Most Iowans aren’t usually eager to attack the task of doing their taxes, but as of yesterday (Tuesday), the Internal Revenue Service was accepting electronically filed returns for the first time in the new year. People who are due a large refund are usually the first to zap in their returns and I-R-S spokesman Christopher Miller says e-filing is growing in popularity. “In fact, in Iowa, well over three-quarters of people last year e-filed their returns,” Miller says. “That leads the country and we expect that kind of a trend to continue.” Many Iowans may make a trip to the office supply store to buy that big box of tax preparation software but he says they really don’t need to do that.

Miller says, “You can go to IRS.gov and electronically file your return for free using the same type of tax software that these providers are using and letting 70% of the people across the country use through this system called Free File.” If filling out the federal tax forms is something you’d rather avoid as long as possible, you’ll have longer to procrastinate this year.

“April 15th falls on a weekend, a Sunday,” Miller says. “The following day, Monday, might be a good day to do it but it’s Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia and that particular holiday has the same impact as federal holidays on tax days.” Miller says federal tax deadline day won’t arrive until April 17th, which is two days later than usual. For answers to your other taxing questions, visit IRS.gov. 

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)