Officials urge use of free online tax preparation services

By John Howell
Posted 3/9/17

By JOHN HOWELL Seventy percent of all American taxpayers - 111 million people - qualify to have their tax returns prepared for free under the e-file system but only 3 million take advantage of the online service, Bernard McKay told a room of elected and

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Officials urge use of free online tax preparation services

Posted

Seventy percent of all American taxpayers – 111 million people – qualify to have their tax returns prepared for free under the e-file system but only 3 million take advantage of the online service, Bernard McKay told a room of elected and government officials, plus a number of senior citizens, Monday morning.

McKay, public policy officer of the Intuit company based in Washington, was preaching to the choir at the Pilgrim Senior Center. Intuit is one of 12 companies that have partnered with the Internal Revenue Service to provide secure and totally free tax preparation for people with an income of $64,000 or less.

McKay along with a lineup of speakers including Congressman James Langevin and Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse were in Warwick to promote the free service so Rhode Islanders can save money and get their refunds as quickly as possible. They also said that as much as 25 percent of Rhode Islanders eligible for earned income tax credits are unaware of the benefit thereby leaving $50 million in refunds “on the table.”

McKay directed Rhode Island taxpayers to go the state Division of Taxation website where they can get started by clicking on e-file to compare the programs offered by the 12 companies. Once they select a provider, they are informed they are leaving the government website.

This is frequently where people quit, fearing their personal information will be snatched subjecting them to possible theft of identity and funds. That’s not the case, assured McKay. They won’t be harassed by pop-up ads nor will their information be sold for some commercial purpose, he promised.

“The preparation [of a tax return] is private and between you and the provider,” he said.

McKay explained that is a goal of the program. He said the providers working with the Internal Revenue Service sought to develop a safe and secure system outside of the government so that the government was not both assisting in the preparation and monitoring of returns.

The e-file program had the endorsement of Meg Chavalier of the IRS who said it is “free to almost everyone making less than $64,000. It is very safe to use.”

Mayor Scott Avedisian urged people to use the system and to be sure every dime they are entitled to comes back.

Whitehouse noted that 84,000 Rhode Island families received $200 million in earned income tax credits last year, money that flows back into the state’s economy and “doesn’t get squirreled away in the Cayman Islands.”

“The heart of the matter is that it is helping Rhode Islanders,” said Reed. He said e-filing helps get the process of tax preparation done quickly “and hopefully you get some money back.”

Looking at a larger picture, Langevin said simplifying the tax code would be a great thing, but it’s something he’s been hearing about ever since he’s been in Washington. The purpose of Monday’s press conference was to “get the word out to take advantage of this free service.”

In addition to free e-filing, McKay pointed to VITA or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. The Pilgrim Senior Center is an AARP VITA site where on an appointment basis seven to eight volunteers assist people in preparing their tax return on Thursdays and Fridays. Because of the demand, two Tuesdays have been added to the schedule. To make an appointment, people should call 468-4070.

Comments

2 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • richardcorrente

    Do NOT e-file your tax returns until they are analyzed by a competent tax person FIRST.

    I am a mortgage banker and have analyzed thousands of tax returns in the last 39 years, and I have found deductions that were missed in almost every one of them.

    DO submit your tax returns electronically by the e-file system.

    DO NOT do it, however, until you have another set of eyes looking over it. Even if you're the smartest tax person in the world, someone else WILL SEE something that you won't.

    Happy Spring everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Thursday, March 9, 2017 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Rick Corrente the Non-Taxpayer Mayor is talking about taxes. I wish he would he would speak and address his UNPAID taxes. That would be impressive. Car taxes outstanding, (STILL) property taxes outstanding, utility taxes, outstanding

    Thursday, March 9, 2017 Report this