Federal - State Taxes Information

Where is my State Refund?

2014-03-22T06:16:00.001-07:00

Where is my State Refund? Where can I get information of my Refund?

After filing my state tax return last six days, I was wondering from where can I find my refund status. Previously I shared the blog to find out the status of Federal Income Tax Return

It's easy to check the status of your state tax refund using the online refund status tools on each state's Web site. Below are the list of all the states who are providing online tool to check the status. Hope this will help you out.

Some of the link will not land you up on exact web page. Find out "Where's MY Refund?" link on the landed page.

Alabama [ https://myalabamataxes.alabama.gov/_/#2 ]
Alaska --- Hurre, there is no Income Tax.
Arizona [https://www.aztaxes.gov/default.aspx] (click on Where's My Refund? )
Arkansas (click on Where's My Refund under the section titled Inquiry Search)
California
Colorado (click on Where's My Refund under the section titled For Individuals)
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida No income tax
Georgia (click on Where's My Refund? in the section titled For Individuals)
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts (Account registration required)
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada No income tax
New Hampshire Not available.
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota No income tax
Tennessee Not available. Income tax is assessed only on interest and dividends
Texas No income tax
Utah (click on Where's My Refund? under the section titled For Individuals)
Vermont
Virginia
Washington No income tax
West Virginia (click the Where's My Refund? link under the section titled Non-Registered)
Wisconsin
Wyoming No income tax

2013 Income Tax Estimator Calculator

2014-03-22T03:21:00.004-07:00

Below is a Cool Link provided by Tax-Rates.org website to estimate your taxes before you complete your tax return. This will help you out not only Federal but State Taxes.

This income tax estimator provided by the Tax-Rates.org Tax Calculator

Where is my Refund?

2014-03-22T03:11:00.000-07:00

From where can I get status of my Federal Income Tax Return REFUND?

After doing and eFiling Federal tax return, I do have a question where is my refund or when can I get my refund?

I thought this question will be in everybody's mind, once they will finish their tax return and awaiting their refund to come.

Below are the few links from the IRS.Gov website which gives you the status of where is your refund.

Step 1: When to check status...

Within 24 hours after we've received your e-filed tax return
4 weeks after you mail your paper return
"Where's My Refund?" is updated once every 24 hours

Step 2: What you need...

Social Security Number
Filing status
Exact refund amount

Step 3: How...

Get your refund status at Where's My Refund?

Before finding out your refund, how to know when will I get my refund?

How Do I file my Federal Taxes for Free and what do I need to get started?

2014-03-21T12:25:00.003-07:00

How Do I file my Federal Taxes for Free?

You can file your federal taxes free from the IRS.Gov website for Year 2013-2014.

IRS provides an option to choose from the selected vendors based on your income (Free till your income is below $58,000)

Help Me Find Free File Software

[Above link will open up IRS website to show vendors to provide free File ]

There are 14 commercial tax software companies that make their products available for free, only through Free File at IRS.gov.
Each company sets its own eligibility criteria, generally based on income, age, state residency, eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit and military status.
If your adjusted gross income was $58,000 or less, you will find one or more free software options.
Once at the company's website, review their information to ensure it meets your needs. For example, some offer free state tax returns, and some charge a fee.

If you are confused on which software you need to use, then IRS also provide an easy utility to answer your question. Fill out the required information and IRS will suggest which software will be preferable to you. Suggest me which is suitable for me. [ http://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/wizard.jsp ]

What do I need to get started FREE FILE ?

To Start with your Free File, you need to have below things handy with you.

A copy of last year's tax return
Last year's 2013 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or last year's Personal Identification Number to verify your identity. Don’t guess, an incorrect AGI or PIN can cause your return to reject. Get an online Electronic Filing PIN, a five digit PIN from the IRS or call the IRS toll-free line at1-866-704-7388.
Valid Social Security Numbers for yourself and your spouse if applicable
Valid Social Security Numbers for your dependents if applicable
Forms W-2 from all of your employers
Forms 1099-INT showing interest paid to you throughout the year
Form 1099-G showing any refund, credit or offset of state and local taxes
All receipts pertaining to your small business if applicable
Forms 1099-DIV and Forms 1099-R
Income receipts from rental, real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporation, trusts
Unemployment compensation
Social Security benefits
Other income
Valid email address - To get a notification from the Free File software company that your return was accepted by IRS, you need a valid email address

You can find the above details on http://www.irs.gov/uac/What-you-need-to-get-started

To know more about FREE FILE option available on IRS below are the introductory videos provided by IRS.

