by Deborah Ritz
How soon can I file my income tax return?
As soon as you receive the information you need to file (W-2, Unemployment 1099G, bank interest, etc.) you may fill out both the federal and state income tax forms and mail them in.
However for electronic filings the IRS announced plans to open the 2016 filing season for tax year 2015 on Tuesday Janu-ary 19, 2015 for both Business and Individual tax returns.
Each year the IRS reminds taxpayers that filing electronically is the most accurate way to file a tax return and the fastest way to get a refund.
There is no advantage for people filing tax returns on paper in early January instead of waiting for e-file to begin.
To help you track the processing of your return the IRS has established a site www.irs.gov/Refunds, a cell phone app IRS2GO, and for those electronically-challenged taxpayers a Refund Hotline 1-800-829-1954.
New York State refunds can be tracked through www.tax
.ny.gov/pit/file/refund.htm or by calling 1-518-457-5149.
Also available at the following link are answers to many refund questions being asked by taxpayers: www.irs.gov/Refunds/Tax-Season-Refund-Frequently-Asked-Questions
The IRS and New York State will continue the practice of reviewing some returns with refundable credits (Earned Income Credit, etc.) before sending the taxpayer their refund which will delay the processing of those returns and refunds expected.
The IRS cautions you to not count on your refunds by a certain date, even though they issue most refunds within the 21-day period it’s possible your return may require additional review and a longer processing time.
Where do I get the forms and instructions?
As soon as the forms and instructions are approved and published:
• The federal forms are available on the internet for immediate download at: https://apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/formsPublications.html.
Otherwise you can pick up forms as they become available at your local IRS office or you can order up to 10 different forms and instructions to be mailed to your address by calling 1-800-829-3676.
Unless another amount is requested the IRS will send two copies of each form and instructions.
• Current year New York State forms will be available after February 8, 2016 on the internet at https://www.tax.ny
.gov/forms/income_cur_forms
.htm or by calling (518) 457-5431.
What is the tax year 2015 filing deadline?
The filing deadline to submit 2015 tax returns is Monday, April 18, 2016, rather than the traditional April 15 date.
Washington, D.C., will celebrate Emancipation Day on that Friday, which pushes the deadline to the following Monday for most of the nation. (Due to Patriots Day, the deadline will be Tuesday, April 19, in Maine and Massachusetts.)
—
Questions for Deborah Ritz can be e-mailed to The Weekly Adirondack at WeeklyADK@yahoo.com