{"id":47235,"date":"2022-04-14T15:42:09","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T22:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=47235"},"modified":"2022-04-14T15:42:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-14T22:42:09","slug":"try-irs-gov-first-for-last-minute-tax-help-and-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=47235","title":{"rendered":"Try IRS.gov first for last-minute tax help and tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

IR-2022-85, April 14, 2022<\/p>\n

IRS YouTube Videos:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Help for Taxpayers \u2013<\/em> English<\/a> | Spanish<\/a> | ASL<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Today\u2019s Internal Revenue Service website provides millions with the tax solutions they need 24 hours a day and eliminates unnecessary calls or trips to an IRS office. On IRS.gov<\/a>, waiting in line is never a problem and there\u2019s no appointment needed.<\/p>\n

The many online tools and resources<\/a> range from tax preparation and refund tracking to tax law research tools like the Interactive Tax Assistant<\/a> and answers for Frequently Asked Questions<\/a> on dozens of subjects.<\/p>\n

File taxes, view accounts, make payments \u2013 all online!
\n<\/strong>Taxpayers can use the \u201cFile\u201d tab on the IRS.gov home page for most federal income tax needs. The IRS Free File program<\/a> offers 70% of all taxpayers the choice of several brand-name tax preparation software packages to use at no cost. Those who earned less than $73,000 in 2021 can choose which package is best for them. Some even offer free state tax return preparation.<\/p>\n

To see their tax account, taxpayers can use the View Your Account<\/a> tool. They’ll find information such as a payoff amount, the balance for each tax year owed, up to 24 months of their payment history and key information from their current tax year return as originally filed.<\/p>\n

Taxpayers can find the most up-to-date information about tax refunds using the “Where’s My Refund?<\/a>” tool on IRS.gov and on the official IRS mobile app, IRS2Go<\/a>. Within 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of an e-filed return taxpayers can start checking on the status of their refund.<\/p>\n

Those who owe can use IRS Direct Pay<\/a> to pay taxes for the Form 1040 series, estimated taxes or other associated forms directly from a checking or savings account at no cost.<\/p>\n

Taxpayers can also use the Get Transcript<\/a> tool to view, print or download their tax transcripts after the IRS processes their return or payment.<\/p>\n

File complete and accurate returns to avoid processing delays
\n<\/strong>To avoid situations that can slow a refund, taxpayers should be careful to file a complete and accurate tax return<\/a>. If a return includes errors or is incomplete, it may require further review.<\/p>\n

Taxpayers should be sure to have all their year-end statements in hand before filing a return. This includes Forms W-2 from employers, Form 1099-G from state unemployment offices, Forms 1099 from banks and other payers, and Form 1095-A from the Health Insurance Marketplace for those claiming the Premium Tax Credit.<\/p>\n

Individuals should refer to\u00a0Letter 6419<\/a>\u00a0for advance Child Tax Credit payments and\u00a0Letter 6475<\/a>\u00a0for third Economic Impact Payment amounts they received\u2013 or their\u00a0Online Account<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 to prepare a correct tax return. Claiming incorrect tax credit amounts can not only delay IRS processing, but can also lead to adjusted refund amounts.<\/p>\n

Assistive technology options
\n<\/strong>At the online Alternative Media Center<\/a> (AMC), taxpayers will find a variety of accessible products like screen reading software, refreshable Braille displays and screen magnifying software. These products include tax forms, instructions and publications that can be downloaded or viewed online as Section 508 compliant PDF, HTML, eBraille, text and large print. Please note that every product is not available in all formats. For example, tax forms are not available as HTML documents.<\/p>\n

Prevent fraud with an Identity Protection PIN
\n<\/strong>An Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit number that prevents someone from filing a tax return using another taxpayer’s Social Security number. The IP PIN is known only to the real taxpayer and the IRS and helps the IRS verify the taxpayer’s identity when they file their electronic or paper tax return.<\/p>\n

Starting in 2021, any taxpayer who can verify their identity can voluntarily opt into the IP PIN program. See Get an IP PIN<\/a> for details and to access the online tool. There are options for those who cannot verify their identities online.<\/p>\n

Find free, local tax preparation
\n<\/strong>The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)<\/a> program has operated for over 50 years. It offers free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals:<\/p>\n