Over 2 million taxpayers have already e-filed

$377.4 million in refunds paid

[March 02, 2012]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois Department of Revenue announced that electronic filing of individual tax returns is up more than 10.5 percent over last year, with 2.040 million tax returns filed online so far this year. The department expects that electronic refunds due to online filers will be paid in about a week.

Electronic filing and requesting direct deposit of refund payments reduces processing costs, provides better service for taxpayers and ensures quicker processing of refund payments. Working families and senior citizens can seek help from hundreds of volunteer tax assistance centers across the state that will help them file their taxes electronically. A list is available at tax.illinois.gov.

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. It also ensures that senior citizens get the full benefits allowed under the law by clarifying which pensions or benefits payment are tax-free on their Illinois income taxes.

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.

"In times like these when families are struggling, we need to do everything we can to get tax refunds to taxpayers quickly and easily," said Brian Hamer, director of the Department of Revenue. "I am pleased Illinoisans are finding our electronic services helpful."

IDOR continues to encourage taxpayers to file electronically on its website tax.illinois.gov or 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]