** All the information are taken from the IRS website. (http://www.irs.gov)

Calculate your California Taxes 2013 : Tax Calculator

2014-03-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

Find your California Tax before filing your tax return using tax calculator provided by Franchise Tax Board.

Tax Calculator to calculate California Income Tax

This calculator is only used when you are filing your taxes with Form 540, 540NR. If you are filing 540EZ, this tool won't help you out.

Franchise board also provided the list of tables to figure out your taxes based upon your income if you are filing 540EZ. Below is the link to get the more detail.

How To: File your California Income Tax Return for year 2013-14 with CalFile

2014-03-21T11:24:00.001-07:00

Know how to use CalFile to file your California Income Tax Return for year 2013-2014. Below is a YouTube link from the franchise board to make you aware about calfile.

http://youtu.be/nlzZ8x5WtME

How to eFile with Free File

2012-01-24T23:10:00.000-08:00

Tax Calculation tool for California State Income Tax Filing

2012-01-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

Calculate your california taxes prior to filing your california tax returns for year 2011. California government website provides the online tool to calculate the taxes to estimate.

Calculate your California Taxes

(https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/taxcalc/calculator.aspx?Submit=2011+Tax+Calculator&Lang=english&redirectURL=OTC)

California Estimated Tax for Individuals Form.

2011-12-05T01:32:00.001-08:00

File your Estimated Tax for Individuals (Fill-in and Save)(Form 540ES) of California tax return for Tax year 2011.

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/search/index.aspx?WT.mc_id=HP_Forms_MoreButton

2010-06-24T12:20:00.000-07:00

Deadline for claiming Home Buyer Credit

For those who wish to claim the first-time homebuyer credit, the deadline for closing, or going to settlement, on a principal residence you purchased is June 30, 2010.

In addition, you must have entered into a binding contract to buy the residence on or before April 30, 2010.

The maximum credit amount available is $8,000 for a “first-time homebuyer” for a buyer who has not owned a primary residence during the three years up to the date of purchase.

There’s also a credit of up to $6,500 for “long-time residents” who buy a new principal residence. To qualify this way, a buyer must have owned and used the same home as a principal or primary residence for at least five consecutive years of the eight-year period ending on the date of purchase of a new home as a primary residence.

The credit is reduced or eliminated for higher-income taxpayers, based on modified adjusted gross income.

For more information on qualifying for and claiming the credit, please refer IRS website on the First-Time Homebuyer Credit.

[All the information are taken from the IRS and topic related other websites]

Earned Income Credit(EIC) Changes for Year 2010

2010-06-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

EIC Limit Changes for Year 2010

Earned Income Credit (EIC) Amout has changed for the year 2010. The changes to the credit for 2009 Earned Income credit(EIC) is explain below. [For more information you can refer out Publication 596 published by IRS.]

The maximum amount of the Earned Income Credit has increased. The most you can get for 2010 is:

$3,050 if you have one qualifying child,
$5,036 if you have two qualifying children,
$5,666 if you have three or more qualifying children, or
$457 if you do not have a qualifying child.

Earned income amount for claiming EIC is also increased. The maximum amount of income you can earn and still get the credit has increased for 2010.

You may be able to take the credit if:

You have three or more qualifying children and you earn less than $43,352 ($48,362 if married filing jointly),
You have two qualifying children and you earn less than $40,363 ($45,373 is married filing jointly),
You have one qualifying child and you earn less then $35,535 ($40,545 if married filing jointly), or
You do not have a qualifying child and you earn less then $13,460 ($18,470 if married filing jointly).

Investment income amount. The maximum amount of investment income you can have and still get the credit is still $3,100 for 2010.

Advance payment of the credit. If you get the advance payments of the credit from your employer with your pay, the total advance payments you get during 2010 can be as much as $1,830.

[All the information are taken from the http://www.IRS.gov. You can refer the IRS government website for the EIC changes to know more about the EIC Limits and its related Information.]

How to file IRS 1099 Form - Video Guide

2010-06-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

While visiting varios websites I found the below link which can be very useful for filing 1099 Forms.

[All the information are taken from the IRS and other tax related websites.]

