eFileInformation - eFileIncomeTaxReturn.com
Get the New IRS efile Authorization Code PIN:
If you do not know or cannot retrieve your 2008 AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) or PIN, the IRS has a web page where you can get an IRS Efile Authorization Code/PIN that will allow you to efile your tax return on efile.com. Just get this code and you will not need your last year's tax return.
Tax Estimator, Tax Estimate
To help you make important financial and tax planning decisions, we recommend that you estimate, throughout the tax year, the taxes you might owe or your expected refund.
The eFile tax calculator tools are intended to provide you with valuable preliminary information that can assist you in making sound investment or other finance related personal choices.
For example, before you make decisions on how to finance important purchases (e.g., car or home purchases, home mortgage refinancing, student loan applications, etc.), use one of the free tax estimator tools. The tax calculator is based on the IRS 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ federal income tax forms, making it applicable to users of all these forms.
The tax calculator looks like a regular IRS income tax form and lets you enter your actual or estimated income, dependent, deduction, and tax credit information. There is no need to enter sensitive personnel information such as your name or Social Security Number.
You do not need in-depth tax knowledge to use the tax calculator. The tax calculator or tax estimator does not store any information and is not intended to manually file (mail in) or electronically file (efile) your tax return with the Internal Revenue Service.
As soon as you have entered the most important tax information, the tax calculator will provide you with a tax estimate.
Tax Deduction Checklist, Tax Preparation Checklist
Please use this tax preparation checklist and tax deduction checklist to plan and prepare for your online tax return on efile.com. This checklist will assist you to gather all necessary tax records and tax documents so you can prepare and efile you Federal and State Tax Return faster and more accurate.
For more detailed tax planning tips and information visist the eFile Tax Planning Page.
Please print this tax to-do List, look it over, and check off those items you have handy for your tax return.
Need last year's adjusted gross income (AGI)?
General Income
___ W-2 form(s) for Wages, Salaries and Ttips
___ Interest Income Statements: Form 1099-INT & 1099-OID
___ Dividend Income Statements: Form 1099-DIV
___ Sales of Stock, Land, etc.: Form 1099-B
___ Sales of Real Estate: Form 1099-S
___ State Tax Refunds: Form 1099-G
___ Alimony Received or Paid
___ Unemployment Compensation Received
___ Miscellaneous Income: Form 1099-MISC
Retirement Income
___ Retirement Income: Form 1099-R
___ Social Security and Railroad Retirement Income
___ Form SSA-1099
Business Income
___ Business Income and Expenses
___ Rental Income and Expenses
___ Farm Income and Expenses
___ Form K-1 Income from Partnerships, Trusts, and S-Corporations
___ Miles Traveled for Business Purposes
Tax Credits Checklist
___ Child Care Provider Address, I.D. Number and Amounts Paid
___ Adoption Expense Information
___ Foreign Taxes paid
___ First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
Expense and Tax Deduction Checklist
___ Medical Expenses for the Family
___ Medical Insurance Paid
___ Prescription Medicines and Drugs
___ Doctor and Dentist Payments
___ Hospital and Nurse Payments
___ Miles Traveled for Medical Purposes
___ Home Mortgage Interest from Form 1098
___ Home Second Mortgage Interest Paid
___ Real Estate Taxes Paid
___ State Taxes Paid with last years return (if itemized)
___ Personal Property Taxes Paid
___ Cash Contributions to Charities
___ Fair Market Value of Non-cash Contributions to Charities
___ Unreimbursed Expenses Related to Volunteer Work
___ Miles Traveled for Volunteer Purposes
___ Casualty and Theft Losses
___ Amount Paid to Professional Preparer Last Year
___ Unreimbursed Expenses Related to Your Job
___ Union and Professional Dues
___ Investment Expenses
___ Job-hunting Expenses
___ IRA Contributions
___ Student Loan Interest Paid
___ Moving Expenses
___ Last year's Tax Preparation Fee
Tax Estimate Payments Checklist
___ Estimated Payments Made with ES Vouchers
___ Last Years Tax Return Overpayment Applied to This Year
___ Off Highway Fuel Taxes Paid
General Information
___ Social Security Numbers for You and Your Spouse
___ Educational Expenses for You and Your Spouse
___ Dependents Names, Years of Birth, and Social Security Numbers
___ Dependents Post High School Educational Expenses
___ Child Care Expenses for Each Dependent
___ Routing Transmit Number (RTN)(For direct deposit/debit purposes)
___ Bank Account Number (BAN)(For direct deposit/debit purposes)
Unemployment Benefits and Job Loss Tax Effects
Times have been tough this past year. If you have been the victim of outsourcing or downsizing during these turbulent economic times, see the tips below to make sure you receive any benefits due, and that you don’t make any costly tax errors on your return:
Separation Pay and Other Compensation
Health Insurance
Job Hunting Expenses
Retirement Savings
Unemployment Benefits Exclusion for Tax Year 2009
Unemployment compensation is considered taxable income, but thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the first $2,400 of any unemployment compensation you received in 2009 is not taxable. The first $2,400 may be excluded from your income and need not be reported on your 2009 Tax Return.
