US: IRS releases user friendly online tax payment guidance tool

IRSs online platform and online tools, such as the Interactive Tax Assistant, can answer most taxpayer questions and, hence, getting them the tax help they need and when they need it, berksmontnews.com reports. The Interactive Tax Assistant can answer a wide range of tax questions, including newer areas of the tax law, like the Affordable Care Act. The Interactive Tax Assistant takes taxpayers through a series of questions and provides them with responses to tax law questions about tax credits, deductions and general filing questions.

Taxpayers get the same answers as if they had called and spoken with an IRS representative on the phone line, and they can print out the answers for their records. Taxpayers can start by clicking on the Filing tab. It’s the place to find important updates and information regarding tax return preparation and electronic filing options, including Free File. The IRS has several options to help taxpayers file their tax return. Filing electronically is the most common way to file a complete and accurate return and the page also has links to forms and instructions.

Individuals can check the Affordable Care Act tax provisions page for helpful information about how the health care law affects their tax return. The online resources provide answers to individual questions.  Taxpayers can look at the Online Services and Tax Information for individuals section for information needed to file, pay and manage their taxes, including forms, instructions and electronic filing options. There is also a searchable directory on irs.gov that will help taxpayers find a tax professional with credentials and select qualifications to help them prepare their tax returns.

Free File Everyone can find an option to prepare and e-file tax returns for free through Free File. Taxpayers who earned USD 60,000 or less in 2014 qualify for brand name tax software free of charge through a public-private partnership with manufacturers. Free File fillable forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, are also available to all taxpayers regardless of income and are best suited for taxpayers who are comfortable preparing their own returns. Free File is available only through irs.gov.

VITA/TCE Site Locator allows low-and moderate-income taxpayers to find the nearest volunteer tax help website and through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (VITA/TCE) programs, eligible taxpayers can get help filing their return for free at one of the more than 12,000 community-based tax help websites staffed by more than 90,000 volunteers. This includes claiming tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and meeting new requirements under the healthcare law. EITC Assistant helps individuals find out if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a tax benefit that aids millions of low-and moderate-income workers and working families. If they qualify, this credit can increase the tax refund by up to USD 6,134.

Taxpayers can view or download any IRS form, publication or instruction booklet by visiting irs.gov. They can download publication 17 for free and view it on most e-Readers and other mobile devices as an eBook. If taxpayers still need printed forms, they can place their order online at irs.gov/orderforms. Publication 17 and certain other products like Form 1040 EZ and Form 1099-Misc are not available at TACs in 2015. Similarly, the tax forms available from community partners, like libraries, have also been reduced.

Even after taxpayers file, there are more online tools that can provide them with assistance long after tax season ends. Where’s My Refund? tool is available on irs.gov or IRS2Go that enables taxpayers to track the status of their refund. Initial information will normally be available within 24 hours after the IRS receives the taxpayer’s e-filed return or four weeks after the taxpayer mails a paper return to the IRS.

For taxpayers whose concern is a tax bill they can’t pay, the Online Payment Agreement tool can help them determine whether they qualify for an installment agreement with the IRS. For those whose tax obligation is even more serious, the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier can help determine if they qualify for an offer in compromise, an agreement with the IRS that settles their tax liability for less than the full amount owed.

The IRS has introduced a new online resource for those who need to make a tax payment. The new IRS Direct Pay system now offers taxpayers to pay what they owe. Available through the Pay Your Tax Bill icon on irs.gov, this free online system allows individuals to pay their tax bills or make quarterly estimated tax payments, directly from checking or savings accounts without any fees or pre-registration.

Finally, the IRS Withholding Calculator helps employees make sure the amount of income tax taken out of their pay is neither too high nor too low. This tool can be particularly useful to taxpayers who, after filling out their tax returns, find that the refund or balance due was higher than expected.