File your taxes before 15th April

2010-04-15T01:51:00.000-07:00

File your taxes upto 15th April. 15Th april is the last day to file your federal as well as state tax return. Visit http://www.irs.gov for more information.

Below is the various Promotinal Offer.

File Federal State Individual Taxes before April 15

2010-03-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

Have you filed your tax return? April 15 is fast approaching.

April 15 is the last day to file an individual income tax return to IRS for both federal and state tax return. You can either print your tax return and submit it to IRS or E-File your tax return online before April 15 to save late return penalties.

There are many options to file your federal and state taxes quick and free including various software offers and listed companies on FFA page.

To file your Federal tax return free, you can choose the IRS free file program to choose the best company that suits you and your situation.

More information regarding Federal tax software and FFA options are describe in the earlier Post. (http://fstax.blogspot.com/2010/01/prepare-print-e-file-your-federal-taxes.html)

If you are not sure, that you are able to file your taxes before that, you can also file an extension (Form 4868) to the IRS to informing about the delay of your tax return. In that case you are not liable for penalty. Most of the software are also supporting the e-file of extension.

Also if you owe money then you have to pay your owe money with this form either by cheques or by direct debit. If you are e-filing then you have a option of direct debit else if you are sending this form as a paper file you need to attach a cheques along with the form. You can find more information about extension filing on http://www.irs.gov

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Calculator for Individuals

2010-03-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Calculator for Individuals

Altername Minimum Tax(AMT) calculator
(http://apps.irs.gov/app/amt2009/index.jsp?ck)

Before going how to use this application given by IRS, below is some details on what is Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)?

The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is a parallel tax system with having its own regular tax, tax income and its related deductions. To figure out whether you owe any additional tax under the Alternative Minimum Tax system, you need to fill out Form 6251.

If the tax calculated on Form 6251 is higher than that calculated on your regular tax return, you have to pay the difference as AMT.

The Altername Minimum Tax Calculator provided by IRS government is intended to provide a simple test who fill out tax returns without using software to determine whether we may be subject to the AMT.

Below is the link from IRS to check the tax liabilities for your AMT called as AMT Assistant.

Altername Minimum Tax(AMT) calculator
http://apps.irs.gov/app/amt2009/index.jsp?ck

Answer a few simple questions about entries on draft 1040 and the system will show the results and will tell you that either you do not owe the AMT or that you must go further and complete Form 6251 to find out if you owe the AMT.

All the information are extracted from IRS website. (http://www.irs.gov) and information regarding AMT is taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_Minimum_Tax

Credit for Child Adoption Costs-Code 197 for California State Taxes

2010-03-11T11:19:00.000-08:00

Credit for Child Adoption Costs — Code 197

If you have adopted a child, you can claim a credit upto 50% of the adoption cost. You can claim this credit on your California State tax return (Form 540, Form 540 NR(long or short)) with credit code 197.

Your allowable credit is $2500 per childern and you can carry over the excess credit to future years.

There are certain rules to claim this credit on your california return and they are as below.

For the year in which an adoption decree or an order of adoption is entered (e.g., adoption is final), claim a credit for 50% of the cost of adopting a child who was both:

A citizen or legal resident of the United States.
In the custody of a California public agency or a California political subdivision.

Treat a prior unsuccessful attempt to adopt a child (even when the costs were incurred in a prior year) and a later successful adoption of a different child as one effort when computing the cost of adopting the child.

Include the following costs if directly related to the adoption process:

Fees for Department of Social Services or a licensed adoption agency.
Medical expenses not reimbursed by insurance.
Travel expenses for the adoptive family.

Note:

This credit does not apply when a child is adopted from another country or another state, or was not in the custody of a California public agency or a California political subdivision.
Any deduction for the expenses used to claim this credit must be reduced by the amount of the child adoption costs credit claimed.

Use same calculation shown bleow for each adoption. The maximum credit is limited to $2,500 per minor child.

1. Enter qualifying costs for the child . . . . . . . . . 1 _______

2. Credit percentage — 50% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 _______x .50

3. Credit amount. Multiply line 1 by line 2.

Do not enter more than $2,500 . . . . . . . . . . . 3 _______

Your allowable credit is limited to $2,500 for 2009. Carry over the excess credit to future years until the credit is used.

All the information are taken from California Government Website(http://ftb.ca.gov/). Please refer the instruction before claiming this credit on your state tax return.

