Warren Buffett 1 Billion Dollar March Madness – What to Consider When Filing My Taxes Online

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

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

Nearly all individual income tax returns filed to the IRS are e-filed.  E-filing is popular 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 workers do not have to spend time manually processing your return. And in return, you can get any refund you’re owed faster, particularly in the event that you have it directly deposited into your bank accounts.

However, what about security?  And can electronic filing actually provide you access to all the forms you may need in case you have a intricate 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 option for your requirements.

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

  1. Quick affirmation your forms are obtained: The IRS will confirm a tax filing was received within 24 hours of digital submission.  For paper filers, the IRS doesn’t send any acknowledgment your forms have arrived . 

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

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

  4. Easy payment procedure: If you owe the IRS money, it is simpler to pay at your advantage when you e-file.  You can submit returns early and pay later if necessary, as long as you pay from the April 15 filing deadline.  And you can schedule electronic money transfers to send the IRS what you owe on a date of your choosing — again, as long as the IRS receives your payment by Tax Day. You also have the option to pay your balance by using the IRS Direct pay service from the checking account or savings accounts, 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) will result in interest and penalties.

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

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

The way to e-file a tax return?

  • Free File Fillable Types — If your income is more than $72,000 and you are comfortable doing your taxes without any help, you can use Free File Fillable Forms from the IRS. The forms do the math for you and offer standard guidance.  You can simply do your federal return with all these forms. 
  • Use an internet tax preparation tax or service applications: Tax preparation software and online filing services are alternatives.  These options are an easy way to complete and e-file your forms.  Some software suppliers charge for their programs, Some are free.   The program asks you simple questions about your own life and finances to guide you through the completion of your types.  
  • Get complimentary, in-person tax help: In most states, you can find volunteers to help prepare and e-file returns.  But eligibility for free aid is typically limited based on earnings, and some services cater to particular demographic groups.  For example, Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs focus primarily on helping filers that are 60 and older. 
  • Hire a paid preparer: Paid tax preparers, such as CPAs, can e-file yields for you if they’re licensed IRS e-file providers. The IRS maintains a database of authorized providers, but you should be aware this option is likely to be the most costly one. 

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

    Is e-filing really stable?

    While e-filing is suitable, you may worry about safety — especially with all these data breaches.  But experts agree this is not a problem which should deter you from e-filing.

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

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

    It’s very important to employ a trustworthy service that will help you file your taxes.  Chow advises to not e-file on a public computer or use an online connection which isn’t private.

    Bottom line

    For many 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 choices.  Just make certain that you use tax preparation software from a trusted source, so you may make certain the information which you provide to transmit to the IRS is going to be kept protected.