How to prepare, e-File a Tax Return?

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Over 63 million self-prepared tax returns were e-filed in 2023 ^*)
Why eFile? Find out!

Taxes are dynamic as tax laws change, income tax rates or brackets adjust by tax year, and the lives of taxpayers change (e.g., marriage and filing status, education, home purchase, or expense). As a taxpayer, you are either going to keep your hard-earned income, or you are going to hand it over to tax agencies. Because of this, tax planning and tax return preparation are important. Filing electronically is available to almost all taxpayers, but there are reasons why you might not be able to e-file your taxes.

You'll Be Fine!

When you complete and e-file your current tax return on eFile.com, the eFile Tax App will select the correct tax return forms for you based on your income and deduction statement or documents. Simply answer a few questions during the tax interview and enter your data to allow the eFile app to select the proper forms. You do not need to verify your face to e-file your taxes or submit a "live selfie" to create a free eFile Account! It's free to start; review our tax services for applicable fees and compare eFile to popular tax filing platforms.

Tax Return Preparation and e-Filing Steps

Important: To avoid IRS processing delays, be sure your information entered is accurate and honest.

Reduce mistakes and increase processing speed by e-filing your taxes and selecting direct deposit for your refund or paying your taxes owed.
Use the correct filing status - see our filing status tool to determine this.
Answer the virtual currency question accurately - this question is required to be answered on all returns.
Report all your income that is taxable - any underreported income may result in tax penalties or interest. Taxable income includes unemployment compensation.
Double check personal information - verify your Social Security number, name, address, date of birth, direct deposit, and other information is accurate for you, your spouse, and your dependents.
Double-check your EIN if you are reporting income via Form W-2.
Download and keep a copy - hang onto your return once it is e-filed and accepted to have for your records in case the IRS requests further information from you.
Request an extension if needed - if you do not have the forms you need to file or cannot file on time, see how to e-file an extension on eFile.com.

Take a look at this Tax Return Preparation Guide to start with. Use the steps below to prepare your taxes. Filing your own taxes is as simple as following the steps below: eFile.com will handle the complicated forms and calculations for you.

Step 1: Have last year's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and a copy of last year's IRS and state income tax return(s) handy.

When you self-prepare and e-file your IRS tax return, you will need to validate your electronically prepared return by entering your previous year's AGI on your current return. If you have it handy now, skip to Step 2, otherwise, read on.

If you e-filed your return on eFile.com last year, sign in, and eFile will provide the relevant AGI when you file your current return. You can find a copy of your return and AGI under My Account in your eFile.com account: sign in here.
- Find your AGI on line 11 of Form 1040 for the specified year
- The line number on your state tax return will depend on the state you filed - only certain states require an AGI to e-file.
If you have a paper or PDF file of your return, regardless of the method of filing, see the same lines listed above. If you don't have a copy of your return(s) and filed via another website, visit that site and download your return. If you can't access your previous year's account or don't have a paper/PDF tax return copy, get an IRS Transcript online or via mail. You can also call 1-800-908-9946.
If you have been issued an Identity Protection (IP) PIN by the IRS via a CP01A, you must have this handy and enter it when eFile.com prompts you. It will serve to verify your identity.
If you are a first-time eFiler on eFile.com over the age of 16, enter zero as your AGI. If you are under the age of 16, you cannot e-file your tax return on eFile.com, but you can prepare and mail it in.

Step 2: Gather the documents, receipts, and statements that apply to this year's return.

See a list of end-of-the-year tax tips and print a detailed tax preparation checklist or use the list of documents, receipts, and other documents below to gather all necessary figures for your tax return.

Tip: Scan and keep your documents as PDFs! You can use a compatible printer/scanner, and there are very easy-to-use mobile phone PDF scan apps. Remember to back up your computer or mobile phone if you take this route! Documents to retrieve include:

W-2 forms
Pay stubs for the year
Home mortgage payment stubs and/or home purchase closing statement
Last year's tax return for quick reference and comparison
Receipts from anything you might claim as an itemized deduction
Receipts from any charitable contributions (e.g., for church tithes, disaster relief donations)
Car mileage log for work-related miles driven
Any receipts for business travel expenses
Canceled checks (especially for IRA contributions and other deductions)
Credit card statements and bank statements to verify any deductions
Medical bills that may be deductible (especially if they exceed 7.5% of your income)
1099-G Form (for deducting state or local income taxes)
1099 forms (self-employment, dividends, unemployment income, or other income paid to you)
Mobile phone bills (especially if you made charitable donations by text message).