New York Income Tax Refund Status for Tax Year 2009

2010-03-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

Where to find out New York Income Tax Refund Status for Tax Year 2009?

Find the below link from the New York state government website to check out the refund status.

New York State Tax Refund Status

(https://www8.nystax.gov/PRIS/prisHome)

On the webpage, Enter the below information to get the status of your refund.
- Enter your social security number;
- Select the form you filed; and
- Enter the exact whole-dollar amount of the refund that you claimed.

If you have file your NewYork state tax return and accepted by state government, then this is right tool to locate your state tax refund.

All content and links are taken from the New York Government Website. For more information you can visit on https://www8.nystax.gov/PRIS/prisHome

Calculate your California taxes using California State Tax Calculator 2009

2010-03-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Very Simple but powerful tool to estimate the status of your state tax return (refund or due) is a state tax calculator.

Below is the link of California state tax calculator provided by FTB on california government website.

2009 California State Tax Calculator

Choose the filing status and provide the gross income to calculate your state taxes. You can estimate your refund as per your taxes that you paid on your income.

You can file your california state taxes free of cost using government e-file options. You can read more on http://fstax.blogspot.com/2010/01/file-your-simple-california-state-tax.html

How to eFile with Free File service provided by IRS?

2010-03-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

IRS Commercials on FREEFile options.

You can file your Free Federal Taxes with IRS using FreeEfile options. If you have your gross income $57000 or less, you can file with any of the 20 companies totally FREE.

You can find out more information regarding this program on http://fstax.blogspot.com/2010/01/prepare-print-e-file-your-federal-taxes.html

Below is one of the demo publish by IRS.

What is Nonrefundable Renter's Credit and how do I qualify for it?

2010-02-28T10:42:00.000-08:00

California support personal income tax credit such as Non Refundable Renter's credit. If you paid rent for more than six months on your principal residence and meet the criteria listed below than you are liable to claim Renter's credit( $60 to $120) as per your filing status.

The Nonrefundable Renter's Credit is a personal income tax credit that can only be used to offset your tax liability; therefore, you must have a tax liability to claim the credit.

You can report this credit directly on all main form [Form 540/Form 5402EZ/Form 540NR].

You qualify for the Nonrefundable Renter's Credit if you meet all of the following:

You were a resident of California in 2009.
Your California adjusted gross income (AGI) is $34,412 or less if your filing status is single or married/registered domestic partner filing a separate return; or $68,824 or less if you are married/registered domestic partner filing jointly, head of household, or qualified widow(er).
You paid rent for at least half of 2009 for property in California that was your principal residence.
You did not live with another person for more than half the year (such as a parent) who claimed you as a dependent in 2009.
You are not a minor living with and under the care of a parent, foster parent, or legal guardian.
You rented property for more than half the year that was not exempt from California property tax in 2009.
If you are married, neither you nor your spouse/registered domestic partner was granted a homeowner's property tax exemption during 2009. (You can still qualify for the credit, even though your spouse/registered domestic partner claimed a homeowner's exemption, as long as each of you maintained a separate residence for the entire year in 2009).

If you meet the requirements above the credit is:

Single, $60
Head of Household or widow(er), $120
Married/registered domestic partner filing separately, $120
Married/registered domestic partner filing jointly, $120

All information is taken from California Government website. [http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/faq/ivr/203.shtml]

File Free IDAHO individual income taxes Online

2010-02-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

Free Federal and State electronic filing for IDAHO State

While searching for online IDAHO state tax return preparation, find the link where software companies who are providing free services to file both FEDERAL and STATE taxes.

The state of Idaho has partnered with software developers and the IRS to provide selected groups of taxpayers with free electronic filing.

Below are the list of software developer who are providing Federal and State taxes both FREE (if you qualify). If you do not qualify, they will charge depending upon their offers. You can find out more information on Idaho state government website for the same.

Intuit

Intuit offers free tax preparation and e-filing of both federal and state tax returns with TurboTax Freedom EditionSM if in tax year 2009 you met at least one of the following requirements:

If you qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC),
If you earned $31,000 or less in adjusted gross income (AGI)
If you served active military duty,including reservists and National Guard members with a military W-2, and your AGI was $57,000 or less.

OnLine Taxes

OnLine Taxes offers free e-filing of both federal and state tax returns for all Idaho taxpayers age 20 or under.

