Buy And Hold Strategy Warren Buffett – What to Consider When Filing My Taxes Online

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Is e-filing a much better way to record your taxes? 

Americans and the IRS might not agree about everything, but they are mostly on the exact same page in regards to e-filing individual income tax returns.

Nearly all individual income tax returns submitted to the IRS are e-filed.  E-filing is a favorite as it is a win-win for taxpayers and the IRS.

If you e-file your federal income tax return, you conserve the IRS cash because its employees don’t have to spend time manually processing your return. And in return, you could get any refund you’re owed faster, especially if you have it directly deposited to your bank accounts.

But what about safety?  And can electronic filing actually give you access to all the forms you might need if you have a complex tax situation?  Are there situations when you can not e-file?  Let’s look at the benefits of e-filing, and if it may be the very best filing choice for your needs.

If you are Considering e-filing, a Few of the advantages include:

  1. Quick confirmation your forms are received: The IRS will confirm a tax filing was received within 24 hours of electronic submission.  For paper filers, the IRS does not send any acknowledgment your forms have arrived safely. 

    Timely refunds: When you submit a paper filing, it may take six to eight weeks to be given a tax refund.  With e-filing, you are going to get your money in three weeks or less.  Choosing direct deposit can also accelerate the refund procedure.

  2. Reduced chance of errors: According to the IRS, there is around a 1 percent error rate on e-filed returns, compared with a 20% speed of mistakes on paper filings.  The IRS also provides more info on issues discovered on e-filed returns compared with paper yields.

  3. Simple payment process: If you owe the IRS money, it is easier to pay at your convenience when you e-file.  It’s possible to submit returns early and pay later if needed, provided that you pay from the April 15 filing deadline.  You also have the option to pay your balance by making use of the IRS Immediate pay service from the checking account or savings account, filing a credit card through a payment processor for a fee, or paying by check or money order.  Just be aware delaying payment after the filing due date (typically April 15) can lead to interest and penalties.

  4. Digital storage of tax data: Submitting returns electronically implies there is an electronic backup of your tax documents.  If something happens to your paperwork, you will have a digital backup.

The good news: Most taxpayers do decide to e-file and find those benefits — and the practice of doing so is easy.

  • Free File Fillable Forms — If your income is over $72,000 and you are comfortable doing your earnings without any assistance, you can use Free File Fillable Forms from the IRS. The types do the math for you and offer basic guidance.  You can only do your federal return with these forms. 
  • Use an online tax preparation service or tax software: Tax preparation software and online filing services are options.  These options are an easy way to complete and e-file your own forms.  Some software providers charge for their apps, Some are liberated.   The software asks you simple questions about your life and financing to guide you through the completion of your forms.  
  • Get free, in-person tax aid: In most states, you can find volunteers to help prepare and e-file yields.  However, eligibility for free help is typically limited based on earnings, and some providers cater to specific demographic groups.  By way of example, Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs focus primarily on helping filers who are 60 and older. 
  • Hire a paid preparer: Paid tax preparers, including CPAs, can e-file returns for you if they’re licensed IRS e-file providers. The IRS maintains a record of authorized providers, but you should be aware this alternative is very likely to be the most costly one. 

    Employing online tax preparation software is far and away the favored approach of most taxpayers.  In fact, the IRS says it expected more than four in five tax returns to be submitted through tax return prep program.

    Is e-filing really stable?

    While e-filing is suitable, you could worry about safety — especially with all these data breaches.  But experts agree that this isn’t a problem that should deter you from e-filing.

    “E-filing a tax return has turned out to be a very secure way to file your taxes,” says Scott Grissom, vice president of product direction, advertising and sales at LegalShield. “In actuality, it can be more secure than paper filing since you’re sending your private information through an encrypted network as opposed to exposing your information in the mail.”

    Dennis Chow, vice president of information security at SCIS Security, clarifies the IRS has set safety measures in place to keep your information safe.  “Vendors typically utilize IRS specific APIs that need token sessions,” Chow says.  “All this is routed over TLS encrypted links .”

    It’s important to employ a trusted service to assist you file your taxes.  Chow advises to not e-file on a computer or utilize an online connection which isn’t confidential.

    Bottom line

    For many taxpayers, it is sensible to e-file a return because it is the most convenient way to submit your tax information to the IRS and it allows for timely refunds and effortless payment options.  Just be sure to use tax planning software from a dependable source, so that you may ensure the information you provide to transmit to the IRS is going to be kept secure.