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Filing your taxes doesn’t have to be hard. There are plenty of places to get free help. And depending on your income and family situation, filing your taxes may mean you get money back, also known as a tax return.
Working individuals and families may be eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), worth as much as $7,830. But to get that, you have to 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. But if the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline can be bumped to the next business day.
You’ll need your personal information like name and address—and very importantly, you’ll need your social security number. If you’re married, you’ll need the same information for your spouse (if you’re filing your taxes together). You’ll also need this info for your children.
You’ll 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 with this info no later than January 31. 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 these forms for you.
There are also certain things you may have spent money on, called deductions, that you’ll want information about. Deductions can lower 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’re filing taxes for, you may still need to file a tax return. This could result in some money coming back to you. If you’re single and earned less than about $14,600, or you’re married and together you earned less than about $29,200, you’re probably not required to file a tax return—but you may still want to.
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’ll 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 a tax return gets a refund. If you earned money that had taxes taken out (most paychecks take out taxes), then you probably paid enough taxes already and might get some money back. If you earned money but never paid taxes on it, you may need to pay taxes on it when you file.
If you’re due a refund, when you get it depends on when and how you file your tax return. If you send in your return by 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. But timing varies.
There are lots of resources online and in person to get help filing your taxes for free. They’ll 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’re 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 organizations near you that can help you for free.
The amount you can receive depends on how much you paid in taxes, and how many children you are supporting.
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 a chart to see if your income qualifies.
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 full-time college students), be your legal children, and live with you for at least half of the year.