One of the most frequently asked question by taxpayers is how do I check on my income tax refund. If you already filed your federal tax return and are due a refund, you have several options to check on your refund.

Here are eight things the IRS wants you to know about checking the status of your refund:

1. Online Access to Refund Information Where’s My Refund? or ¿Dónde está mi reembolso? are interactive tools on http://www.irs.gov and are the fastest, easiest way to get information about your federal income tax refund. Whether you split your refund among several accounts, opted for direct deposit into one account, used part of your refund to buy U.S. Savings Bonds or asked the IRS to mail you a check, Where’s My Refund? and ¿Dónde está mi reembolso? give you online access to your refund information, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s quick, easy and secure.
2. When to Check Refund Status If you e-file, you can get refund information 72 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of your return. If you file a paper return, refund information will generally be available three to four weeks after mailing your return.
3. What You Need to Check Refund Status When checking the status of your refund, have your federal tax return handy. To get your personalized refund information you must enter:
   • Your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
   • Your filing status which will be Single, Married Filing Joint Return, Married.
     Filing Separate Return, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er).
   • Exact whole dollar refund amount shown on your tax return.
4. What the Online Tool Will Tell You Once you enter your personal information, you could get several responses, including:
   • Acknowledgement that your return was received and is in processing.
   • The mailing date or direct deposit date of your refund.
   • Notice that the IRS could not deliver your refund due to an incorrect address. In this instance, you may be able to change or correct your address online using Where’s My Refund?
5. Customized Information Where’s My Refund? also includes links to customized information based on your specific situation. The links guide you through the steps to resolve any issues affecting your refund. For example, if you do not get the refund within 28 days from the original IRS mailing date shown on Where’s My Refund?, you may be able to start a refund trace.
6. Visually Impaired Taxpayers Where’s My Refund? is also accessible to visually impaired taxpayers who use the Job Access with Speech screen reader used with a Braille display and is compatible with different JAWS modes.
7. Toll-free Number If you do not have internet access, you can check the status of your refund in English or Spanish by calling the IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829-1954 or the IRS TeleTax System at 800-829-4477. When calling, you must provide your or your spouse’s Social Security number, filing status and the exact whole dollar refund amount shown on your return.
8. IRS2Go This is the IRS’ first smartphone application that lets taxpayers check on the status of their tax refund. Apple users can download the free IRS2Go application by visiting the Apple App Store. Android users can visit the Android Marketplace to download the free IRS2Go app.

Using the IRS online tool is how you check on your income tax return. To access the tool, visit the IRS website and click on “Check on Your Refund” under Online Services.

source: irs.gov

Many taxpayers aren’t aware that the Internal Revenue Service provides free income preparation for elderly and low-to-moderate income taxpayers. This free tax help is available through the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance program (VTA).

The Volunteer Tax Assistance program is an IRS sponsored, community-based volunteer program available nationwide. The tax assistance program is an IRS partnership with non-profit and community organizations who provide the free tax help and perform the free tax preparation.

To qualify for the free IRS tax help, taxpayers must specific criteria. Here are the top 10 things the IRS wants you to know about these volunteer programs.

1. The IRS sponsors both the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.
2. The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program offers free tax help to people who earn less than $49,000. Most locations offer free electronic filing.
3. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program offers free tax help to taxpayers who are 60 and older.
4. The IRS trains community volunteers so they can help eligible taxpayers with several special credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the Credit for the Elderly.
5. Many volunteer sites have language specialists to assist people with limited English skills.
6. More than 12,000 free tax preparation sites are open nationwide this year as the IRS continues to expand its partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations performing these vital tax preparation services.
7. As part of the TCE program, AARP offers the Tax-Aide free tax preparation program at over 6,000 sites nationwide during the filing season. Trained and certified AARP Tax-Aide volunteers provide assistance to taxpayers with low-to-moderate income, with special attention paid to those 60 and older.
8. The military also partners with the IRS to provide free tax assistance to military personnel and their families. The Armed Forces Tax Council consists of the tax program coordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Volunteers are trained and equipped to address military-specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits.
9. Locations and hours of operation are often available through city information hotlines and local community organizations.
10. Local VITA site information is also available at http://www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS toll-free number 1-800-906-9887. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, call 1-888-227-7669 (888-AARPNOW) or visit www aarp.org.

Elderly and low-to-moderate income taxpayers should take advantage of the free tax preparation and tax help available through the IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program.

source: irs.gov

If you’re like most Americans, filing your income tax can be a daunting task. Just being able to complete the income tax form correctly can be considered a victory. But before filing your income tax return, there are a few good tax tips regarding the tax breaks that were renewed and can be claimed on 2010 returns.

• State and local general sales tax deduction, primarily benefiting people living in areas without state and local income taxes. Claim on Schedule A, Line 5.
• Higher education tuition and fees deduction benefiting parents and students. Claim on Form 8917.
• Educator expense deduction for kindergarten through grade 12 educators with out-of-pocket classroom expenses of up to $250, Claim on Form 1040, Line 23 or Form 1040A Line 16.
• District of Columbia first-time homebuyer credit. Claim on Form 8859

For further information about these changes and for other tips on taxes, visit the IRS website.

source: irs.gov