Tax Return Preparation

BELLEVUE, Wash.—-As Tax Day quietly sneaks up on filers, many Americans are grappling to understand the 2006 tax laws — energy-saving tax credits, expanded retirement savings incentives, telephone tax credits and new rules for claiming charitable contributions.

MASON CITY — Mary Duggan, owner of Duggan Tax Service, received $10,000 in funding from the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s Revolving Loan Fund, the Center announced Tuesday.

ARMONK, N.Y.—-As if Income Tax Day didn’t cause enough anxiety, the rise of digital data keeping, commercial tax software and e-filing has created a new source of heartburn for taxpayers: data loss.

Scratch-off tickets and sweepstakes drawings are among incentives being offered by tax-return preparation services nationwide to lure an estimated 8 million filers who hire professionals to complete their returns.

If you haven’t filed your personal or business taxes, you still have time to keep your New Year’s resolution — get organized, file your taxes early, and avoid an extension.