Guide to Tax Season: IRS.gov Make your first stop for help and fast answers to tax questions
IR-2018-76SP, March 27, 2018
WASHINGTON – With the deadline to file taxes on April 17th fast approaching, taxpayers can find most of the answers to your tax questions, if you take advantage of the wide variety oftools online easy to use, available on IRS.gov (in English) .
This is the eighth in a series of nine press releases IRS, called the Guide to Tax Season , designed to help taxpayers navigate common tax problems.
So far this year, visits to IRS.gov increased by 21 percent over the same period last year. Millions of taxpayers have discovered that the popular web site agency offers the fastest way to get tax help at the last minute. By leveraging the variety of online tools, taxpayers can quickly check the status of your tax refund, get answers to tax questions. or prepare and file your taxes 24 hours a day.
Taxpayers receive the same answers on IRS.gov that if they had called and talked to a representative of the IRS, and can print the answers and save them for your references and files.
Here are some of the most common tax questions and tools to get the answers:
Where is my refund?
Using the tool “Where’s My Refund?” Available inIRS.gov/espanol and the official mobile application of the IRS,IRS2Go , taxpayers can easily obtain updated information on your tax refund information. Information on refunds is normally available 24 hours after the IRS receives the electronic filing of the taxpayer or four weeks after receiving a paper return by mail. The system is updated daily, so no need to frequently check.
What about withholding tax?
Following recent changes in tax law , the IRS updated itswithholding calculator . Are encouraged to taxpayers who are used to using it to “verify your paycheck” and avoid being retained very few taxes and then face a bill or unexpected fine at tax time in 2019. Employees can make any changes retention necessary, to complete and return to their employer a new Form W-4 (SP) , Exemption Certificate Retentions Employee. The calculator results are as accurate as the information entered, and if individual circumstances change during the year, taxpayers must return to the calculator to make sure your hold still correct.
Free help with tax preparation
Through programs Voluntary Aid Taxpayer (VITA acronym) andTax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE, for its acronym in English) , eligible taxpayers can get free help, local, in person, with preparing and filing your taxes. The volunteer staff of the thousands of community sites (in English) has been trained and certified by the IRS. Taxpayers with low and moderate incomes and those with 60 years of age and older, can find the nearest to the site locator VITA / TCE sites on IRS.gov.
Prepare yourself free tax
Taxpayers who prefer to prepare their own taxes, they can find free help with tax preparation in IRS.gov/espanol . The IRS Free File program only available on IRS.gov, offers 12 free software packages for tax preparation brand, 70 percent of taxpayers who earned $ 66,000 or less in 2017. The software does all the work find the deductions, credits and exemptions to which the taxpayer is entitled. Taxpayers who earned more than $ 66,000 in 2017 and feel confident to prepare their own taxes, can use the Interactive Forms Free File . These electronic IRS tax forms on paper versions are also used to file tax returns online.
Looking for a tax professional?
Directory search IRS.gov helps taxpayers to find a tax professional (in English) in your area. You can organize the list of credentials and qualifications (in English) . Tax preparers have different levels of training, education and experience, so taxpayers should choose carefully and be aware that the taxpayer is responsible for the accuracy of the statement.
Do you request a transcript of your tax return?
People who need a copy of your tax return can use the online tool Get Transcript . It is free and available in IRS.gov/espanol. Taxpayers can view, print or download your tax transcripts most current tax year, once the IRS has processed the tax return.
Immediate answers to questions on tax law
You can quickly find answers to most questions about tax law, with any of several tools available in IRS.gov/espanol:
- This section includes FAQ (in English) and the use of the tax law of Assistant Tax Interactive .
- The Publication 17 (SP) is a tax reference tool for people, like an encyclopedia on tax law.
- The Tax Map IRS allows searches by topic or keyword for a single point access to information on tax law word.
Do you have to make a payment?
Direct Pay the IRS offers taxpayers the fastest and easiest way to pay what they owe. This free online system allows individualsto securely pay their tax debts or make quarterly estimated tax payments directly from a checking or savings account , no fees or having to register in advance. See IRS.gov/pagos for more information on this and other payment options.
You can not pay your tax debt?
For taxpayers who are concerned about a tax debt they can not pay, the tool Plans installment payments online can help you determine if you qualify for a payment plan with the IRS.
The Precalificador for offering transaction (in English) can help determine if a taxpayer is eligible for an offer of transaction. This is an agreement with the IRS to satisfy the tax liability of a person for less than the amount owed.
Do you have questions about an amended return?
The tool “Where’s my amended return?” Reports the status of an amended tax return, Form 1040X. Taxpayers can check the status of 1040X of this year and up to three previous years. Allow spend up to three weeks after filing to verify the initial state and up to 16 weeks for processing.
Taxpayers can find answers to questions, forms and instructions and easy to use tools on IRS.gov , 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No appointments are needed and no waiting.