By Daily Press staff
The Internal Revenue Service is trying to make tax season a little less painful this year.
The IRS has launched the 2006 filing season with a new look to its Web site, improved online tools and enhanced electronic services that will better assist the 15.5 million California taxpayers expected to file returns this year, officials said. “The filing deadline is normally Apr. 15, but because that date falls on a Saturday this year, California taxpayers have until Monday, Apr. 17, to file their returns,” said IRS Los Angeles spokesman Victor Omelczenko.
The IRS expects to process about 135 million individual tax returns nationwide in 2006, and expects continued growth for IRS e-files. IRS e-files will be available beginning later this month.
Taxpayers who use IRS e-file and have their tax returns deposited directly into their bank account can receive their refund in two weeks or less. That’s less than half the time needed for paper returns.
“In California last year, about 8.5 million taxpayers saw the advantages of e-filing, swapping their pencils for their mouse to do their taxes,” said Omelczenko.
Taxpayers can find help 24 hours a day, seven days a week on IRS.gov. New features for the IRS Web site include: ■1040 central — A one-stop online shop for people hunting key forms, looking for what’s new in the tax code and answers to frequently asked questions. ■Free file — The IRS and a consortium of tax software manufacturers will begin the fourth year of the popular service to income-eligible individuals later this month. Free file provides free tax preparation software and free e-filing to individuals who earn approximately $50,000 or less. Each manufacturer offers a proprietary product and sets its eligibility criteria within certain limits. Users must access free file through the Web site to qualify. ■Alternative minimum tax assistant — Every year, taxpayers need to consider whether they will have to pay the alternative minimum tax (AMT). The AMT assistant is intended to provide a simple test for taxpayers who fill out their tax returns without using software to determine whether they may be subject to the AMT. ■EITC assistant — The EITC assistant helps determine an individual’s eligibility for the valuable tax credit and provides an estimate on the amount of the credit. This year, it also will help Hurricane Katrina victims determine which optional income to use. It is available in English and Spanish. ■Hurricane assistance — The IRS has established a toll-free number for hurricane victims, (866) 562-5227. There also are numerous tax law changes for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma; businesses located in the disaster areas; and for individuals donating to charities helping the victims. Also, the agency is preparing publication 4492 that also will detail these changes.
Another change will give late-filers six months to get their return in the mail. Taxpayers who cannot meet the April deadline should file Form 4868, an application for automatic extension. Now, the extension to file will be through Oct. 16 for most taxpayers. Previously, Form 4868 automatically gave taxpayers four months.
Once taxpayers file their tax return, they can track their refund through the online tool “Where’s my refund?” Taxpayers will need some of the exact information from their tax return in order to use the tool.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 11, 2006. Read the original PDF.