April 15th seems a long way off, but we’re talking tax time already. On Friday, January 15th, electronic filing became available and taxpayers can go to the IRS website at www.IRS.gov. Then simply by clicking on e-file they can get started. In addition, free file is available to taxpayers this year and many taxpayers will be able to file their taxes for free.
Mark Hanson, IRS spokesperson for the Carolinas says that the www.IRS.gov website has a wealth of information and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hanson says, “All IRS forms and publications are available on our website and we encourage taxpayers to go ahead and take a look at our resources.”
Taxpayers can get their refund in as little as ten days as opposed to waiting four to six weeks for that money to arrive, if they electronically file their return and use direct deposit for their refund. Taxpayers always have the choice to have somebody else prepare their taxes for them. For those individuals who are seeking a tax preparer, the IRS offers tips for choosing a tax preparer at their website. Simply key-word search “tips for choosing a tax preparer” at www.IRS.gov. Hanson said to keep in mind that if you choose someone else to prepare your taxes for you, and says, “You are always responsible for the information on that return when you sign it. So make sure you pick someone you can trust.”
More than 70 percent of South Carolina taxpayers are eligible to use on-line electronic filing software for free to prepare and e-file their federal income tax return. Hanson reminds taxpayers that if they made less than $57 thousand dollars last year, they can go to the website and click on free-fileto prepare and e-file their income tax for free using one of the software companies the IRS has partnered with.
Hanson says that 78% of South Carolina taxpayers use electronic filing, which is well above the national average of 70%. “SC taxpayers, whether they’re doing it themselves, or going to a tax preparer who is e-filing for them, recognizes the benefits of electronic filing.”
Persons who electronically file their return and use direct deposit for their refund will usually receive their refund in as little as ten days as opposed to waiting four to six weeks for that money to arrive if filing the old fashioned way.
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