Step 3: Estimate and question before you e-file your returns.

Get answers quickly and easily to your personal tax question(s) via these free eFile.com tax tools.
What are taxable income and nontaxable income? Find information on each page, including examples.
How do I save money on taxes? Go over these tax deductions, tax credits, and current tax breaks so you don't miss any of them.
How do I claim a dependent on my tax return? Find out who qualifies as your dependent as well as different benefits for dependents, such as the Child Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, or different education deductions.
If you expect a tax refund and want your refund money fast, we suggest you start entering your tax data on eFile.com, as your tax forms arrive by January 31. This includes W-2 form(s), 1099 income form(s), bank interest statement(s), mortgage interest statement form(s), or investment-related forms. However, only e-file your taxes once you are confident that you have entered all your required forms. Otherwise, if an important form is missing and you overlooked entering the related tax data on your income tax return, you will be required to prepare and file a tax amendment.
Contact an eFile.com Taxpert^® with your personal tax question(s).

Step 4: Paper versus e-filing a tax return?

When you e-file, get your tax refund faster (in as few as seven days with a direct bank deposit). See what your refund date could be with this free DATEucator. With eFile, get instant notification of receipt and check the status of your tax return or tax refund anytime.
eFile will calculate a more accurate tax return (1% error rate compared to 20% with paper tax returns) on our secure submission process while keeping your personal information private.
Get your tax return to the right place; don't worry about which processing center to send it to, and avoid dealing with the frequent address changes that paper filers face. Get away from paper; no more trips to the post office, and it's good for the environment.
Avoid tax penalties; e-file your return or extension by Tax Day, generally on or around April 15, or earlier, to avoid late fees and pay later even if you can't afford it now.
How do you e-file federal and state tax returns? With eFile.com, you can e-file your federal and state returns together. You can also file multiple state returns on the eFile app.

See also: Why should you choose eFile.com as your tax preparation service?

Step 5: Tax return versus tax extension?

Should I file a tax return or tax extension? If you are unable to prepare your return by Tax Day, consider filing an extension, as it may lower your penalties. Filing an extension is not extra time to pay - use it to gather your information and file as soon as possible.
What to do if you can't pay the taxes you owe? If you owe or think you may owe taxes, find ways to pay taxes or look into an IRS Tax Payment Plan.

Step 6: What to do after you e-filed your return.

Check the status of your e-filed IRS and/or state income tax return. See when your refund will be deposited or mailed.
Keep a copy of your accepted tax return(s). Your past returns may be used when preparing current-year returns.

Step 7: The last but not least step.

At the beginning of each new tax year, start collecting tax records, receipts, and documents. Begin recording dates as they occur now so you will be ready for Steps 1 and 2 next year. For example, gather your income-related documents (pay stubs, 1099 forms, social security statements) and deduction-related records (home purchase or sale, home mortgage records, property tax statements, tuition finance payments). You should also record moving dates if they apply to you. You might move across states, which will impact your state tax returns, or you might move to a foreign country and generate income there.

Start Your Return Now

If you must prepare and file for a previous year or back taxes, please visit this page for tax year-specific forms and calculators.

Reasons You Can't e-File Your Taxes

You may be unable to e-file your return. Below, find a list of different reasons that may prevent you from e-filing your tax return:

If you are under 16 and have never filed a federal tax return.
If you have $0 taxable income.
If you are Married, Filing Separately, and live in a community property state (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin).
If your current address is in American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
If you are a U.S. nonresident alien (you are required to file Form 1040-NR, which cannot be e-filed).
If you have more than four states or localities on a single W-2.
If you have more than 8 Schedule C's from self-employment.
If you need to attach a written statement or additional documentation to your return.

Even if you cannot file electronically, you can generally still use eFile.com to prepare your return, but you will need to print and mail your return if any of the reasons above are true.

More Resources on eFile.com

See the history of electronic filing and tax return statistics.
View past revisions of the base IRS income tax form or Form 1040. Then, view the current versions of Tax Forms 1040, 1040-SR or 1040-NR.
Utilize this page of free tax calculators to learn information about your upcoming return before you begin to file or e-file.
Tax planning: Use this free Tax Refund Calculator to estimate the current tax year taxes before you prepare and e-file. Pick any of these calculators by tax year to plan out future tax years.
Find tax savings and learn how to save money on your taxes each year.

^*) IRS e-File Tax Report

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