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How to E-File 2014 Taxes in 2017

There is a time and place for everything…including your 2014 tax return.

The 2015 tax season was that time and place. Although you’re a little late, you can still file your 2014 taxes. You just won’t be able to electronically file (e-file) it.

IRS e-file dates and deadlines

Each December, the IRS comes out with the e-file start dates and deadlines for that year’s upcoming tax season. For 2014 returns, those dates fell between January and October of 2015. The IRS promptly closes their e-filing system after that.

Can I still submit my 2014 taxes to the IRS?

Yes! You can and you should. You’ll need to sign and mail your tax return to the IRS instead of just submitting it online like you may be used to. The preparation process that you typically follow can remain the same. Not sure where to prepare your return? We can help you with that on RapidTax! It’s quick and easy; even for late tax returns. All you need to do is create an account with a unique username and password. Then begin entering your tax information into our user-friendly application. It’s even free to try with several pricing packages to fit your tax situation once you enter all of your information.

Can I still claim a 2014 tax refund?

That’s a yes! The IRS has a Statute of Limitations in place that allows taxpayers three years from the original due date to claim a refund. That means you can claim your 2014 IRS refund until April 2018.  Keep in mind that it will take a bit longer than usual to receive that refund in the mail since it is a prior year return now. It can take the IRS about 6 weeks to process an accurately completed late tax return.

What penalties am I facing for a 2014 tax due amount?

There are currently two penalties when it comes to late filing a tax return with the IRS. Continue reading “How to E-File 2014 Taxes in 2017”

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What Do I Need Before Tax Season 2017 Begins?

Ditch the stress! Preparation is key this tax season.

Tax Season 2017 is around the corner. There are important things to know along with forms and information to have before you sit down to file your 2016 tax return.

The most important thing to remember before filing your 2016 taxes is to have all your ducks in a row. For example, if you’re itemizing your deductions, you don’t want to wait until the last minute to scramble together your receipts from the year.

How to prepare:

Know the start dates and deadlines:

  • January 1st is the first day that RapidTax with begin preparing 2016 tax returns.
  • January 23rd is the e-file start date.
  • April 18th is tax day.

Get organized: Make a list of everything you believe is tax related in your life. Start out with big things like college loans, mortgages, etc. then move to the smaller details like organizing daycare receipts, health expenses.

Know changes in personal details: Did you retire this year? Did you change jobs this year? Purchased a house? Maybe you got married or divorced? These are all personal details you will need to include on your tax return.

Know updated tax laws: Updated tax laws will indicate if you fit in certain brackets for paying more (or less) in taxes. Feel free to always check back here for the up-to-date IRS news.

Know your state’s tax regulations: Many people forget to focus on the state return. Specific states have specific tax incentives.
For example, in Georgia, if your child goes to private school and you donate to a scholarship fund, you may receive a $2000 tax credit on state taxes.

Donate: Charitable donations will help you save on your taxes if you itemize your return. If you have donated thousands of dollars of clothing to Goodwill, this will definitely benefit you. Continue reading “What Do I Need Before Tax Season 2017 Begins?”

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2015 IRS Late Tax Penalties

Failure to file or failure to pay; is there a lesser of two evils?

There are two IRS tax penalties that you put yourself in jeopardy of paying when you don’t file your tax return on time.

  1. Failure-to-File Tax Penalty. This applies to you if you did not file your tax return by the tax filing deadline and owed tax to the IRS.
  2. Failure-to-Pay Tax Penalty. This applies to you if you filed your tax return but did not pay your entire tax liability due by the tax filing deadline.

If you are expecting a refund, you will never be held liable for a penalty fee.

How do I calculate my failure-to-file tax penalty?

The late filing penalty is 5% of the additional taxes owed amount for every month or fraction of a month that your return is late. This is capped at 25%. Let’s take a look at an example.

Let’s say you owe the IRS $950. One September morning, you wake up and it hits you. You forgot to file your 2015 tax return! You can assume that you will owe the IRS an additional $240. Here’s the math:

$950 tax liability x 5% = $47.50 per month late Continue reading “2015 IRS Late Tax Penalties”