Missourians can not only expect speedy tax returns again this year, but they can expect them to come even sooner than last year.  David Griffith, with the Department of Revenue , says the paperwork is getting done even more efficiently this year.

"The Missouri Department of Revenue really sets the standard in turn around time," says Griffith, "Right now we’re averaging 2.84 days from the time we receive your return until your refund is mailed out."

The most important recent innovation in tax return filing has been electronic filing, which the Department of Revenue encourages; however, there is a new way Missourians can file their taxes using paper while maintaining efficiency. 

"We encourage you to file electronically, absolutely," says Griffith, "There’s also, on our website, an opportunity for you to use what’s called the 2-D barcode form ."

This new type of form includes a barcode that’s not all that dissimilar from the barcodes we see in stores everywhere.  Typical commercial barcodes are what’s called a 1-D barcode, but this 2-D barcode actually contains more information.  This allows the Department of Revenue to avoid entering each filer’s personal information by hand; instead they just scan, substantially speeding up the process.  Griffith says that while the 2-D barcode form is faster than traditional paper filing, electronic filing is still the fastest.  If filed electronically, Missourians can expect their returns sooner than ever.     

"Unless there’s an error on your return, you can expect it in 3 or 4 days after you send it in," says Griffith.