HARRISBURG – The more than 6.1 million Pennsylvania taxpayers who file annual state personal income tax returns may now begin filing electronically for the 2010 tax year.
Taxpayers have until midnight, Monday, April 18, to file income tax returns, according to Revenue Secretary C. Daniel Hassell, who said information about tax filing options is available at www.revenue.state.pa.us.
The traditional April 15 tax filing deadline was extended this year to remain consistent with the Internal Revenue Service’s April 18 deadline.
Last year, 3.7 million taxpayers, or 60 percent of all taxpayers, filed state income tax returns electronically. Electronic filing is the most cost-effective filing method, saving the state about $3.49 per return.
Electronic filing offers advantages to taxpayers not available to those filing by paper, such as error-reducing automatic calculators, instant confirmation of successful filing, faster refund processing and direct deposit options.
The department offers two, free electronic tax-filing options: TeleFile (1-888- 4PAFILE) and pa.direct.file, available online.
If a taxpayer filed a return last year, they may file by phone with TeleFile by simply providing a Social Security number and five-digit ZIP Code.
To file using pa.direct.file, each taxpayer will need to provide a Social Security number and one of the following: 2009 or 2008 tax liability; PA driver’s license or identification number; or a registered e-signature account with the department.
The Fed/State e-file service, available through tax preparers and authorized computer software, allows state and federal tax returns to be filed together or separately.
It’s important to note that due to recent changes in federal tax law, using Fed/State e-file may cause a delay in processing of simultaneously filed state and federal income tax returns until mid- to late-February.
This delay affects filers who, on their federal returns, itemize deductions or claim the higher education tuition and fees deduction or educator expenses deduction. A taxpayer or tax preparer will receive an acknowledgement for each return Pennsylvania receives; until acknowledgement is received from the state, Pennsylvania has not received the efiled return.
The Department of Revenue’s electronic filing systems are secure and protected with the industry standard for online banking and trading, 128-bit secure socket layer encryption.
Through www.revenue.state.pa.us, taxpayers can file returns using pa.direct.file, make payments (including estimated payments), check the status of returns and refunds, update information, pay taxes by credit/debit card, access online customer service, review answers to commonly asked questions and download tax forms.
The three primary state tax forms are the PA-40 Income Tax Booklet, the Fast File Booklet and the payment voucher letter. The limited number of state tax forms mailed by the department should arrive in taxpayers’ mailboxes by early February.
About 111,000 taxpayers will receive the payment voucher to mail with check or money order, if payment is due. About 558,200 taxpayers will receive the Fast File Booklet including electronic filing instructions and the TeleFile worksheet to use when filing by phone. About 220,300 taxpayers will receive the PA-40 Personal Income Tax Booklet including the traditional long form to prepare and file taxes by paper.
The department reminds all taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in 2010 that they are obligated to file Pennsylvania personal income tax returns by April 18.
Tax forms are available online and by calling, toll-free, 1-800-362-2050. Tax help is available by calling 717-787-8201, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Taxpayers with annual incomes of $35,000 or less may also visit a Revenue district office, listed in the blue pages of local phone directories, for basic personal state tax filing help. Help at district offices is available from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For more information, visit here.