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Filing your taxes does not have to be hard. There are plenty of places to get free help. And depending on your income and family situation, filing your taxes could mean a nice return of cash.
Working individuals and families earning about $50,000 per year and less are usually eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) worth as much as $6,500 when you file your taxes!
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Each year, you’re required to file your federal income tax return for the previous calendar year by Tax Day. Usually, the filing deadline is on or around April 15, though if the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday the deadline can be bumped to the next business day.
You will need your personal information like name and address, but very importantly, you will need your social security number. If you are married you will need the same information for your spouse (if you are filing your taxes together) and also for your children.
You will need information about the money you (and anyone else on your tax return) earned in the previous year. Your employer(s) should send you tax forms about what they paid you no later than January 31st. These forms give you the numbers you’ll need to put on your tax return. Some online tax sites may be able to look up those forms for you.
There are also certain things you may have spent money on, called deductions, that you’ll want information about because that can reduce what taxes you owe (or increase the amount you’ll get back). If you own a home, bring the tax forms the mortgage company sent you in January. Child care and health care expenses are also common deductions.
You may need to gather some other documents, but your tax filing website, app, or in-person tax preparer will help you figure that out.
If you want a more complete list of documents and information you may need, H&R Block’s website has a great list.
If you were unemployed for some or all of the year you are filing your taxes for, you may still need to file a tax return, and it could result in some money coming back to you. If you are single and earned less than about $12,000 during the year or married and you both earned less than about $24,000 in the year you are not required to file a tax return.
If you filed for unemployment help during the year and received payments for it, that money counts as income and needs to be reported on your tax return. You will receive a tax form called the 1099-G which will give you the numbers you need for your tax filing.
Don’t forget, if you worked at all during the year, you may be eligible to receive money through the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Not everyone filing their tax return gets a refund. If you earned money that had taxes taken out (most paychecks do this) then you probably paid enough taxes already and might be due some money back. If you earned money but never paid any taxes on it, you may need to pay taxes on it when you file.
If you are due a refund, when you get it depends on when and how you file your tax return. If you send in your return my mail (instead of doing your taxes online and filing your return electronically) you should receive a check from the IRS in about 6-8 weeks. If you file electronically, you should receive your money in 3 weeks or less.
There are lots of resources online and in-person to get help filing your taxes for free. They will help you get the biggest tax refund possible or reduce what you owe. Here are our best ideas about where and how to file your tax return.
If you are really nervous about doing this on your own, your best bet will be to get help in person. There are nonprofits that will help you file for free probably pretty near to where you live or work. Here’s a list of organization near you that can help you for free
To be eligible, you must have earned income from working for someone else or from owning or running a farm or business. Your filing status cannot be married filing separately. You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien all year. And you must meet the income requirements. Here is chart to see if your income qualifies
The amount you can receive depends on how much you paid in taxes, and how many children you are supporting. But a family of four could earn as much as $6,500. Here is a chart to help you figure out how much you could receive
As a tax credit, the EITC is something you may include on your tax return. Here’s info on getting help with filing your tax return
Qualifying children increase the amount of tax credit you may receive. Qualifying children must be under the age of 19 (or be a full-time college student), be your legal child, and live with you for at least half of the year.