The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) opened the 2012 electronic tax return filing season yesterday, encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of e-file – a service it does not charge for.
The agency said the fastest way to get a refund is by e-filing and using direct deposit. Taxpayers can now get their money in as few as 10 days. Last year, more than 79 million refunds were electronically deposited into taxpayers’ accounts, saving them a trip to the bank, the IRS said.
For people who owe taxes, e-file offers payment alternatives such as filing now and scheduling payment on the April tax deadline. Taxpayers who still want to pay by check can do so by e-filing and then mailing a payment voucher.
