A catalogue of tax resources on the web. Find links to audits, tax law, business taxes and state tax.

Posts Tagged ‘Tax Returns’

Benefits Of Online Filing For Tax Returns

Friday, July 16th, 2010

E-filing has the potential to make tax returns enduring and easier on the nerves of taxpayer at the end of every financial year. It is safe, easy and perfect procedure of electronic filing or submission of Income Tax Return through online software. E-filing is the best and fastest way to file tax returns because it manages data for immediate transaction in less than 20 minutes.

You will be surprised to know the pool of benefits which you can enjoy by e-filing your tax returns online. Let us now make out a list of some advantages of e-filing. One of the major benefits of online filing is direct submission of data about tax returns to IRS. The chance of errors in calculation goes down because of the various tax preparation software used by service providers for e-filing. Online filing provides double-checking of all the information mentioned in forms. In case of any mistake you will receive message about error for correction. So, the e-file submitted to the IRS assures the accuracy of all calculations.

You can save money by online filing of tax returns because tax software has made the process easy and cost effective while tax professionals charge large fees for form filling. E-filing is an automatic and totally computerized process which helps you to submit your income returns very fast, just in less than 20 minutes and enables you to get a quick and perfect refund with in two weeks. If you forget to file your return until the last moment of submission and get late for the preparation of tax calculation and documents, in this critical time e-file helps you to avoid late file penalties by providing service 24 hours a day; 7 days a week.

Filing returns manually is a long process which involves filling up many pages of tax forms. These tax forms are usually received through e- mail. If you are failed to get the forms, you have to collect the forms themselves by standing in long queues to file on time. The process is time consuming and sometimes can be delayed due to errors in calculations and information. In spite of manual filing, E-filing on the Internet enables everyone to create e-file with computer and an internet connection in easy and systematic way.

State Tax Refunds

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Guidelines vary from state to state, so it is best to consult an accountant. As a general rule, though, low-income individuals and families could claim property-tax refunds or rent credits if they filed income tax returns. And in many cases, you can still get tax refunds even if you do not meet the tax filing threshold, because you may have money withheld from your paychecks, or because you may be eligible for the federal earned-income tax credit. This applies if you earn less than $33,000 and have more than one child, or earn less than $29,000 and have one child, or earn less than $11,000 and do not have a child.

Are state tax refunds taxable? Yes and no. State tax refunds are typically taxable the year you receive them. If you overpaid your state income tax last year and your state returned your money this year, for example, you must pay taxes on it this year. Expect to receive a form 1099 from your state, reminding you about that returned money. Your state also sent a copy to the IRS, binding you to pay the appropriate taxes. But there are exceptions.

The state tax refund is fully taxable if you detailed the deductions on your federal tax returns. Check with your accountant, though, because there’s still a chance that part of it is tax-free. If you owed the alternative minimum tax during the year of the refund, for example, there’s a chance that your refund may not be taxable. But if you are among the 70 percent of taxpayers who did not itemize deductions on your return, then you don’t have to worry about a thing. You do not have to pay taxes on the state refund you received.