The US tax return campaign has already started. According to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), citizens will have until April 15, 2025 to file the necessary documents and avoid Social Security penalties. However, the agency states that this process can also be carried out autonomously, avoiding errors and eliminating the need to visit the administration’s offices in person.
In fact, according to the Internal Revenue Service of the United States, there are free tools available to prepare and predict how the tax return for the year in question will turn out, allowing the worker to know in advance what their income was in the tax year and, as a result, determine whether the Tax Agency will take money away or give money back.
Furthermore, as the IRS explains, if this process is completed online, refund delays can be avoided.
Gather the necessary documents
- If you are a full-time employee, your employers should have sent you Form W-2 by January 31st. It shows the salary you earned during the year, as well as the taxes withheld.
- If you are self-employed or work on a contract basis, you may receive a 1099-NEC form with details of what you earned. You may also receive documents showing dividends or interest earned on investments.
- If you are a university student, you will receive form 1098-T which shows how much you paid in tuition, as well as any amount you received in grants or scholarships, to help you calculate deductions and credits related to educational expenses.
- Receipts for charitable donations, medical expenses and business expenses, if you make an itemized statement.
Determining marital status
The IRS explains that your marital status determines your filing requirements, standard deduction, eligibility for certain credits, and correct tax.
You will thus require information regarding your marital status, which is determined by whether or not you are married under US law. If applicable, the year your spouse died is also required. According to the tax agency, the percentage you pay for household expenses influences which option you should choose on your return.
How to file your tax return?
The IRS recommends using tax preparation software to file more accurate and easier returns online.
- If your adjusted gross income is $73,000 or less, you have the option of doing it for free and on your own through Free File, a tool that allows you to prepare and file your federal income tax return online on the website of an IRS partner or using Free File Fillable Forms. The software usually includes step-by-step instructions and help for taxpayers.
- You can use an electronic filing provider authorized by the IRS online filing program, which are qualified to prepare, transmit and process returns online.
- Paper tax return sent by regular mail.
- The IRS offers free tax help to people with low incomes, members of the Armed Forces and their families, people with disabilities, the elderly or taxpayers with limited English proficiency.
Settling debts with the IRS
If you owe money to the IRS, you can pay your taxes online through the IRS website. We accept full or partial payments, as well as installment plans. According to the tax agency, penalties and interest will continue to accrue until you pay the entire balance.
File your tax return by the deadline
The deadline for filing your return this year is April 15. If you live in Maine or Massachusetts, you have until April 17, 2025, due to Patriots’ and Emancipation Days holidays.
