Tax Reform- Review new IRS Publication 5307, Tax Reform Basics for Individuals and Families, to learn about how the new tax law may affect your tax return next year.
IR-2020-31, February 14, 2020 - Offering time-saving alternatives to a telephone call, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers they can get fast answers to their refund questions by using the "Where's My Refund?" tool available on IRS.gov and through the IRS2Go app.
WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service today advised taxpayers that the doubling of the standard deduction due to tax law changes is likely to reduce the number of taxpayers who normally itemize.
In previous years, about one out of three taxpayers itemized. The IRS expects that number to be less for tax year 2018. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed in December 2017, significantly affects deductions in several ways, impacting those taxpayers who normally itemize.
The TCJA doubles the standard deduction amount for all filing statuses. The standard deduction is a dollar amount that reduces the amount of income on which a taxpayer is taxed and varies according to their filing status. Because of this, many qualifying taxpayers may find the increased standard deduction more than their total itemized deductions and opt for choosing the standard deduction rather than itemizing.
Taxpayers should check their 2017 itemized deductions to make sure they understand what the tax reform changes could mean for their tax situation in 2018. Those who still plan to itemize will complete an updated version of Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, and attach it to their tax return.
Publication 5307, Tax Reform Basics for Individuals and Families, is a key resource to understanding the impact of the tax reform law on deductions. The publication provides information about:
•Expecting a refund? Some refunds cannot be issued before mid-February.
•By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit.
•This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits.
•While the IRS will process your return when it is received, it cannot issue EITC/ACTC related refunds before mid-February.
•Your refund may be different - or you may even owe an unexpected tax bill - when you file your 2018 tax return next year.
•New tax law may affect the tax refund you expect next year. Review new IRS Publication 5307, Tax Reform Basics for Individuals and Families, to learn more.
•Be careful not to count on getting a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying other financial obligations.
•File a complete and accurate return using your year-end W-2, bank and 1099 income statements and include all known refundable credits when you file your original tax return.
•File when you've received all your year-end statements and are ready to do so. If you usually file early in the year and you're ready to file a complete and accurate return, there is no need to wait to file.
•Be aware that some returns may require additional review for a variety of reasons and take longer. For example, the IRS, along with its partners in the state's and the nation's tax industry, continue to strengthen security reviews to help protect against identity theft and refund fraud.
•Perform a Paycheck Checkup to help you decide if you need to adjust your withholding or make estimated or additional tax payments now.
What You Need to Know
•The Form 1040 for tax year 2018 is a shorter form and replaces the current Form 1040, Form 1040A and the Form 1040EZ.
•The new Form 1040 can be supplemented with up to six additional schedules if needed.
•If you prepare and file your own taxes electronically, you must sign and validate your electronic tax return by entering your prior-year AGI or your prior-year Self-Select PIN.
•Some taxpayers using a software product for the first time may need to provide their 2017 Adjusted Gross Income, or AGI, to e-file their 2018 tax return.
•If you're using the same tax software you used last year, you will not need to enter your prior year information to electronically sign your 2018 tax return.
•File electronically in 2019 as you usually do. Since more than nine out of 10 taxpayers use software or a tax preparer, the IRS is working with the tax community to prepare for the Form 1040 update.
•Check out IRS Free File to learn more about online free tax preparation and e-file options.
•Taxpayers who file on paper will use the updated Form 1040 and supplement it with any needed schedules.
•If you are using a software product for the first time and you have a copy of your 2017 federal income tax return, your AGI is on line 37 of the Form 1040; line 21 on the Form 1040-A or line 4 on the Form 1040-EZ.
•If you don't have a copy of your 2017 tax return:
•You are likely to experience processing delays if you file a tax return using an expired Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
•There are two reasons your ITIN would expire December 31, 2018:
•Renew your ITIN now if it has or will expire and you need to file a U.S. federal tax return in 2019.
•You don't need to take any action to renew your ITIN if you are not required to file a federal tax return.
•Understand the new documentation requirements when applying for, or renewing, an ITIN for some of your dependents.
•Ensure you submit an accurate W-7 and valid ID documents.
•Find more information at IRS.gov/ITIN.
•IRS.gov is the official IRS website where you can find answers to your questions and resolve tax issues online.
•Those who earn around $55,000 or less may qualify for free tax help at a VITA or TCE site.
•IRS Free File has free online options for taxpayers to prepare and e-file their tax returns.
•The IRS is looking for volunteers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs to provide free tax preparation services to their neighbors in 2019.
•Use the Let Us Help You page where you can get help answering most tax questions, get a copy of your tax record and make a payment among other services.
•You can also call (844) 545-5640 to make an appointment at one of our Taxpayer Assistance Centers if you need face-to-face help.
•The IRS Services Guide also links you to these and other IRS services.
•Go to the VITA or TCE page to learn more, then click on the VITA/TCE Locator tool beginning in mid-January to find a site near you that can help you prepare and e-file your return for free, if you qualify.
•Go to the IRS Tax Volunteer page to learn more and sign up to become a VITA or TCE tax volunteer.
WASHINGTON --The IRS reminds taxpayers to keep a copy of their past tax returns and supporting documents for at least three years. Certain key information from their prior year return may be required to file in 2019.
This is the fifth in a series of reminders to help taxpayers Get Ready for the upcoming tax filing season. The IRS has recently updated its Get Ready page with steps to take now for the 2019 tax filing season.
Keeping copies of prior year tax returns saves time. Often previous tax information is needed to file a current year tax return or to answer questions from the Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayers claiming certain securities or debt losses should keep their tax returns and documents for at least seven years.
Taxpayers using tax filing software for the first time may need their adjusted gross income (AGI) amount from their prior year's tax return to verify their identity. Learn more at Validating Your Electronically Filed Tax Return. Those who need a copy of their tax return should first check with their software provider or tax preparer. Taxpayers can also obtain a free tax transcript from the IRS, or for a fee, order a copy of their tax return.
A tax transcript can be ordered from the IRS. It summarizes tax return information and includes AGI. Tax transcripts are free and available for the most current tax year after the IRS has processed the tax return. Tax transcripts are available for the past three tax years.
Plan ahead. Delivery times for online and phone orders typically take five to 10 days from the time the IRS receives the request. Taxpayers who order by mail should allow 30 days to receive transcripts and 75 days for tax returns.
There are three ways for taxpayers to order a transcript: