The state Department of Revenue is again offering free tax filing again this year for Iowans who qualify. Department spokesperson, Renee Mulvey, says it isn’t limited to your state returns. Mulvee says you can file your state and federal taxes free, if you qualify, by going to the department’s website .
Mulvee says one of the qualifications for free filing is that you make under 30-thousand dollars — but there are many other. She says you qualify if you are age 25 or younger, age 65 or older, served active duty military including reservists, National Guard and Coast Guard, are able to claim Earned Income Tax Credit. Mulvey says this year for the first time Iowa’s Earned Income Tax credit is refundable, so more people will benefit from it.
Mulvey says it’s easy to get started, go to Department of Revenue website www.state.ia.us/tax, and look for the graphic in the center of the page that has all your choices. Mulvey says filing on-line is relatively easy. Before you start, she says you need all your tax information and says the process will take a half hour or longer, depending on the complexity of your return.
Mulvey says the big benefit is that you get your money back in just days, compared to waiting weeks for you money with a paper return. Mulvey says you may also save some money by filing via the department’s website, even if you don’t qualify for free filing.
Mulvey says they have 10 to 12 companies on the website that allow you to file your state and federal taxes for as little as $12.95. Mulvey says approximately 900-thousand Iowans out of some one-point-four million file electronic returns.