Busy Season for Tax Filing: IRS Recommends Online Options

Presidents Day and the surrounding days are typically when many people prepare their taxes, which also makes it a peak period for IRS phone lines.

During the two-week February period following Presidents Day, the IRS recommends turning first to the self-help tools available online on IRS.gov to avoid delays.

There, taxpayers will find useful online tools and answers to tax filing questions.

New this year, people can easily find step-by-step help to file their personal federal income tax return.

The IRS also has a variety of information available on IRS.gov to help taxpayers, including a special “free help” page.

The IRS encourages people to file their tax returns electronically and choose direct deposit for faster refunds.

Filing electronically reduces tax return errors as the tax software does the calculations, flags common errors and prompts taxpayers for missing information.

According to the IRS, 98% of taxpayers now file their federal income tax returns electronically.

The IRS also offers free online and in-person tax preparation options for qualifying taxpayers through the IRS Free File program and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.

Taxpayers with income of $79,000 or less last year can use IRS Free File Guided Tax Software now through Oct 15.

IRS Free File Fillable forms, a part of this program, is available at no cost to any income level and provides electronic forms that people fill out and e-file themselves, also at no cost.

You can learn more about free available tax help by visiting IRS.Gov.