The deadline to file your federal taxes without paying a penalty for being late is Wednesday. I.R.S. spokesman Christopher Miller says there is still time to get it done and says there are quick ways to file.
Miller says you should consider e-filing as he says electronic filing is "fast, easy, safe, secure and accurate," and the way to go if you are running out of time. Miller says more people have chosen the electronic route this year.
He says the number of people in Iowa who have filed electronically is up nearly 3%, and he says 14% of the people who have e-filed have done so from their home computer. Miller says Iowa led the nation last year 71% of the tax returns filed electronically. Miller says the last minute pressures often lead to some mistakes on simple things like names, and Social Security numbers.
Miller says be sure you get the names of yourself, spouse and all dependents correctly as those names appear on the Social Security cards. He says it’s easy to transpose numbers when you write them in, and says you should double-check your math. Miller says filings have been running behind this year.
Miller says they have about one million of the 1.4 million estimated returns in Iowa. He says the state has been running a few percentage points behind last year’s pace and in the entire U.S., filings are running about eight percent behind last year’s.
Miller says there is a lot of help on-line at the I.R.S. website , including information on filing your taxes electronically for free. Miller says the average refund in the country so far this year is $2,705. The deadline to file your state tax return is April 30th.