Question 1

Where's My Refund?

Accepted Answer

The IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days.
When to check status of your refund:
 
Within 24 hours after we've received your e-filed tax return; or
4 weeks after mailing your paper return.
You should only call if:
It has been 3 weeks or more since you filed electronically (11 weeks if Form 8379, Injured Spouse was included);
It has been more than 6 weeks since you mailed your paper return (14 weeks if Form 8379, Injured Spouse was included); or
Where’s My Refund? directs you to contact us.
 
Refund Status

Question 2

Get a Tax Transcript?

Accepted Answer

Order a tax transcricpt-
 
Transcript types-
Tax Return Transcript - shows most line items including your adjusted gross income (AGI) from your original tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) as filed, along with any forms and schedules. It doesn’t show changes made after you filed your original return. This transcript is only available for the current tax year and returns processed during the prior three years. A tax return transcript usually meets the needs of lending institutions offering mortgages and student loans. Note: the secondary spouse on a joint return must use Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T to request this transcript type. When using Get Transcript by Mail or phone, the primary taxpayer on the return must make the request.  
 
Tax Account Transcript - shows basic data such as return type, marital status, adjusted gross income, taxable income and all payment types. It also shows changes made after you filed your original return. This transcript is available for the current tax year and up to 10 prior years using Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T. When using Get Transcript by Mail or phone, you’re limited to the current tax year and returns processed during the prior three years. Note: If you made estimated tax payments and/or applied an overpayment from a prior year return, you can request this transcript type a few weeks after the beginning of the calendar year to confirm your payments prior to filing your tax return.
Record of Account Transcript - combines the tax return and tax account transcripts above into one complete transcript. This transcript is available for the current tax year and returns processed during the prior three years using Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T.
 
Wage and Income Transcript - shows data from information returns we receive such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 and Form 5498, IRA Contribution Information. Current tax year information may not be complete until July. This transcript is available for up to 10 prior years using Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T.
 
Verification of Non-filing Letter - provides proof that the IRS has no record of a filed Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ for the year you requested. It doesn't indicate whether you were required to file a return for that year. This letter is available after June 15 for the current tax year or anytime for the prior three tax years using Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T. You must use Form 4506-T if you need a letter for tax years older than the prior three years.
 
Note: A transcript isn’t a photocopy of your return. If you need a copy of your original return, complete and mail Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, along with the applicable fee.

Question 3

IRS Phone Numbers?

Accepted Answer

Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, unless otherwise noted. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii should follow Pacific time. Puerto Rico phone lines are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
 
Individuals
800-829-1040
 
Businesses
800-829-4933
 
TTY/TDD for people with hearing impairments
800-829-4059
Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may use their choice of federal or state relay service (through videophone, AIM, computer, Captioned Telephone (Captel), or TTY) to call any of our other published numbers.
 
Exempt organizations, retirement plan administrators, and government
877-829-5500 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time)
 
Estate and gift
866-699-4083 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time, for Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Returnand Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return only)
 
Excise tax function
866-699-4096 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time)
 
If you live outside the United States
Hours of availability vary by location. Please see our International Servicespage.

Question 4

How Do I Claim EITC?

Accepted Answer

A credit for people who work, have a Social Security number and have an income below specific thresholds. EITC is a refundable tax credit, which means you may get money back even if they have no tax withheld. Requirements vary for those with or without children.

Question 5

What is my filing status?

Accepted Answer

Single. Normally this status is for taxpayers who aren’t married, or who are divorced or legally separated under state law.
Married Filing Jointly. If taxpayers are married, they can file a joint tax return. If a spouse died in 2016, the widowed spouse can often file a joint return for that year.
Married Filing Separately. A married couple can choose to file two separate tax returns. This may benefit them if it results in less tax owed than if they file a joint tax return. Taxpayers may want to prepare their taxes both ways before they choose. They can also use this status if each wants to be responsible only for their own tax.
Head of Household. In most cases, this status applies to a taxpayer who is not married, but there are some special rules. For example, the taxpayer must have paid more than half the cost of keeping up a home for themselves and a qualifying person. Don’t choose this status by mistake. Be sure to check all the rules.
Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Child. This status may apply to a taxpayer if their spouse died during 2014 or 2015 and they have a dependent child. Other conditions also apply.

Question 6

Can I claim more than (2) children?

Accepted Answer

Yes

Question 7

Do I have to file taxes with my Social Security?

Accepted Answer

If taxpayers receive Social Security benefits, they may have to pay federal income tax on part of those benefits. These IRS tips will help taxpayers determine if they need to do so.
 
Form SSA-1099.  If taxpayers received Social Security benefits in 2016, they should receive a Form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, showing the amount of their benefits.
Only Social Security.  If Social Security was a taxpayer’s only income in 2016, their benefits may not be taxable. They also may not need to file a federal income tax return. If they get income from other sources, they may have to pay taxes on some of their benefits.

Question 8

Can a person(s) with no dependants claim earned income credit?

Accepted Answer

You can claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)  if you don’t claim a qualifying child for the EITC. But, you, or your spouse if you file a joint return, must have worked for someone, or run or own a business or farm AND earned less than $20,600 during 2017.
 
EITC has special rules for members of the military, members of the clergy, and taxpayers with certain types of disability income or children with disabilities.

Question 9

Can I claim my baby that was born in December on my taxes?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can as long as the child was born before December 31st and by 11:59 p.m. that child will be a dependant for the entire year.

Question 10

What make you qualify as someone’s dependant.

Accepted Answer

Relationship:
Your son, daughter, adopted child1, stepchild, foster child2 or a descendent of any of them such as your grandchild
Brother, sister, half brother, half sister, step brother, step sister or a descendant of any of them such as a niece or nephew
Age
At the end of the filing year, your child was younger than you (or your spouse if you file a joint return) and younger than 19
At the end of the filing year, your child was younger than you (or your spouse if you file a joint return) younger than 24 and a full-time student
At the end of the filing year, your child was any age and permanently and totally disabled3
 
Residency
Child must live with you (or your spouse if you file a joint return) in the United States4 for more than half of the year
 
Joint Return
The child cannot file a joint return for the tax year unless the child and the child's spouse did not have a separate filing requirement and filed the joint return only to claim a refund.
 
IMPORTANT:  Only one person can claim the same child. If a child qualifies for more than one person and one of the persons is a parent or parents, the non-parent can claim the child only if their AGI is higher than the parent(s). If the child qualifies another relative and the parent AGI rules do not apply, the taxpayers choose. If more than one person claims the same child, IRS applies the tiebreaker rules. Read more about Qualifying Child of More Than One Person here.
 
Adopted Child. An adopted child is always treated as your own child. It also includes a child lawfully placed with you for adoption.
Foster Child.  For EITC, a child is your foster child if the child is placed with you by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction. (An authorized placement agency includes a state or local government agency or an Indian tribal government. It also includes a tax-exempt organization licensed by a state or an Indian tribal government.)
Permanently and totally disabled.  Your child is permanently and totally disabled if both of the following apply: The child cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental condition and a doctor determines the condition has lasted or can be expected to last at least a year or lead to death.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions