Tax Season Is Back

Beat the Tax Return Rush

Tax season is here already with businesses issuing those W–2 forms.

January 20th is the first day to file in North Dakota and there are changes in this year’s filing season.

It’s that time of year when W–2 forms come out and you have to file those taxes. Although Kimberly Hess tries to file early, sometimes it just doesn’t happen.

“Every now and then I have to file an extension,” said Kimberly.

You are encouraged to file as early as you can this year. Budget cuts at the IRS means there will be fewer people to help you, resulting in long wait times.

Secure, fast and an easier way to file tax returns is online. Some would still rather go the old fashion way.

Before Merle Gullekson son started filing his taxes he never used the internet for taxes, “Oh by paper, I’m not very good with that online stuff.”

If you decide to go the paper route, be prepared to wait weeks to get your refund according to H & R Blocks Kathy Reiniger.

“Those paper refunds, they’re going to take a while, they’re so short staffed the IRS,” said Reiniger.

Skipping out on now mandated health insurance will also lead to fees this year.

The Individual Shared Responsibility Payment could be avoided with the proper exemptions including being uninsured for three months or having an income that is too low.

“The penalty is either 95 dollars or one percent of your adjusted gross, whichever is larger and that’s per person in your household,” said Reiniger.

Kimberly agrees that we all have to make sacrifices and we all have to pay.

“I think we should be, if we don’t choose to have health insurance we should be responsible for that,” said Kimberly.

The best advice is to get your taxes done as soon as possible because the April 15th deadline will be here before we know it.

Taxpayers in Minnesota could see more tax credits and deductions. Lawmakers will vote on the package by the end of the week in time to begin filing returns January 20th.