| The 
				Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) will begin accepting 2020 
				state individual income tax returns on Friday, February 12, the 
				same date that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) begins 
				accepting federal individual income tax returns. If a taxpayer 
				electronically files an error-free return, they should receive a 
				direct deposit refund in four to six weeks, if applicable. Last 
				year, IDOR saw a 2.7% increase in the number of electronic 
				filers; of the 6,443,623 individual income tax returns, 87% were 
				filed electronically and 63% received refunds. 
 “Filing tax returns electronically and requesting direct deposit 
				is still the fastest way for taxpayers to receive a refund,” 
				said IDOR Director David Harris. “As the COVID-19 pandemic 
				continues, I also encourage taxpayers to create a MyTax Illinois 
				account. With a MyTax Illinois account, taxpayers will be able 
				to respond to any filing inquiries from the department 
				electronically, resulting in faster processing and issuance of 
				owed refunds.”
 
 The 2020 tax filing deadline is Thursday, April 15. IDOR remains 
				highly committed to protecting taxpayers from identify theft and 
				will continue to work with the IRS and other states to 
				strengthen protections.
 
Taxpayers are encouraged to do their part by protecting their personal 
information and staying alert to phone scams or phishing emails. For more tips 
and up-to-date information, taxpayers should visit IDOR’s website. 
Free filing of Form IL-1040 is available through MyTax Illinois. Individuals may 
also utilize MyTax Illinois to make payments, respond to department inquiries, 
and check the status of their Illinois Individual Income Tax refunds using the 
Where’s My Refund? link. Taxpayers may also look up IL-PINs, amounts of any 
estimated tax payments made, and (when necessary) amounts reported on Form 
1099-G with MyTax Illinois
 For the most up-to-date information, forms, schedules, and instructions for the 
2020 tax year, please visit IDOR’s website at: tax.illinois.gov.
 
				 
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