Last Minute Tax Tips
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: April 3, 2012
Thanks
to a holiday in the District of Columbia, all taxpayers have until
April 17 to get Form 1040 into the IRS. Even with some extra time, the
tax deadline
is fast approaching.
For
people who find taxes a little too taxing, the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) has a program that can help. It's called Free File. You can use
free software
to do your taxes and e-file for free. Get started at IRS.gov/freefile.
There
is a free option for everyone. People who make $57,000 or less, which
includes most Americans, can use the Free File software. People who make
more
can use the Free File Fillable Form, an electronic version of the IRS
paper form..
The IRS recognizes many people find this time of year stressful. Here are some tips that may help:
- Don't wait until the last minute, you're prone to make mistakes;
- Use IRS.gov for answers to your questions or to track your refund;
- Use Free File, there's a free option for everyone;
- Don't panic if you can't pay; you can arrange for a payment agreement at IRS.gov;
- If you can't make the April 17 deadline, use Free File to request an extension and make a payment if needed.
