Senator Boxer: IRS Offers Free Help with Preparing and Filing Taxes

Posted:  26 Feb 13


On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 5:51 PM, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer <barbara.boxer@boxer.enews.senate.gov> wrote: (If you are having trouble viewing this message or would like to share it on a social network, you can view the message online.)

ABOUT THE SENATOR CONSTITUENT SERVICES ISSUES & LEGISLATION PRESS CONTACT - - - - - NEWS FROM BARBARA BOXER, UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA - - - - - February 26, 2013 Dear Friend: Seniors and millions of other taxpayers can now get free assistance preparing and filing their income tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced improvements to the Free File program, which offers free brand-name tax software to people who earned $57,000 or less last year  – 70 percent of all taxpayers.  To learn more about Free File, please click here. The IRS-sponsored Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program offers free tax help to taxpayers who are 60 and older.  And the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program offers free tax help to anyone who earned $51,000 or less in 2012.  To learn more about this free assistance for qualifying taxpayers, click here. Taxpayers also can get free assistance at the 400 IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide.  To find your nearest IRS office, click  here. Finally, please note that the IRS is no longer mailing tax forms to every taxpayer.  However, you can obtain the tax forms you need by calling 1-800-TAX-FORMS (1-800-829-3676) or by clicking here. Sincerely, Barbara Boxer United States Senator To respond to this message, please click here.  This link will take you to a webpage where you can reply to messages that you receive from Senator Boxer’s office. Share on Facebook Visit my Website If you would like to learn more about my work in the U.S. Senate, to visit my website E-MAIL UPDATES Yes, please periodically send me e-mail updates.* Click Here *By subscribing to my e-mail updates, you are authorizing me to send regular e-mail updates from my office to your e-mail account. Tell a Friend E-mail: E-mail: E-mail:

USA.gov -- IRS "Where's My Refund?" Tool

Posted:  18 Feb 13

The IRS is aware that some people are experiencing delays when using the “Where’s My Refund?” Tool to check the status of their tax refund

These tips can make it easier for you to get an accurate update.

From the IRS:

The IRS alerted taxpayers and the tax community it is experiencing high traffic on Where’s My Refund as more tax returns come in. The heavy volume of refund inquiries means that the IRS anticipates both “Where’s My Refund?” on IRS.gov and the refund feature on the IRS2go phone app will have limited availability during busier periods. 

Due to the large number of inquiries and to avoid service disruptions, the IRS strongly urges taxpayers to only check on their refunds once a day. IRS systems are only updated once a day, usually overnight, and the same information is available whether on the internet, IRS2go smartphone app or on IRS toll-free lines. 

While “Where’s My Refund” is updated nightly, your account will not change that frequently.

The IRS is seeing a good start to the filing season, and tax refunds are being issued timely. Nine out of 10 taxpayers typically receive refunds in less than 21 days when they use e-file with direct deposit. 

The IRS expects to see the number of tax returns — and related refund inquiries —steadily increase around the President’s Day holiday week.

Here are some tips to help taxpayers with their refund questions:

• Have the right tax information ready before using any of the IRS refund tools. This includes Social Security number, filing status and refund amount.
• You don’t need to check Where’s My Refund more than once a day as your information will not change.
• To avoid system delays, the best time to check on refunds is evening and weekends.
• There is no need to call the IRS about your refund; the telephone service has the same information that is available on Where’s My Refund.

Learn more about Where’s My Refund and how to check the status of your refund.

USA.gov -- How Does the American Taxpayer Relief Act Affect You?

Posted:  12 Jan 13

On Fri, Jan 11, 2013 at 11:50 AM, USA.gov Team <subscriptions@subscriptions.usa.gov> wrote:

President Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act on January 2, 2013. This new law addresses many of the "fiscal cliff" policies that were debated by Congress at the end of 2012. Learn about the law and how it could affect you. You received this message because you are subscribed to e-mail updates from USA.gov. If you have questions, contact us. STAY CONNECTED TO USA.GOV: Facebook  Twitter  YouTube  Our Blog