DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997                 TAG: 9703010594

SECTION: BUSINESS                PAGE: D1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY TOM SHEAN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   50 lines

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PUBLICATIONS THAT CAN HELP YOU AT TAX TIME

For a few daring taxpayers, filling out a Form 1040 becomes a duel with the Internal Revenue Service.

They search for obscure deductions. They buy books with titles like ``What the IRS Doesn't Want You to Know.'' They brace themselves for an audit.

Others are more interested in getting an unpleasant task behind them. Taxpayers with uncomplicated investments may be able to do that with the 1040 instruction book supplied by the IRS.

But sometimes the filing process involves wrestling with new tax situations, such as the early distribution from an IRA, a deduction for alimony or income from a child's investments.

As in past years, an array of inexpensive paperbacks are available for individuals seeking help with their 1040s. These guides may not generate enormous tax savings, but they may alleviate some of the frustration of preparing a tax return.

One consideration when choosing a guide book is whether it adequately explains the details of your specific tax situation. Before settling on one book, skim the table of contents, index and glossary. Are they organized in a way that enables you to quickly find what you need? Are there examples that you can use? Are there suggestions for simplifying your tax problem?

In addition to its regular table of contents, J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax, directs the reader to the locations of information on special situations, such as those of parents, members of the armed forces and retirees.

The first guide worth considering is the IRS's Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax. It lacks the attractive layout and color of some commercial books, but it includes examples of completed forms and it's free. It also has phone numbers for tax forms and personal assistance.

Colorful illustrations and historical details make The Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Your Taxes entertaining. However, the slim, 125-page paperback lacks the depth that a bewildered taxpayer may be looking for.

Anyone seeking a bit of humor to lighten the search for directions may find it in Taxes for Dummies from IDG Books International, the publisher of other ``for Dummies'' guides. This one includes plenty of tax filing tips and warnings but avoids the staid language of other tax books.

The Consumer Reports Guide to Income Tax isn't as lively as The Wall Street Journal Guide or Taxes for Dummies, but its layout makes it more readable. It has especially useful chapters on tax planning, and on pensions and retirement plans. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

SOME TAX PREPARATION GUIDES

For copy of graphic, see microfilm

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