The scars of the previous filing season – which was marked by an apparent surge in tax fraud and a precipitous decline in the IRS’s customer service are evident as officials and taxpayers gear up for the new session.
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Starting on Tuesday, certain eligible taxpayers will be able to file using one of 13 tax software products for free using the Free File program.
“I think you’re a scam artist and we’re going to track you down and have you arrested”, Pegues said to the caller, who promptly hung up the phone.
“If you do your own taxes and have problems, there is no service at the IRS anymore”, Phillips added. The department can not prepare individual income tax returns. More than four out of five returns are expected to be filed electronically.
“It becomes more prevalent during tax season because when somebody tries to file their tax return they will occasionally or sometimes find someone had already filed a tax return in their name”, said Sgt. Brian Hessler.
So the deadline has been extended to the following Monday, April 18, 2016. That’s right, citizens get three extra days this year because Emancipation Day (the day President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill ending slavery), a federal holiday, will be observed on Friday, April 15, so the IRS will be closed.
Choosing electronic filing and direct deposit is the most secure way to get your refund.
The Vermont Department of Taxes will start accepting personal income tax returns today, the same time as the IRS.
Free File also can help taxpayers with the new health care requirements. “However, that does no one any good if you don’t access the credit or if your filing is rejected by the IRS because you prepared it wrong, you didn’t have the correct documentation”.
It’s a big change, but the IRS is now taking steps to hire debt collectors who will call taxpayers to collect back taxes.
However, filing at the start of the season isn’t often an option for high-net-worth individuals who have to wait for K-1s, Form 1099s and other documents before they can file their taxes. You will be asked to provide your driver’s license or state-issued identification card number with your online return.
About 3.5 million returns were filed that included the health insurance premium tax credit – a key part of the health care law. “Because of these new protections, taxpayers may notice some minor – but important – changes when they file their returns”.
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Some other advice: do not forget to make sure your computer is protected and never use public WiFi to file.
