How To Get My Tax Return Faster

File Your Return Early

Though taxes aren’t due this year until April 17, the Internal Revenue Service recently announced that it will begin accepting returns as early as . Therefore, the sooner you submit your return, the sooner you’ll get your hands on your money. Keep in mind, however, that you may not have the option to move so quickly. If, come late January, you find that you’re still missing certain tax forms, you’re better off waiting on that information than guessing at it and filing an erroneous return. Keep in mind that companies have until the end of January to issue 1099s, so if you’re waiting on one , you may need to sit tight a bit longer.

How To Track Your Tax Refund

The IRS website offers a Wheres My Refund? tool that enables you to track your refund after youve filed your income tax return. You can also track your refund through the IRS2Go app with the same information. You will see one of the following statuses on the site:

To track your refund, youll need your Social Security number, your filing status, and the exact amount of your refund.

For filing status, youll have to choose from the following options:

• Single

• Head of Household

• Qualifying Widow

Providing all of these personal details helps protect your information and avoids anyone else accessing your tax return data. If youre wondering, Wheres my tax refund? this is how you find out the exact answer.

Typically, you can start tracking your return one day after you file if you submit your return electronically. But if you mail in a paper tax return, it takes about one month.

When Can I Expect My Refund In 2021

If youre filing your taxes electronically and requesting direct deposit in 2021, there shouldnt be any delays in getting your refund. In other words, the same 21-day window applies.

Filing by mail, however, could result in delays. The IRS has said that COVID-19 mail processing delays could mean you might be waiting longer to receive your refund. In general, the IRS advises to wait at least four weeks after mailing in your return to check your refund status. And once you receive a paper check, you may still have to wait several business days for it to clear after depositing it to your bank account.

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What If I Don’t Have A Bank Account And I Want A Tax Refund

If you don’t have a bank account and are a veteran, you can use the Veterans Benefit Ranking Program, where there are several participating banks. On the other hand, you can check this information through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. There you can find information on nearby banks or the process to open an account.

Were You Lucky Enough To Be Able To Work From Home

Lots of people will be disappointed because they won’t get a tax break after packing up and taking their office job home during the pandemic.

If you’re an employee of a school district or an automaker, for example, the tax rules don’t allow you to claim a home office deduction for unreimbursed business expenses relating to working from home. That’s the case if you’re working for someone else.

After some significant changes in the tax rules and the economic fallout last year, tax season won’t be simple. But really, when is it ever?

ContactSusan Tompor via . Follow her on Twittertompor. To subscribe, please go to freep.com/specialoffer. Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter.

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Grabbing Deductions And Credits

Whether you itemize or not, you’ll need a few supporting documents to claim certain deductions and credits.

For instance, if you want to claim the dependent care tax credit, you’ll need to contact your childcare provider for their tax ID and a total of what you paid.

Here are the forms you’ll need to claim certain tax breaks.

Further, those who donated to their favorite causes and wish to claim a charitable deduction must have the appropriate acknowledgement letters from the charities.

Remember, you must itemize on your tax return to deduct your donations.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act raised the bar on who will itemize, as you now must surpass the standard deduction of $12,200 for singles or $24,400 for married filing jointly to do so.

Either way, you won’t know if you qualify to take itemized deductions until you tally up your expenses.

“Get a central repository for everything that comes in the mail or a digital folder at your desktop for electronic forms that come in so they are all in one place,” said Guglielmetti.

That Free Advance Can Be Costly

Perhaps most important, these loans are a way to get consumers to pay for tax preparation services, as they are only available to customers who pay to have their returns professionally prepared.

Other services taxpayers can end up paying for once theyre in the door include refund transfer accounts that allow customers to finance tax preparation fees and the fees associated with prepaid debit cards on which customers can receive their loans and tax refunds.

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When To Call The Irs To Check Tax Refund Status

Still feeling a bit anxious about when to expect your return? The IRS recommends you only call them if:

• Its been more than 21 days since you e-filed

• Its been six weeks or more since you mailed your returns

• The Wheres My Refund tool tells you to contact the IRS

Make sure you have your Social Security number or your ITIN handy when you reach out to the IRS.

