HUTCHINSON, Kan. (Tribune News Service) — You can look at these taxing figures two ways: Either, most people don’t wait until the last minute to file their federal tax return or – I'm not the only slacker.
As of April 3, date of the most current information, some 909,000 Kansans had filed returns with the Internal Revenue Service, IRS spokesman Michael Devine said.
That’s 70 percent of the 1.3 million individual returns from Kansas officials expect to receive.
Of those returns, Devine reported, 95 percent, or some 863,000, were electronically filed, with paper returns down 9 percent from last year, or about 45,000.
Nationally, Devine said, 99 million taxpayers had filed their federal returns, with 91 percent of those – 90.6 million – online.
That’s down about 737,000 filers, or 0.80 percent, from the same date last year in terms of the total number of returns, though the number of those filing online was up significantly. At the national level, paper returns are down 12 percent from a year ago, Devine reported.
As of April 3, the IRS had issued 77.2 million refunds, worth $217.351 billion. The average refund was $2,815, up $23 over last year’s average.
Need more time?
Taxpayers who need more time to file their 2014 tax return can request a six-month extension, until Oct. 15, by filing Form 4868. They can find the form online or through a tax preparer, Devine said.
The only caveat is, while the extension grants extra time to file a tax return, it doesn’t allow extra time to pay any taxes owed. Taxpayers must estimate their tax liability on the form and pay any amount due to avoid interest and late-payment penalties.
For those delaying filing because they don't have enough money to pay the IRS, don't wait. Most people can set up a payment agreement with the IRS online in a matter of minutes, which allows up to 72 months to pay the debt. Alternatively, taxpayers can request a payment agreement by filing Form 9465, which can be downloaded from IRS.gov and mailed along with a tax return.
Taxpayers allowed more time to file without seeking an extension include those who are abroad (who have until June 15 to file), and members of the military serving in a combat zone, who have at least 180 days after leaving the combat zone to file.
If you’ve filed a return and are waiting on a refund, the fastest way to check its status is using “Where’s My Refund?” which is available at www.IRS.gov or on the smartphone application IRS2Go 5.0. People can also call 1-800-829-1954.
The IRS updates the information once a day. Taxpayers will need their Social Security number, filing status (single, married, head of household) and the exact refund amount.
Common mistakes on paper returns
People who file paper tax returns are about 20 times more likely to make a mistake than e-filers, Devine stated in a news release, because software programs used to file online are designed to help catch errors.
The most common tax-filing errors include wrong or missing Social Security numbers, misspelled names (they should be spelled as listed in Social Security cards), and filing status errors such as listing Head of Household instead of Single.
Following those are: math mistakes; errors in figure credits or deductions; and not signing forms (both spouses filing jointly must sign.)
The IRS also reminds taxpayers to see if they’re eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC. While the IRS estimates four out of five eligible taxpayers now claim the credit, some are still unaware of the EITC or they don't know how to claim it.
Last year 5,052 Reno County residents received part of more than $11.1 million through the income-qualifying credit, which was created in 1975 as a work incentive. The average credit was $2,210.
The EITC was worth more than $492 million to Kansans last year, with more than 212,500 individuals or families claiming it. The average EITC benefit statewide was $2,317.
To make it easier to determine eligibility for this credit, the IRS has a self-help tool, the EITC Assistant, at the IRS.gov website. The program answers questions about eligibility, filing status, qualifying children and credit amount. It is also is available in Spanish.
“Anyone who made less than $52,427 needs to check their eligibility at www.irs.gov/eitc,” said Devine.
Current and prior year tax forms and instructions are also available at IRS.gov's Forms and Publications page or by calling toll-free: 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
©2015 The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kan.)
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