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Child Tax Credit Archives - IRS Tax Season 2020

Child Tax Credit

Free File 2014 Opens Jan. 17

Taxpayers who want to take advantage of the Internal Revenue Service’s free tax preparation e-filing program won’t have to wait. The Free File program opens to taxpayers on Jan. 17, two weeks before the IRS starts processing 2013 tax returns.

Free file 2014The IRS will not start processing any tax returns until Jan. 31. The government shutdown in October 2013 slowed IRS updates of forms and tests of its computer systems, leading officials to push the official opening of this year’s filing season to the end of the month.

But that doesn’t mean taxpayers have to sit around. Free File companies will hold taxpayers’ completed tax returns and then submit them on Jan. 31.

The early opening of Free File is good news for millions of eligible taxpayers. They are among the group of electronic filers, which increases every year, primarily because they can get their refunds more quickly.

And for the 2014 filing season, a few more taxpayers should be able to use the Free File option. The income eligibility limit has been increased to $58,000. That’s $1,000 more than last year.

Free File 2014 basics

  • You can file your 2013 tax return through Free File if your adjusted gross income is $58,000 or less.
  • The income cutoff applies regardless of your filing status.
  • Free File is for individual, not business, tax returns. However, a sole proprietor who files Schedule C with Form 1040 can use Free File.
  • Some participating Free File vendors also offer free state tax return preparation and e-file.
  • Some Free File companies offer free electronic extensions. But remember, you still must pay any taxes due by the April 15 deadline or you’ll be charged interest and possibly penalties on any tax you owe.
  • You do not download anything. All of the software, which is encrypted to protect privacy, remains at the Free File company website you select, and your return is filed from there.
  • Access Free File by going to IRS.gov and clicking on the Free File icon. Beware of offers by outside websites to take you to the Free File website, as they could be scams operated by identity thieves.

The Free File program is a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, a group of tax preparation software manufacturers. Fourteen companies are expected to participate in the program this filing season.

“All the (2014 filing season tax software companies) have done it before. We have experienced providers within the commercial world and the Free File world,” says Tim Hugo, executive director of the Clifton, Va.-based Free File Alliance.

Free File was created in 2003 as a way to get more people to e-file. Its target is taxpayers who might otherwise not e-file because they don’t want or can’t afford to pay the cost of the computer filing programs or professional tax help.

Who qualifies?

The key qualification for Free File services is income. This year, taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $58,000 or less, regardless of filing status, can use the online program.

Participating tax software companies can establish other eligibility requirements. Some may limit usage of their programs based on geographic location, military service or other criteria.

To determine which software best fits your filing needs, the Free File website includes an online search tool to help you select one of the participating Free File companies.

Free File contributions to e-filing

In 2013, almost 144 million tax returns were filed electronically, according to IRS data complete through May 2013. That represents a nearly 2% increase in e-filed returns over the previous year. The sector that showed the most growth last year, according to IRS statistics, was tax returns prepared and filed by taxpayers on their own.

Around 3 million of those self-prepared returns e-filed last year came through Free File, says Hugo. That number has held steady for the past few years.

Three million of those returns e-filed last year came through Free File, says Tim Hugo, executive director of the Clifton, Va.-based Free File Alliance.

“We would love to have more,” says Hugo, but he points to the program’s overall contribution to e-filing. Since its inception, says Hugo, Free File has accounted for the submission of more than 40 million federal returns.

“We get people in the door for e-filing, people who’ve never e-filed before,” says Hugo. “They may go to a commercial product later on, but they will continue to e-file. We are very pleased with that.”

Hugo says the program also has evolved to meet taxpayer needs. “We look at Free File as a three-legged stool,” he says. “There is the traditional Free File, fillable forms and VITA providing services to every income.”

Working with VITA

The filing needs of lower-income taxpayers are addressed through Free File’s continuing partnership with the federal Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, popularly known as VITA.

VITA tax-filing clinics are set up each year in public places — from libraries to community centers to shopping malls. Its volunteers provide free filing assistance to low- and moderate-income taxpayers who might not be able to afford tax software or professional filing help. This filing season, the services of IRS-certified VITA volunteers are available to people who make $52,000 or less.

Hugo says Free File is again placing kiosks, similar to self-checkout stations in retail stores, at VITA sites nationwide.

“You can do your return there or partially do your return and, if you need help, ask a VITA volunteer,” says Hugo. “This helps some of those who are most in need of tax help.”

The IRS has an online search tool to help taxpayers locate a nearby VITA site. Taxpayers also can call (800) 906-9887 for VITA locations.

Free fillable forms remain

The IRS says that Free File is available to 70% of taxpayers. But if you are among the 30%  making too much money to use the service, you still can file for free using the tax agency’s fillable federal return form option.

Here, online versions of the most commonly used IRS tax forms are available through the Free File page. You fill them out on your computer and then e-file the documents at no charge.

Just don’t mistake the forms for tax software.

The fillable forms offer only basic calculations of what’s entered on the form. And you must figure out what goes on the form without the online prompting found in software.