Where’s My Tax Refund

Filing electronically, through tax software or with the help of a tax professional, and requesting direct deposit is the quickest and safest way to get your federal tax refund.

You can check the status of your refund using the IRS’s refund-tracking service within 24 hours of filing a tax return online or within four weeks of mailing a paper return.

The IRS updates its system daily, usually overnight.

To check your refund status, you’ll need three things:

• Your Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number
• Your filing status
• The exact refund amount

Keep in mind: If you didn’t get a stimulus check, or got less than you should have, you should report it on your tax return. Any money the IRS owes you will be applied to your tax bill and lower it. If your tax bill drops to $0, the leftover cash will be added to your refund. Learn more about the recovery rebate credit »

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Get Your Tax Refund By Direct Deposit

Getting a tax refund via direct deposit allows you to have your IRS refund electronically deposited into a financial account, saving you a trip to the bank. This is a popular option: eight in 10 taxpayers use direct deposit to receive their refunds faster than they would have with a paper check.

If you file a paper return and choose direct deposit, your refund should arrive within three weeks. If you file electronically, it can arrive even faster.

To set up direct deposit, you’ll need to provide the account number and routing number for the account where you want your refund sent. You can find this information in your online account information or at the bottom of a paper check.

If you give the wrong account number to the IRS and the bank accepts the deposit into that account, you’ll have to work out the problem with the financial institution.

You can have your direct deposit split between up to three different accounts. All these accounts must be held in your name, your spouse’s name, or both . You can choose a checking, savings, or retirement account, such as an IRA.

Your tax preparation software will walk you through requesting this type of payment. Otherwise, complete and submit IRS Form 8888 with your tax return, which instructs the IRS to split your refund among certain accounts.

You can also use Form 8888 to request part of your refund by direct deposit and the balance by paper check.

How To Get Your Tax Refund As Soon As Possible

Eager to get your tax refund now that tax season has kicked off? More than 7 in 10 filers got money back last year, with checks averaging around $2,800. But before we share some tips on getting your dough, consider what getting a large tax refund really means. While some people get money back because of smart year-end tax moves or because of changes in their financial situation, for many others a refund simply suggests they overpaid their taxes that means less cash over the course of the year. It also means they are lending Uncle Sam their money at 0% interest.

On the bright side, overpaying taxes can be a form of forced savings.

“They look at it as they can’t spend what they give to the government, and this way they can’t get into trouble,” said Jonathan Medows, a CPA based in Manhattan. “Other people will say, ‘Why would I want to give the government an interest-free loan?’ And they would adjust their withholdings.”

If you’re among the millions who expect to get a refund this year, here’s how to get it as quickly as possible.

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Double Check Your Tax Return Before You File

Double checking your tax return prior to submission can ensure your tax refund is processed quickly. Failure to do so may cause the IRS to delay the processing of your tax refund.

Here is a list of questions to review prior to filing your tax return to ensure the IRS processes your tax refund as quickly as possible.

• Did I review my identifying numbers for myself, spouse and dependents?
• Did I ensure the names on my tax return are spelled correctly?
• Did I review my dependents information?
• Have I reviewed my banks routing and account numbers for accuracy?
• Did I include the correct date of birth for myself and dependents
• Did I electronically sign my tax return ?

My Refund Failed To Reach Me As My Address Has Changed I Want To Raise A Request For Refund Re

You can only raise a request of refund re-issue if your refund failed to reach you and was returned to the Income Tax Department. In that case, login in the Income Tax e-Filing website and go to My Account â Refund re-issue request. Select the mode through which you wish to receive the refund- ECS or Cheque. Provide the new Bank Account Number and provide the new Address. Submit the request.

Once the request is submitted, your new Address is updated with the Income Tax Department.

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How To Claim Your Second Stimulus Payment On Your Tax Return

Despite initial delays, a majority of the $600 stimulus payments were issued to eligible Americans. As of Jan. 8, the IRS said it had issued over 100 million payments via direct deposit an additional 8 million were issued by mail as a prepaid debit card and paper checks were mailed up to the deadline.

Still, many Americans will need to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax return to receive their payment. This applies to many people who see a Payment Status #2 Not Available message using the IRS Get My Payment tracker, non-filers, and those who didnt receive the full payment for which theyre eligible due to financial changes in 2020 .

