As the April 15 deadline for filing this year’s income tax returns nears, the Minnesota Department of Revenue offers tips for taxpayers who still need to file their returns.
“More than 1.7 million Minnesotans have already filed their income tax returns, and hundreds of thousands more will file in the coming days,” said Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly. “These tips will help those who still need to file meet their tax obligations before the April 15 deadline.”
Income tax filing tips:
- E-file and choose direct deposit. Electronically filing your return and choosing direct deposit for your refund is the most secure and convenient way to file your taxes and get your refund. Double-check bank routing and account numbers used on tax forms for direct deposit. Incorrect account numbers will delay your refund.
- File online for free. Over 64% of Minnesota taxpayers may qualify to file their taxes electronically for free. You may be eligible to file electronically for free if your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $66,000 or less. Find out if you’re eligible by searching “free file” on our website.
- Find a list of certified tax software providers. Filing electronically can be done using any of the certified tax software providers listed on our website. See the list and learn more by visiting our website.
- Choose a tax preparer carefully. If you’re using a professional tax preparer to do your taxes, take the time to ask about their training, their history preparing taxes, and their affiliations with various tax professional organizations. Learn more about choosing a preparer by searching “choosing a tax preparer” on our website.
- Check for accuracy. Enter your name, and any dependent’s names, exactly as they appear on Social Security cards, Individual Identification Number (ITIN) cards or letters. Double-check bank routing and account numbers used on tax forms for direct deposit. Incorrect information on tax forms can result in refund delays.
- If you move after filing your return, contact us right away. That way anything sent to you will reach you, such as refund checks or requests for more information. You must do this even when requesting a direct deposit. Call us at 651-296-3781 or 1-800-652-9094 (toll-free) to change your address.
- File your return by April 15, 2019, due date, even if you owe more than you can pay. Pay as much as you can by the due date and contact us as soon as possible to set up a payment agreement for the remaining balance. You can include your banking information on your electronically filed return to make the payment or pay electronically with our e-Services Payment System. You can specify when the payment will be taken from your checking or savings account in advance or on the due date.
For more individual income tax filing tips, check out our Weekly Tax Tip video series.
After you file:
- Track Your Refund. You can track the status of your refund by using our Where’s My Refund? system. This system gives you the ability to track which of the four stages your refund is in and whether you need to take any action to allow us to complete processing your refund. You will see the date your refund was issued when it is finished processing. This online system is available 24-hours a day with no wait time and provides as much information as our phone agents can.
- Do not spend your refund until the money is in your bank account. Returns may take longer to process because of the increase in attempted refund fraud due to scams, stolen personal information, and identity theft. The department will take the time necessary to review returns to make sure taxpayer dollars are not getting into the hands of criminals. Visit our website to learn more about our efforts to protect your information.
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