Tag Archives: Republican Party United States

Using Turbo Tax For Your Taxes

The Internal Revenue Service says that the tax-filing season starts on January 20, 2015. Taxpayers have the okay to start filing their 2014 taxes via TurboTax on this day. Although Congress passed a last minute tax law that has already been signed by President Barack Obama, this will not delay the start of the tax-filing season.

At the beginning of the month, Congress passed a bill that extends over 50 tax breaks that expired at the beginning of 2014. This law, which was signed into law by the President on December 19, provides extensions for each of these tax breaks until the end of 2014. This gives taxpayers the ability to take advantage of these tax breaks for the 2014 tax season.

Traditionally, the tax-filing season has always been delayed when Congress passed last minute tax laws. But according to John Koskinen, the IRS Commissioner, there will be no delay this tax season.

Using Turbo Tax photo

Photo by DonkeyHotey

The IRS Commissioner says that the agency looked at the latest tax law changes and ascertained that there weren’t any changes that prevented them from performing their normal updates and tests.

Millions of taxpayers like to file their taxes via TurboTax at the beginning of the year so that they can get back early refunds. This happens every year for those who choose to file electronically by using a tax software program such as TurboTax.

The IRS says that in the past few years it gave out most electronic tax refunds within three weeks. The agency states that filing an electronic tax return via TurboTax is the quickest way to obtain a tax refund.

Not too long ago, the IRS Commissioner stated to the press that there may be a delay with taxes 2014 for tax refunds because of internal IRS budget cuts. But he would not give a time frame for the delays associated with taxes 2014.

It is estimated that close to 150 million individual tax returns will be filed by the Internal Revenue Service for taxes in 2014. The average tax refund is normally about $2,800.

H and R Block Surveys Eliminating Tax Fraud Options

Americans might be willing to wait longer for their tax refunds (60% responded) and would like to see stronger requirements for tax preparers to help reduce tax fraud. H&R Block ran a survey of tax payers this year related to tax fraud and ways to reduce it. 70% of those responding to the survey wouldn’t mind answering additional questions on their returns if it would help out. Here’s what they found about Eliminating Tax Fraud.

H&R Block

Eliminating Tax Fraud - H&R Block Business Center
H&R Block Business Center (Photo credit: EVRT Studio)

An H&R Block executive explained that tax preparers do not have any requirements or licensing in 48 or the 50 states. He made comparisons to hair barbers who need to be licensed everywhere. But he doesn’t stand with the courts which decided against making tax professionals get training and pass tests before they could work in the field.

Those against preparer requirements of testing and training think the certification should be optional so that it benefits young tax preparers without placing a new burden on seasoned professionals that are already trusted in the community. The lawyers fighting the IRS in court also argued that certification would benefit the big players in the field that could absorb the costs while putting smaller operators out of business. Return to our site for additional information on Eliminating Tax Fraud.