Your tax return is also an opportunity to claim any amount youre eligible for but didnt receive from the first round of $1,200 stimulus payments following the CARES Act last spring. The return will include a worksheet you can use to determine any amount youre eligible to claim using the Recovery Rebate Credit.

Starting Your Tax Season Early

Most taxpayers count on getting a refund as soon as possible, but sometimes, that is not quick enough. If you rely on your refund to pay bills you may qualify for a tax time loan. Book an appointment with a Jackson Hewitt Tax Pro to learn more. Neighborhood offices, as well as those located inside Walmart stores, are open and ready to help with your tax needs.

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Make Small Investments For Bigger Returns

• Expert Assisted Tax Filing

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Save taxes with ClearTax by investing in tax saving mutual funds online. Our experts suggest the best funds and you can get high returns by investing directly or through SIP. Download ClearTax App to file returns from your mobile phone.

How Tax Refund Advances Work

Why offer totally free loans to tax prep customers? To get them in the door and collect fees on other services.

With fierce competitiononline and in the brick-and-mortar worldtax preparation services need a way to distinguish themselves and gain market share.

The loans do not actually come from the tax preparation companies themselves but from banks that work with them. When a customer signs up for one of these loans, the IRS sends the money to the financial institution associated with the tax preparation company, which then disburses the funds to the customer. When the taxpayers refund arrives, the tax preparation company collects the loan funds it advanced, and then remits any remaining refund to the customer.

The tax preparation companies are at risk of not getting repaid for their loans if the IRS calculates a lower refund than the tax preparer does, but they say they will not pursue borrowers for loans that cant be repaid. The companies are picking up the costs of this service and writing them off as marketing expenses.

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File Sooner Rather Than Later

The IRS typically begins accepting tax returns in the second half of January. Getting your tax return in early is a simple way to get your refund faster. Its also a good way to combat tax refund fraud. This happens when scammers fraudulently file a tax return using your information in order to claim your refund for themselves. Tax refund fraud remains on the IRSdirty dozen list of tax scams to be aware of.

How To Get Your Tax Refund Faster

As tax season gets underway, many filers wonder what steps they can take to receive their tax refunds faster. After all, the sooner you have that money, the sooner you can use it for your own purposes.

Thanks to the digital age, and efforts by the IRS to stay on top of technology, it is possible for you to get your tax refund fairly quickly. In fact, its possible to receive your tax refund in as little as seven days if you use the most efficient means of filing your tax return.

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Irs Tax Refund Schedule For 2020 Returns

If youre asking yourself, When will I receive my tax refund? keep this in mind: The IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days, according to its website. However, this timeline only applies if you file your federal tax returns electronically. If you file through regular mail, then expect to wait around six weeks to receive your refund.

Another important thing to note: If your tax return requires additional review, you may have to wait longer to receive your refund.

How To File A Cra Tax Return Electronically

According to the CRA, 90% of Canadians filed their taxes electronically last year. Contrary to what some people might think, online filing is fast, easy, and secure. Most Canadians are eligible to file an electronic tax return. Be aware that tax returns for years before 2014 are subject to restrictions. If you are submitting a late tax return for a year other than 2014, 2015 or 2016, you will need to send the CRA a paper return. Canadians who filed for bankruptcy in 2017 or 2018 are also required to present a paper return. The same is true for non-residents of Canada.

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What If You File Your Taxes Late

Filing taxes on time is generally a good practice. In addition to releasing yourself of the burden, you can expect an earlier tax refund. The longer you wait to file your taxes, the longer it will take to get your refund.

Plus, filing late might incur some expensive consequences. If the IRS owes you a refund, filing late generally wont hurt you. However, if you owe taxes, you will be penalized for both filing and paying late.

The deadline for filing your 2020 federal taxes is May 17, 2021.

Some people need more time to file taxes. If youre e-filing, you can file for an extension for free using the IRSs Free File. Paper filers will need to submit Form 4868 to get a six-month extension on their tax deadline. This strategy helps you avoid paying taxes late, but note that the form doesnt extend the time to pay taxes. If you wind up owing taxes after the extension, you will still be penalized.