Keeping in touch with Rep. Pat Ingraham

While the Legislature has been in full swing and is headed to complete its transmittal date this Thursday, February 28th, there is another rather important, though less exciting event going on as well, that of filing income taxes, less of a political event than the Legislature, however just as important. So I thought now would be a good time to share some information that might help you as you begin to file your income taxes.

File Early

If you are expecting a refund, you will receive that refund faster if you file early in the tax season. The earlier you file, the better service the Montana Department of Revenue can provide in getting your tax return processed and your refund issued to you. Also, electing to have your refund direct deposited into your financial account will get your refund into your hands more quickly.

If you have taxes due, you also are encouraged to file early. By filing early, you can still wait to pay any balance due until closer to the tax deadline by using direct debit. To do this, you simply authorize the department to withdraw the amount of tax due from a checking or savings account on a date that you choose (but not later than April 15).

File Electronically

Electronic filing is a simple, secure and convenient way to file your state income tax return. Last tax season, about 60% of Montana taxpayers filed electronically. You can electronically file four popular Montana income tax forms on the Montana Department of Revenue’s website at revenue.mt.gov for free (yes, free!):

2EZ – the short form; 2 – the long form; 2M – the intermediate form; and, the 2EC – the elderly homeowner/renter credit form.

Some taxpayers may qualify to prepare and submit their state and federal taxes online for free, through services such as MontanaFreeFile.org (1-800-666-6899 for questions), a “one-stop” website which provides information on free tax preparation and electronic filing to eligible taxpayers.

If you choose to electronically file the long Form 2 along with your federal tax return and you don’t qualify for free electronic filing, you can use one of the following three options: 1) utilize an authorized E-file tax professional but this involves a cost to you; 2) use an off-the-shelf software program installed on a personal computer with Internet access and this too involves a cost to you; and, 3) use online software on a personal computer with Internet access which can be accomplished by downloading the software to a personal computer or by filing the tax return on a software vendor’s website and either option may involve a cost to you.

Electronic filing results in fewer errors and a faster refund. The typical wait time for your state income tax refund is 5 -10 days for an e-filed return or 6 -10 weeks for a paper return. Combining electronic filing with direct deposit will provide the quickest possible refund. You can reduce the wait for your refund by checking the box on your tax return to indicate that you want a direct electronic deposit into your bank account. Last tax season, more than half of Montana taxpayers who filed electronically also used direct deposit.

If you have a tax obligation, you can even make an electronic payment through their online service called Income Tax Express.

Use Available Resources

Please call the Montana Department of Revenue’s Call Center with your state income tax questions between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This year, you can call them toll-free at 1-866-859-2254 (444-6900 in Helena). If you are calling about an electronically filed tax return, please have your confirmation number at hand.

Or you may use one of the following websites.

The Montana Department of Revenue’s website, www.revenue.mt.gov contains a variety of filing information, including tax season updates, electronic filing options, helpful resources and more.

The Montana Free File website, www.MontanaFreeFile.org provides information on free electronic filing, volunteer tax preparation sites, free Internet locations, and other tax-related topics.

In addition, there are more than 70 volunteer tax preparation sites around the state through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the AARP Tax-Aide Montana program. A comprehensive listing of these volunteer tax preparation sites, and who qualifies for their services, can be found at www.MontanaFreeFile.org . AARP Tax-Aide Montana is a program in partnership with the IRS and AARP and offers free tax preparation to those low and moderate income people, with preference to taxpayers age 60 and older. You can access “Tax Site Locations” at their website at http://www.montanafreefile.org by or calling 1-888-227-7669 to find a location near you and to find who qualifies for these services.

Two such “Tax Site Location” under the AARP Tax-Aide Montana program for Sanders County are the Thompson Falls Senior Center, located at 1191 MT Silcox Road, Thompson Falls, Montana and the Hot Springs Senior Center, 101 Main Street, Hot Springs, Montana. You will need to contact those centers to see when these services will be made available to you. For a Thompson Falls appointment, call 827-3457 and for Hot Springs appointment call 741-2344.

I can be reached during the session by leaving a message for me at (406) 444-4800, by e-mailing me at pathd13@blackfoot.net, or by visiting the legislative branch website at www.leg.mt.gov and clicking the Contact a Legislator link. Instructions are provided for sending me electronic messages. You also may mail your comments to me at Representative Pat Ingraham, Capitol Building, P.O. Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620-0400.