IRS offers tax help for those who self-file
More people than ever are preparing their taxes themselves, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
For some who are good with numbers, organized and can navigate income tax software like a pro, it can be simple. About 50 million, up from 48 million in 2014, tax returns were self-prepared last year, according to the IRS.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to plan ahead and take advantage of the available online resources when self filing.
“IRS.gov is the best place for taxpayers to go for information about filing their income tax returns this year,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said.
Here are a few more tips the IRS wants you to know before you do it yourself:
▪ You get extra time
People will have several extra days to file their tax returns this year. The deadline is Monday, April 18, because the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington, D.C., falls on Friday, April 15.
▪ e-File and Free File
Four of out five returns are filed electronically with a similar proportion of refunds issued through direct deposit, the IRS reported. This is the fastest and safest way to file an accurate income tax return and receive a refund.
The large majority of refunds – nine of 10 – are expected to be issued in less than 21 days.
The IRS Free File program is available at IRS.gov. Commercial partners of the IRS offer free, brand-name software to families with incomes of $62,000 or less. About 70 percent of the nation’s taxpayers are eligible for IRS Free File.
There’s help in Charlotte
The closest Taxpayer Assistance Center to York and Lancaster counties for face-to-face tax help is located in Charlotte at 10715 David Taylor Drive. Appointments are recommended by calling the office at (704) 548-4100 or visiting IRS.gov.
The Charlotte center assists with Affordable Care Act tax questions, basic tax law, solutions to tax issues and has self-assistance computer kiosk with an IRS employee available to assist you with navigating the IRS.gov website.
IRS stepping up security
As part of the Security Summit initiative, the IRS has been working with the tax industry and state revenue departments to provide stronger protections against identity theft during the tax filing season.
There will be new security measures when you are preparing your taxes online, especially when you sign in, to better protect your account and personal information.
Other measures will be invisible to taxpayers, the IRS said, but will help them tackle refund fraud.
Health care help
The Affordable Care Act requires that a taxpayer and each family member has qualifying health coverage for each month of the year, qualifies for an exemption or makes an payment. The vast majority of taxpayers will simply check a box on their tax returns to indicate that each family member has health coverage.
For information, tips and interactive online tools, visit IRS.gov/aca.
This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 11:20 AM with the headline "IRS offers tax help for those who self-file."