Also, the information is not automatically transferred to associated forms. That means you must, for example, manually enter your itemized deductions total from Schedule A to the appropriate line on Form 1040.

Still, taxpayers with relatively simple filing needs who don’t want to buy tax software might find fillable forms a welcome alternative.

Note, however, that you’ll have to wait a bit longer to use the free fillable forms option. They won’t be available until Jan. 31, the same day that the IRS opens its filing doors to all taxpayers.

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2014 IRS Refund Cycle Chart for 2013 Tax Year

2014 IRS Refund Cycle Chart and e-file payment information.

This is a schedule for 2014 IRS Refund Cycle Chart. Direct Deposit and Check date’s below. Please see disclaimer. 2014 tax refund schedule is listed below for information purposes. This is just for the first week. Find out when you’re state income tax refund will be in. Please consider donating $1 to $5 to us for help with cost of running the site. Thank you.

2014 IRS E-File Cycle ChartPlease note that due to heavy volumes on the opening week of tax season, several direct deposits may be pushed to the second week of payouts. 

IRS approves your return (by 11:00 am) between…* Projected Direct Deposit Sent on or before* Projected Paper Check Mailed*
January 24 and January 31 2014 2/6/2014 & 2/10/2014 2/7/2014 Continue reading…

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Income Tax Refund Calendar 2012

2012 IRS e-file cycle chart and payment information.

Direct Deposit and Check date’s below. Please see disclaimer.

 

IRS accepts your return (by 11:00 am) between…* Projected Direct Deposit Sent* Projected Paper Check Mailed*
January 30, 2013
2/6/2013
2/8/2013
January 31
and
February 6, 2013
2/13/2013
2/15/2013
February 9
and
February 13, 2013
2/20/2013
2/22/2013
February 16
and
February 20, 2013
2/27/2013
3/1/2013
February 23
and
February 27, 2013
3/6/2013
3/8/2013
March 1
and
March 6, 2013
3/13/2013
3/15/2013
March 8
and
March 13, 2013
3/20/2013
3/22/2013
March 15
and
March 20, 2013
3/27/2013
3/29/2013
March 22
and
March 27, 2013
4/3/2013
4/5/2013
March 29
and
April 3, 2013
4/10/2013
4/12/2013
April 5
and
April 10, 2013
4/17/2013
4/19/2013
April 12
and
April 17, 2013
4/24/2013
4/26/2013
April 19
and
April 24, 2013
5/1/2013
5/3/2013
April 26
and
May 1, 2013
5/8/2013
5/10/2013
May 3
and
May 8, 2013
5/15/2013
5/17/2013
May 10
and
May 15, 2013
5/22/2013
5/24/2013
May 17
and
May 22, 2013
5/29/2013
5/31/2013
May 24
and
May 29, 2013
6/5/2013
6/7/2013
May 31
and
June 5, 2013
6/12/2013
6/14/2013 Continue reading…

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2012 Income Tax Refund Frequently Asked Questions

Posted by TaxGuy on January 04, 2013
Child Tax Credit, Income Tax, Tax Deducations, Tax Refund / No Comments

Hello,

I am posting to answer some questions that have been asked of my small business as of late.

Frequently Asked Income Tax Questions

# How much do you charge for individual income tax preparation?

Our fees are based on the number of individuals in the plan. The charge is $0 per individual. Yes, this does include dependents. So a family of four would pay $200.

# Can the tax preparation fee be taken out of my return or do I need to pay for the service upfront?

Both. We can either accept payment when filing or can have the payment deducted from your return.

# When is the first day that we can file an income tax return in 2013?

It really depends on the forms you will need. The I.R.S. has given dates for some forms and other forms are expected to be out around the same time.

Federal Forms  

Form 1040A  Individual Tax Return01/10/2013

Form 2441  Child & Dependent Care Expenses01/10/2013  

Schedule 8812  Child Tax Credit01/10/2013  

Schedule EIC  Earned Income Credit01/03/2013

So from reading this, it can be said that the 10th of January will be the first day that we will be able to efile your income tax forms.

# When will my return be direct deposited or a check mailed to me if I efile?

The I.R.S. hasn’t given out much detail about their schedule but we have used prior years I.R.S. Tax Calendar and modified it using the information that we have received from the I.R.S. so far. To view the I.R.S. 2013 Income Tax Payment Schedule, click here.

 

# How much will I get back from my return?

That is entirely dependent on your personal factors including your income and tax payments for 2012. You’re personal situation can also affect this great. HR Block created a great tool for getting an estimate of your tax refund. It is simple, so if you have more advanced taxes, it is most likely incorrect. You can calculate your 2012 Income Tax Return by clicking here.

Continue reading…

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2013 IRS e-file Refund Cycle Chart for Tax Year 2012

Posted by TaxGuy on December 07, 2012
Child Tax Credit, Income Tax, Tax Planning, Tax Refund / 2 Comments

 Income Tax Refund Schedule 2012 Tax Payments


Income Tax Refund Calendar 2012 is now available on our affiliate website.

Income Tax Refund 2013

Income Tax Refund 2013

Taxes@HotSpringsTaxServices.com

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