IRS Tax Tip 2019-02, January 30, 2019 Taxpayers are encouraged to visit IRS.gov for helpful tax information and tools that can make filing taxes easier. Here are some things taxpayers can do when they visit IRS.gov: Use IRS Free File. Taxpayers with income of $66,000 or less can file using free brand-name tax software through IRS Free File. Those who earned more can use Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms. Either way, everyone has a free e-file option. Explore other electronic filing options. IRS e-file, which includes Free File, is the easiest, safest and most popular way to file a complete and accurate tax return. The fastest way to get a refund is to combine e-file with direct deposit. On IRS.gov, taxpayers can see if they qualify for free tax preparation help by volunteers, find software options to e-file their own taxes, and find an authorized e-file provider. Find a tax preparer. Taxpayers can use the Directory of Tax Return Preparers tool to find tax preparers near them. Get answers to tax questions. The Interactive Tax Assistant tool and the IRS Tax Map answer many tax-law questions. Many IRS tools and products are also available in other languages, including Spanish. Check on a refund. The best way to track the status of a refund is to use Where’s My Refund? Taxpayers can check the status of their refund within 24 hours after the IRS has received the e-filed return. Those who file a paper return can check the refund status four weeks after mailing it. Pay taxes online. Taxpayers will find information about different ways to pay their taxes. This includes IRS Direct Pay, electronic funds withdrawal, and payment by debit or credit card. Use the EITC Assistant. Taxpayers who worked and earned less than $54,884 in 2018 may be eligible for the earned income tax credit. Taxpayers can use the EITC Assistant tool to see if they qualify. Use Get Transcript. Taxpayers who need a copy of their original tax return information may use Get Transcript Online or Get Transcript by Mail. A transcript shows most line items from your return, which is usually all you need. View account information. Taxpayers can go to IRS.gov/account to securely access information about their federal tax account. They can also visit this page to access their tax records online, review the past 18 months of payment history, and view tax return information for the current year. Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov/secureaccess to review the required identity authentication process. IRS YouTube Videos: Interactive Tax Assistant – English | ASL (Obsolete) Subscribe to IRS Tax Tips
