Oprah And Tony Robbins Supersoul Sunday – Is It Best To E-File My Taxes?

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

Americans and the IRS may not agree about everything, but they are mostly on precisely the same page when it comes to e-filing individual income tax returns.

The majority of individual income tax returns filed to the IRS are e-filed.  E-filing is a favorite because it is a win-win for taxpayers and the IRS.

And in return, you can get any refund you’re owed faster, especially if you have it directly deposited into your bank accounts.

However, what about security?  And can digital filing actually give you access to all the forms you may need in case you have a intricate tax situation?  Are there ever situations when you can not e-file?  Let us look at the benefits of e-filing, and if it might be the best filing choice for your requirements.

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

  1. Quick affirmation your forms have been obtained: The IRS will confirm a tax filing has been received within one day of electronic submission.  For paper filers, the IRS does not send any acknowledgment your forms have arrived safely. 

  2. Timely refunds: When you publish a paper filing, it can take six to eight months to receive a tax refund.  With e-filing, you are going to receive your money in 3 weeks or not.  Choosing direct deposit can also speed up the refund process.

  3. Reduced chance of mistakes: According to the IRS, there’s around a 1% error rate on e-filed yields, compared with a 20% speed of errors on paper filings.  The IRS also provides more information on problems discovered on e-filed returns compared with paper yields.

  4. Easy payment process: If you owe the IRS money, it is simpler to cover at your advantage when you e-file.  It’s possible to submit returns early and pay afterwards if needed, provided that you pay from the April 15 filing deadline.  Additionally you have the option to pay your balance by using the IRS Immediate pay service from the checking account or savings accounts, filing a credit card through a payment processor for a commission, or paying by check or money order. 

  5. Digital storage of taxation information: Submitting returns electronically implies there is an electronic backup of your tax documents.  If something happens to your paperwork, you’ll have a digital backup.

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

You have four options for submitting an electronically filed tax return to the IRS.

  • Free File Fillable Forms — If your income is more than $72,000 and you’re comfortable doing your taxes without help, you can use Free File Fillable Forms from the IRS. The types do the math for you and provide basic advice.  You can simply do your federal return with all these kinds. 
  • Use an internet tax preparation tax or service applications: Tax preparation software and online filing services are options.  These choices are an easy way to finish and e-file your own forms.  Some applications suppliers charge for their apps, Some are free.   The software asks you simple questions about your life and financing to guide you through the completion of your forms.  
  • Get complimentary, in-person tax help: In most states, you will find volunteers to help prepare and e-file returns.  But eligibility for free help is normally restricted based on earnings, and some providers appeal to specific demographic groups.  By way of example, Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs focus primarily on helping filers who are 60 and older.  The IRS maintains a record of licensed providers, but be aware this option is likely to be the most costly one. 

    • Using online tax prep software is far and away the favored approach of the majority of taxpayers.  Actually, the IRS says it expected over four tax returns to be submitted through tax return prep software.

    Is e-filing really stable?

    While e-filing is convenient, you could be worried about security — especially with all these data breaches.  But experts agree that this is not an issue that should dissuade you by e-filing.

    “E-filing a tax return has turned out to be an extremely secure way to file your taxes,” says Scott Grissom, vice president of product leadership, marketing 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 data security at SCIS Security, clarifies that the IRS has set safety measures in place to keep your information safe.  “Trainers normally use IRS specific APIs that require ab sessions,” Chow says.  “All of this can be routed over TLS encrypted links “

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

    Bottom line

    For most taxpayers, it makes sense to e-file a return because it is the most convenient way to file your tax information to the IRS and it allows for timely refunds and easy payment options.  Just be certain that you use tax preparation software from a trusted source, so that you may make certain the information you supply to transmit to the IRS is going to be kept secure.