Tax Hawk

TaxHawk offers free e-filing of your federal and state tax return with the following requirements:

Federal tax return : No Restrictions
State tax return : if you earned $20,000 or less in adjusted gross income (AGI).

TaxSlayer

TaxSlayer offers free e-filing of both state and federal tax returns. Taxpayers are eligible for free filing if their federal adjusted gross income (AGI) was less than $57,000 and they met any of the following requirements:

Aged 25 or younger or 65 or older.
Had a federal AGI of $10,000 or less regardless of age.
Qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC).
Served active duty military including reservists, National Guard, and Coast Guard members.

All above contents are taken from IDAHO government website. You can find the same offers on the related companies website.

[Neither this website nor the Idaho Tax Commission does not endorse the following companies, products, or services. The companies listed on this page offer different levels of service, so you may want to look carefully at each provider to see which free filing offers you qualify for.]

File Your Louisiana State Taxes Free

2010-02-17T08:06:00.000-08:00

Louisiana government provides free E-File services online.

While finding out the resources to file Louisiana Taxes find out the important information regarding online services provided by State government itself.

Below is the link to start your Louisiana state taxes with Louisiana Government website.

File LouiSiana State Taxes

https://esweb.revenue.louisiana.gov/IndividualIncomeTax/Register.aspx

As per government website, requirenments to file Online taxes are simple and they are as below.

1. You must have filed an individual income tax return with the state of Louisiana for the 2004 tax year or later.
2. You must have to create an account to file your online LA Taxes. (Which you can create from above given link while preparing your state taxes.)

All information is taken from the link https://esweb.revenue.louisiana.gov/IndividualIncomeTax/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fIndividualIncomeTax%2fdefault.aspx

Where is my Pennsylvania Refund?

2010-02-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

Where to find out the status of Pennsylvania State tax Refund?

Find the below link from the Pennsylvania state government website to check out the refund status of your Pennsylvania State tax return.

Pennsylvania State Tax Refund Status

(https://www.doreservices.state.pa.us/pitservices/wheresmyrefund.aspx)

You can find the more information regarding Prior Year Tax Refund status through online customer service center.( http://www.doreservices.state.pa.us/Individual/RefundDefault.htm )

If you have file your Pennsylvania state tax return and accepted by state government, then this is right tool to locate your state tax refund.

Enter you Social Security Number and the refund amount in the given box and it will show you the status of your tax refund.

Calculate Virginia State taxes using Virginia state tax calculator

2010-02-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

Surfing around, found another simple tool, which makes our tax estimates more clear. A Virgina State Tax Calculator. Its Simple and common facility that now a days that every website or tax software company is providing but they are inside of the program.

By using this virgina state website link provided by Virgina Deparment of Tax, you can find out on which tax brackets you are following.

Below is the link to calculate the Virginia taxes by Virginia Government.

Virginia State Tax Calculator

( http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=TaxCalculator )

Just Provide Tax Income on given option and calculate on “Find my tax rate” button. It will show a tax amount on the given box.

This is very simple functionality and gives an idea about the Tax return. If you have some addition and subtraction regarding your state taxes, you are able to figure out you will get refund or owe money.

If you are filing your tax return online or by your own or using any software this tool helps you decide whether you created the right tax return or not.

Please comment if you have any suggestions regarding this article.

New Home Buyer Credit for California State (publication 3528)

2010-02-06T07:11:00.000-08:00

New Home Buyer Credit

Same way as Federal (Form 5805), California government do support New Home Buyer Credit in current tax year.

If you receive a Certificate of Allocation from the California Franchise Tax board, then you are eligible for claiming new home buyer credit.

This credit is a non-refundable credit. And will reduce your tax amount

If you can qualify for this credit, you can claim this credit on your Form 540 or Form 540NR. You can use code "219" for new home buyer credit in the given credit code to claim this credit. [As most of the Tax software company will put automatically if you qualify.]

Government Instructions are saying as below for Home Credit.

Home Credit – For taxable years beginning on or after March 1, 2009, and before March 1, 2010, a home credit against net tax will be allowed for the purchase of a never been occupied home in an amount equal to
the lesser of five percent of the purchase price of a qualified principal residence or ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

So, The lesser of 5% of the purchase price of a qualified principal residence or $10,000. The credit is taken equally over three years.

[For more information see California FTB publication 3528]