, I don't have a problem with that. But they should be available to order somehow.

I understand that some people do not have computers, but most people have access to computers either via friends and family or the local library.

Just having access to a computer isn't enough. If you want a printed copy, it's terribly inconvenient to have to print out 27 pages. We pay taxes for a reason, so I don't think it's being unreasonable to expect the state to provide these booklets somehow, just as they have in the past, and just like the federal IRS is doing.

ldstarr,

Our state (PA) has mailed just the pre-printed label for filing the
return for years, if your return was prepared by a tax professional the
prior year. Since we've e-filed the last couple years, we don't even
get the label. I don't know if people who paper file their own return
still get the booklets.

Oh, I'm not expecting our state to send us the booklets automatically. In the recent past, you had to request them. My point is that you can't even do that anymore. Can you still request them in Pennsylvania? I think you still can in Florida, for example.

aok27502,

If the US IRS provides them, why would the state do so in the first
place? The publications come from the federal agency, the state would
only be distributing them, no? I have to order payroll forms every
year, it never occurred to me to ask the state. I do it at irs.gov, but I'm sure there is a phone number for people without a computer.

LOL. I think you misunderstood what I'm saying. :) The US IRS provides the printed federal booklets upon request, and my point is that the state should also provide printed state booklets upon request, just as they have in the past. This year, all of a sudden, they've just decided they're not going to do it anymore. They want us to pay taxes, but they don't seem to want to give anything back.

chessey35,

Our libraries have some forms but not all -

Thanks for the info. Just curious—what state are you in?

Incidentally, I posted a comment on the Georgia Department of Revenue's Facebook page about this matter a couple of days ago, but they haven't approved my comment—or at least not yet. That's interesting.

On the contrary, I think it's unreasonable, callous and selfish for someone to insist the rest of the taxpayers bear the burden of printing booklet that will be tossed, probably most without being used, just for the convenience of a very few. Far from being a tree-hugger, there is irresponsibility to using resources and filling landfills with needless garbage when they're not used, especially when there's better options, like electronic version and print when needed. (This reminds me of people who rant about direct deposit and how they want to have the check in their hand.) If you're willing to pay for a publication from the state, why would you refuse to pay for printing it yourself? You can have it printed at the library and you'll have your printed copy. I'm sure you and the elderly/poor people you referenced have friends, relatives or acquaintances who would be happy to print it for you/them. And actually you probably don't need to print all 27 pages anyway so why should they have to print them for you, plus the labor and expense of mailing/storing/sorting and other expenses? I commend the Georgia Revenuers for economizing. Wish more states would economize on a lot of things.

I'm luddite in many ways but try to be pragmatic as often as possible. There's so many uses for a computer, it's something everyone should have IMO.

Times change and people sometimes need to be a little more flexible and not sweat the small stuff. There's a lot bigger things that are higher priorities on my list than printing a booklet that few people need or use.

At our local library, computer use is free (as I'm sure it is everywhere) and the first 50 pages of printing per week is also free. Perhaps you could check with your library about their services (and if you can't figure out how to do it, I'll bet there are library assistants who would help you).

It does seem odd they wouldn't even make them available for a fee, but perhaps the printing costs are so high that few could/would pay them.

Our state gets around it by not having an income tax, thus no pamphlet!

Contact your Georgia state representative's office via telephone and express your feelings on this matter. Telephone calls are the most effective.

Not everyone knows how to use a computer. So having access to one of the library isn't that helpful.

Socks, that is true, but the forms are available free from the U.S. IRS.

There are multiple services available for the elderly and the poor, to help them with their taxes. Most are free. Such people typically have VERY simple returns and in many cases, have income so low they are not even required to file.

Printing up dozens of forms, most of which will never be used and will end up in a landfill, is not a good use of any state's resources. Frankly, I hope the IRS stops printing them as well - total waste of money.

It would be rare to need to print out the entire 27 page publication. Just have your previous year's return with you - easy to print out - and copy the new data using that as a template.

You're making this far too difficult.

Hi Olychick,

At our local library, computer use is
free (as I'm sure it is everywhere) and the first 50 pages of printing
per week is also free.

Wow, that's amazing!

Perhaps you could check with your library about
their services (and if you can't figure out how to do it, I'll bet there
are library assistants who would help you).

Thanks for the suggestion. Apparently it's 15 cents a copy.

It does seem odd they wouldn't even make them available for a fee,
but perhaps the printing costs are so high that few could/would pay
them.

Well, since the federal IRS is still printing forms, the costs probably can't be that prohibitive.

Our state gets around it by not having an income tax, thus no pamphlet!

Really? What state are you in?

Hi Lucille,

If the state, as many states are, is having budget problems, what
would you like given up so that you can have your copies that are also
available from the US IRS?

A free vaccination for a child

A meal for an elderly person

New emergency equipment for a fire truck

How do you know that the decision not to print out tax booklets is really due to budget problems? And how do you know that the money being saved from not printing out tax booklets is being used wisely and will go toward any of these things? You don't.

