Tax filing deadline 2 weeks away
Send a link to a friend
[April 03, 2013]
CHICAGO -- The Illinois
Department of Revenue reminded taxpayers that there are just two
weeks before the traditional April 15 filing deadline. To date, the
department has processed almost 3.2 million tax returns and has
issued more than $745 million in tax refunds. Taxpayers who file
their returns electronically receive their refunds much faster than
those who file paper returns.
|
More than 93 percent of taxpayers have filed their taxes
electronically, and of those, more than a quarter-million used the
free WebFile program at
tax.illinois.gov. Taxpayers using the department's website to
file their state returns have the option of direct deposit of
refunds or having refunds put on prepaid debit cards, to avoid the
cost of check cashing services. More than 2,000 taxpayers received a
debit card as part of this year's pilot program.
"I am pleased Illinois taxpayers are finding our electronic
services helpful," said Brian Hamer, state revenue director. "In
times like these, when families are struggling, we need to do
everything we can to get tax refunds to taxpayers quickly and
easily."
WebFile, the state's interactive filing program, walks taxpayers
through all of the options for credits and deductions and is
available for free to Illinois tax filers. This is particularly
helpful to families eligible for the earned income credit or
education credits. To date, more than 681,000 families in Illinois
have filed for EIC, and they have received credits of almost $131
million. WebFile also ensures that senior citizens get the full
benefits allowed under the law by clarifying which pensions or
benefit payments are tax-free on their Illinois income taxes.
[to top of second column] |
Taxpayers can file electronically in
one of three ways:
-
WebFile --
Taxpayers can file for free at
tax.illinois.gov.
-
Tax professionals
-- Taxpayers can tell their tax preparer to file their return
electronically.
-
Tax preparation packages -- Taxpayers
who purchase a tax preparation package can file it online
instead of printing and mailing a return.
The Illinois Department of Revenue continues to encourage
taxpayers to file electronically on its website
tax.illinois.gov or to ask
about e-filing when they visit their tax preparer. Electronic filing
is fast, easy and, by reducing the use of paper, is environmentally
friendly.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Revenue file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |