If you've waited until now to finish your taxes (or are going to delay until the very last minute on April 18), then your best filing, and paying if you owe, bet is to go electronic.
As the Internal Revenue Service has been saying for years, filing and paying your taxes is easier and more accurate than going the old fashioned paper route.
In case you haven't made your e-filing and, if needed, e-payment choices yet, here are your options.
E-filing options: Tax e-filing actually covers two things, using software to prepare your 1040 and associated schedules and forms and then submitting that tax package electronically.
Nowadays you can choose from many different tax preparation software products. Or you can use a tax preparer who is an IRS authorized e-file provider who has selected his/her own tax prep and filing software.
Picking the perfect tax software: If you're a do-it-yourself kind of taxpayer, the tax software options might seem a bit overwhelming.
After all, you can use the software's online version or buy a program to download to your computer or take advantage of a partner tax filing offer from your bank or broker or use the IRS' Free File.
It's the tax version of option overload when you try to pick a tube of toothpaste at the grocery store!
Take a breath. Now check out NerdWallet's Guide to Choosing Tax Software, as well as my piece on getting the most from your tax software. NerdWallet also rates the best tax 2017 tax software.
Transition tasks: If you're new to tax software, converting from your paper filing will take some work. You typically have to enter a lot of the info from the printed forms into your software.
The good news is that once that's done, the next year your software will find the prior filing's data and enter it into your new e-forms. That way if your taxes are substantially similar, you're ready to go more quickly.
But I digress (or is it progress, since I was talking about 2018 filings?). Back to this year's e-filing.
Free File choices: The IRS doesn't endorse any particular tax software, but you can get a look at those who meet its filing standards by checking out the companies that are participating in Free File. Most also offer paid versions of their Free File software if you don't qualify to use the no-cost online option.
If you are, however, eligible for Free File — that's folks, regardless of filing status, whose adjusted gross income is $64,000 or less — consider using it. Or some other free option, either through the software companies or, as mentioned earlier, via a special deal with your bank or other financial account.
Taxes are pain enough. If you can do them without shelling out more of your hard-earned (and taxable) money, then great.
E-filing details: With tax software, as with old-school paper filing, you still have to sign your tax return (that means both spouses if you're filing jointly).
You do so in e-filing by using a Self-Select PIN or by entering your prior-year adjusted gross income. Generally, the tax software will automatically enter the information for returning customers. If you're new to the process, you may have to enter the information yourself.
As for the actual submission of your return to the IRS, most software companies offer at least one free federal e-filing.
State return e-file options: State taxes, however, tend to be a different, and more expensive, deal. If state returns are important to you, and they are for folks in 43 states and the District of Columbia, then you need to check your software for that option.
Most states, though, offer their own version of Free File for residents.
Since I live in Texas and don't have to worry about filing state returns, I'm not sure how easy these options or if you have to re-enter a lot of stuff that you put into your federal tax software program.
But a check with your state tax department should provide you the details.
And again, free! So a little extra data entry is probably worth it.
Electronic refunds, too: Finally, if your e-filed federal tax return produces a refund, the IRS suggests you have that money directly deposited into your bank account. It's much quicker than asking for a paper check to be snail mailed to you.
Or you could do what IRS Commissioner John Koskinen does.
Koskinen admitted during his annual address to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. that he, like most Americans, got a refund. But instead of taking the cash, Koskinen said he had the excess credited toward his 2017 estimated tax payments.
E-payment options: OK, let's get real. Most of us who file as late in the tax season as possible do so because we owe Uncle Sam.
That's a bummer, but at least we can pay electronically, too.
Taxpayers who owe taxes can now choose among several quick and easy electronic payment options, including the following:
- Electronic Funds Withdrawal (EFW) allows taxpayers to e-file and pay from their bank account when using tax preparation software or a tax professional. EFW is only available when electronically filing a tax return.
- Direct Pay is a free online tool allows taxpayers to securely pay their taxes directly from checking or savings accounts without any fees or preregistration. Taxpayers can schedule payments up to 30 days in advance. Those using the tool will receive instant confirmation when they submit their payment.
- Credit or debit card tax payments are available online, by phone or with their mobile device through any of the authorized debit and credit card processors. Note, however, that you will pay a fee to the card processor, not the IRS. The IRS has a special Web page with details about and links to IRS-authorized card processors.
- IRS2Go is the tax agency's mobile app. It's free and offers the option to make a payment with Direct Pay for free or by debit or credit card through an approved payment processor for a fee. You can download IRS2Go from Google Play, the Apple App Store or the Amazon App Store.
- Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, or EFTPS, is a free payment portal, but you must be enrolled beforehand. It's too late for this coming April deadline, but check it out for future filings, including paying of your estimated taxes.
- Cash payments can be made using the PayNearMe option. Payments in actual dollars are limited to $1,000 per day; a $3.99 fee applies to each payment. The cash tax payment option is offered in cooperation with Official Payments and participating 7-Eleven stores in 34 states. You can get more details, including answers to frequently asked questions, are at IRS.gov's special cash Web page.
Electronically ask for more time: Just can't make the April 18 deadline? Then ask electronically ask for an extension to file.
You can do so by filing Form 4868 via your software, your tax preparer or Free File, including Free File Fillable Forms.
And remember, an extension is just extra time to fill out and submit your forms. It's not an extension to pay any tax you may owe. Taxes are still due by the original due date.
When you make that added tax due payment electronically using EFTPS, Direct Pay or any of the options discussed earlier, your extension to file the forms is automatic.
More tax questions? Check out the Daily Tax Tips.
You also might find these items of interest:
- Last-minute IRA contributions could mean a tax win-win-win
- FBAR filing now due in April + more on foreign tax matters
- Tax payment credit card fees are deductible
source http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DontMessWithTaxes/~3/5u2rUHu6UUE/irs-electronic-tax-filing-and-payment-options.html
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