Separation Pay and Other Compensation
Remember that any severance pay or unemployment compensation you receive is taxable, in addition to any payouts received for accumulated vacation or sick time, so be sure that enough tax is withheld from these payments. Make sure you receive your final W-2 form from your former employer to use for your tax return. Companies are not required to send out W-2s right away, but must provide them to all employees (even former ones) by January 31 of the following year. If you have left the company, this would be the year after you leave.
Health Insurance
Did you know that a federal law, known as COBRA, requires your employer to allow you health coverage under their policy for up to 18 months after you leave your job? (The law doesn't cover firings for gross misconduct.) However, you must pay the full cost of the premium, plus an administrative fee. Check around, because if you are healthy, you might find cheaper premiums than what you would spend on a COBRA policy. If you get a high-deductible policy (at least $1,100 for an individual or $2,200 for a family) you can qualify to set up a health savings account, which lets you make tax-deductible contributions and withdraw the money tax-free for qualified medical expenses.
Job Hunting Expenses
There are many expenses you might be eligible to deduct while you look for a new job. For more information on this, see Job Deductions – New Job or Job Search Related Deductions.
Retirement Savings
Losing your job is tough and you might be tempted to dip into your 401(k) account. Try not to do this if you can. If you cash in your 401(k) you will pay tax on every dime you withdraw (unless you have made after-tax contributions). Even worse, if you're under age 55 in the year you leave your job, you'll also be hit with a 10% tax penalty. Make sure that you don’t jeopardize your retirement savings and compromise your long-term financial health.
There are some better options for you. If you have more than $5,000 in your 401(k) account, you can leave your money with your old employer, where it will continue to grow in the tax shelter. You might be better off transferring your 401(k) balance to an IRA, where you would have almost unlimited investment options. You can request your old employer to send the money to the new tax shelter. If you have the money paid to you, with the idea that you'll deposit it in the new plan, the law requires your old plan sponsor to withhold 20% of your money for the IRS. It's tough to roll over money that's been confiscated by the IRS. You are also able to roll 401(k) money directly into a Roth IRA; but for now, if you want to use the Roth option, you must transfer your money to a regular IRA and then convert that account into a Roth. In either case, you have to pay taxes on the amount shifted to the Roth IRA, but all withdrawals after retirement will be tax-free.
If part of your 401(k) is invested in your old company's stock, be sure to check out the special rules for "net unrealized appreciation" which could save you money.
You qualify for eFile Federal Edition - Free File if:
Your filing status is either: single or married filing jointly.
Your total taxable income is below $100,000.
Your income only comes from: wages, salaries, unemployment, tips, taxable scholarship and fellowship grants, taxable interest of $1,500 or less, or Alaska Permanent Fund dividends.
You do not claim any dependents.
You do not itemize deductions.
You do not claim any additional standard deductions (e.g. property tax or new car tax).
You do not claim tax credits other than the Earned Income Credit and Making Work Pay Credit.
You have not received any Advance Earned Income Credit payments.
If married filing jointly, both you and your spouse are under 65 and not blind.
You do not owe any Household Employment taxes (on wages paid to a household employee).
You are not involved as a debtor in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
eFile Federal Edition - Free File services include:
Simple Federal Tax Income Return (1040EZ).
Enter Multiple W-2s from various jobs.
Selects the right tax forms for you.
Checks for errors during the tax interview and brings up tax audit alerts.
Prepare, efile, and print your tax return.
Fast, free direct bank deposit of tax refund.
Get your tax refund via check in the mail.
You can start your eFile tax return, stop at anytime, and return to finish later. eFile will remember where you left off and the next time you sign in, you can continue from your last stopping point.
Access many help features and get fast online support.
During eFile Federal Edition you can automatically upgrade to the eFile PREMIUM version.
There are no hidden fees.
If you are not sure if you qualify for eFile Free Federal Edition, start your tax return using eFile Federal and make sure you answer all the simple questions. During the eFile tax preparation interview you will get a notice if you do not qualify. At that point you can easily upgrade to eFile Premium.
All Federal Edition online tax services are free except the State Tax Return service, which is available for an additional fee of only $19.95.
eFile Stop n' Go
This eFile feature allows you to start an online tax return for free. At any time you can Stop n' Go: stop and save your information, then go watch a movie or run errands and come back later. After you have signed back in, eFile will remember where you left off and you can continue from there.
source: http://www.irs.gov