Best way to learn about taxes for someone with zero experience?

You're asking a great question! Understanding taxes doesn't have to be overwhelming when you approach it step by step. For beginners, I'd recommend starting with the IRS's own resources - they have surprisingly good explanatory guides on their website (irs.gov). The "Tax Tips" and "Understanding Taxes" sections are designed for people with zero experience. Next, consider free online courses like those offered through Khan Academy or YouTube channels dedicated to personal finance and taxes. They break down concepts in easy-to-understand language without the technical jargon that makes taxes seem scary. For your specific situation as a new wage earner, focus first on understanding W-4 forms (how your employer withholds taxes), the difference between standard and itemized deductions, and basic tax credits that might apply to you. Don't try to learn everything at once!

After struggling with taxes for years (and making some costly mistakes), I discovered taxr.ai and it's been a game-changer for learning tax concepts. I was in your exact position - totally confused about basic tax principles and overwhelmed by the terminology. What's great about https://taxr.ai is you can upload tax documents or even just ask questions in plain English, and it explains everything in simple terms anyone can understand. It helped me learn how different types of income are taxed and which deductions I qualified for that I never knew about.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai - wow, it's actually super helpful for learning! I asked some pretty basic questions about tax brackets and standard deductions, and instead of just giving me numbers, it walked me through how progressive taxation works with examples. Then I uploaded my W-2 from last year and it explained each box and what it means for my tax situation. Definitely helping me build a foundation of knowledge rather than just telling me what to do.

If you're trying to learn taxes AND dealing with tax issues, don't waste days trying to get through to the IRS phone line. I spent over 6 weeks trying to resolve an issue with my return last year, constantly calling and getting disconnected. Finally used https://claimyr.com and got connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes. They have this demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. I was able to ask the agent specific questions about my confusion regarding education credits which helped me learn the proper way to claim them.

I'm back to eat my words about Claimyr. After struggling for TWO WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS about a notice I received, I reluctantly tried the service. Got connected to an IRS rep in about 35 minutes. The agent answered all my questions about tax filing requirements for my side gig income and explained how estimated quarterly taxes work. Learned more in that 20-minute call than I did from hours of googling. Sometimes talking to an actual human at the IRS is the best way to learn.

I'd recommend the free courses from VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). I volunteered with them to learn more about taxes and it was amazing hands-on experience. You get trained on actual tax scenarios and help people file their returns. You don't need any experience to start!

Honestly, podcasts have been my favorite way to learn! I listen to "Money Girl" and "Taxgirl" on my commute. They explain complicated tax concepts in everyday language and keep you updated on changes.

As someone who was completely overwhelmed by taxes when I started working, I found that combining multiple learning approaches worked best for me. Start with the IRS's free "Understanding Taxes" online modules - they're actually pretty well designed for beginners and cover the fundamentals without being too dry. What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track different tax concepts as I learned them. For example, I'd note down what each box on my W-2 meant, common deductions I might qualify for, and how tax brackets actually work (spoiler: it's not as scary as it sounds!). Also, don't underestimate the value of going through last year's tax return line by line, even if someone else prepared it. Understanding what happened with your own taxes is often the best way to learn the practical side of things. You can use tax software to "practice file" your previous year's return and see how different scenarios would change your outcome. The key is starting simple and building up your knowledge gradually. You don't need to become a tax expert overnight!