So, you don't care at all that the elderly and poor in a state are severely inconvenienced by such a decision not to print out tax booklets???

Neptune, no one is severely inconvenienced, the form is available from the US IRS and would likely reach you in a couple days.

And it is logical that I'm correct, that this is a budget decision.

Hi hoovb,

Contact your Georgia state representative's office via telephone and
express your feelings on this matter. Telephone calls are the most
effective.

Thanks for the great suggestion. We actually did that a few days ago and got to talk to our representative. He said he'd look into the matter, but unfortunately never called back. :(

Lucille,

No one is severely inconvenienced, the form is available from the US IRS and would likely reach you in a couple days.

Huh? I'm not sure what you're talking about. The Georgia tax booklet is not available from the US IRS and never has been. And yes, many people in Georgia are being severely inconvenienced.

Hi Anglophilia,

There are multiple services available
for the elderly and the poor, to help them with their taxes. Most are
free.

Not in rural areas. And I suspect that many of the elderly and poor in urban areas don't even know about these.

Such people typically have VERY simple returns and in many cases,
have income so low they are not even required to file.

Not all elderly people have simple returns. My father certainly doesn't.

Printing up dozens of forms, most of which will never be used and
will end up in a landfill, is not a good use of any state's resources.

They could simply print fewer forms, and make them available only to those who really want them. I actually think you're making this far too difficult. And as socks pointed out, not everyone knows how to use a computer.

Frankly, I hope the IRS stops printing them as well - total waste of money.

I'm glad they're still printing them for those who need them. It's a valuable service to many. But I do agree that there is a lot of government waste in general, and it would be nice if the IRS streamlined the whole tax system.

neptune, you seem to be taking a "half empty" view of this matter rather than a "half full" view. I'm sure people who relied on receiving state forms in the past face the need to do things differently, but times change. Think of how quick and easy it now is to get another form if you don't have it since they're all available electronically. If you've chosen to live in a rural area without access to services that are available in larger towns and cities, a once a year tax return must be the least of the inconveniences you deal with.

You could:

-read the instructions from the booklet on your screen

-go to a library and print what you need

-use tax return preparation software

-pay someone to do your return

The federal IRS has made all forms and instructions available electronically and in doing so, has made access much more convenient and saved a lot of money. Time to go with the flow.

PS - If your father has other than a simple return, he should be paying a competent tax return preparer to have it done.

Hi Elmer,

I'm sure people who relied on receiving state forms in
the past face the need to do things differently, but times change.

If the U.S. IRS were no longer offering these booklets, then I could understand Georgia doing the same. But that is not the case. Also, did the state of Georgia ask for input from its residents on this matter before implementing this decision?

In addition, Georgia could've said last year, "This is the last year we will be offering tax booklets." But they didn't. Instead, they just all of a sudden say, "We're no longer sending out booklets." The whole decision seems to have been half-baked.

The federal IRS has made all forms and instructions available
electronically and in doing so, has made access much more convenient and
saved a lot of money. Time to go with the flow.

So, tell me—if it's merely time to "go with the flow," then why is the federal IRS still sending out printed booklets? Obviously, they recognize that certain people still want them and need them. If you like going paperless, that's great. But not everybody shares that view, and the federal IRS still realizes that. Other states do too, such as Florida.

PS - If your father has other than a simple return, he should be paying a competent tax return preparer to have it done.

That's easy for you to say. Are you willing to pay the fee for him? ;)

We printed some of out the forms and the Instruction booklet in to our church library. The public is free to come in, use a classroom to work on their return or use one of the computers. Copies of the forms can be made if needed.

The Georgia Dept of Revenue and the federal IRS are separate agencies. Each acts independently of the other. You can expect that the days of printing and distributing federal forms will similarly come to an end before too long.

Paying for tax software or tax services is something that tens of millions of people do each year. If your father's financial choices and situation lead to other than a simple tax return, then paying for tax services is a consequent expense. Just like paying a utility bill is the consequence of turning on the lights.

Yes, go with the flow, everyone else does. You have numerous choices to pursue, it's not like you're stuck with an unsolvable problem. You can do it. Good luck.

Apparently Arkansas has discontinued this as well. It's been a few years since I'd received one as they stopped sending when we started e-filing. I never was inconvenienced as the software we use can answer any question I've had, Federal and/or state.

Go find your copy of your 2015 return.

Take copy with you to the library or anywhere with computer access.

Go to this web site https://www.tax-brackets.org/georgiataxforms

Print out the forms you need, using the ones from last year as your guide.

Use last year 's return as your guide, plug in this year's numbers.

If you truly can't do this (I'm guessing you're doing this for your father), tell the old cheapskate to go to H&R Block and have them do his return. I'm getting the feeling that it's your father that is the problem here.

I live in Texas and we have no state income tax, sorry that you are having issues finding the instructions. Could you just save the PDF and read it on screen? Obviously you have a computer or smart phone since you're able to post here.

https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/2016-it-511-individual-income-tax-booklet