Haven’t Gotten that Tax Return Filed Yet? Here are 3 Tips to Help!

May, 01 2016 by Karen Thomas-Brandt, EA

Life happens to the best of us. And while the April 18th filing date has come and gone, there are always folks who don't have the time or resources to fill out their tax return and get it submitted by the deadline. If you happen to be one of them, you are certainly not alone; there are thousands of taxpayers who miss the filing cutoff every year. That being said, those tax returns aren’t going to file themselves! So we want to help out by offering up a couple tips that might motivate you to get those tax returns’ bags packin’.
 

• Tip #1: Take advantage of “IRS Free File.” If your income is below $62,000, all you have to do is fill out a brief form on IRS.gov and you will be directed to a list of all the free tax preparation programs available to you. (State returns may or may not be included. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of each preparation program carefully to ensure you are choosing the one that best fits your needs.)
• Tip #2: File that tax return ASAP. If you do owe additional taxes to the IRS, procrastinating only means that additional penalties and interest will be added onto your original bill. However, it’s also possible that you may be due a refund that you’re not expecting. Either way, filing sooner will always benefit you in the long run.
• Tip #3: If the filing of your tax return does result in an additional amount due, make use of IRS Direct Pay. It is easily accessible via IRS.gov and is the most convenient and secure way to provide payment to the IRS.

If you’d like more information on how to make the filing process a little bit easier, make sure to visit IRS.gov and take advantage of all the resources they have available for taxpayers like you.