Eligible Missourians who have made less than $57,000 can “free file” taxes online and could be eligible to receive an earned income tax credit.

Missouri IRS spokesman Michael Devine urges those who have not yet filed their taxes to get it done sooner rather than later. With the April 15th tax deadline a little more than two months away, Devine says those who are eligible for income tax credits tend to overlook them.

The earned income tax credit is meant for working families that make less than $50,000 a year.

“This is a credit that can be worth almost $6,000,” he says. “If you’re eligible for it you can claim it, it can reduce your tax debt to zero and you can end up with a refund of anything left over.”

Devine says individuals are also eligible to “free file” their taxes online if they have made less than $57,000 a year. To do that, he says to log on to the IRS website, click on the “free file” tab and pick the company you would like to work with that best fits your tax needs. There will be a list of 15 companies that partner with the IRS to work with. 

“You will then be taken into that company’s software and you’ll be able to do your tax return just like you were paying them to use the software,” he says.

Devine says not only a is it a great way to file your federal returns, but also your state returns and it reduces the chance for mistakes. He says when you e-file, you’ll be able to get a notification back in 24 hours that your return has been accepted.

There is a fee to e-file state income taxes in Missouri, however, it is free to mail them in.

For more information, visit www.irs.gov and click on “free file.”

AUDIO: Mary Farucci reports. (1:00)

The cooler weather is moving into Missouri and many homeowners are thinking of winterizing their homes. The Internal Revenue Service wants people to know there are some big tax savings for those who save energy through their efforts to winterize.

Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides for home energy tax credits for homeowners who go green by investing in alternative energy equipment. The credits amount to 30 percent of the amount spent up to a maximum tax credit of $1,500. [Read more…]

The Internal Revenue Service is looking to hire. And these are not tax time, part-time positions. These are permanent, full-time jobs.

Keli Singleton, IRS National Recruiter in Independence, says there is money available to hire people and the agency is looking for recruits – especially those wanting to be revenue agents. She says anyone wanting one of those jobs will need to possess a degree in accounting and/or a CPA license.

“We’re recruiting, right now, for revenue agents,” said Singleton. “And revenue agents require 30 hours of accounting.”

Work experience is not essential, but is an asset.

“Basic accounting or any type of professional accounting work,” explained Singleton. “But anyone that has just a bachelor’s degree in accounting will qualify for the job – but persons that have actually worked in the field or the industry would be more qualified.”

The IRS has a variety of different positions available in addition to revenue agents. They include administrative clerks, engineers, financial analysts, and economists. Potential hires include recent college graduates, out of work professionals, and professionals looking for new challenges.

Information on available jobs can be found at the IRS Careers site .

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

For most Missourians, the end of the income tax filing season usually means the end of contact with the Internal Revenue Service – at least until next year. But some Missourians are receiving letters from the IRS – or at least from people claiming to be connected to the IRS – asking for personal information. The warning from the Internal Revenue Service is that people should not provide personal information such as Social Security numbers to anyone asking for that information.

Michael Devine, IRS Media Relations Specialist for Missouri & Kansas, points out the IRS already has your Social Security number and other pertinent tax information and will not contact you for that kind of information.

“There are always scams, especially after filing season, having to do with refunds and people trying to trick you into giving away information to get your refund – and this is not how we do business,” said Devine. “If the IRS has a question about your tax return we’re going to send you a letter and that’s the first time you’re going to hear from us.”

And nobody from the IRS will call you on the phone or send an e-mail to obtain information.

“It’s not going to be an e-mail. It’s not going to be a phone call,” said Devine. “We’re going to send you a letter explaining what the question we have is and then give you a number and a name to call so that you know who to contact in the IRS to settle any questions that we might have.”

The bottom line here is that Missourians should not provide information to anyone calling on the phone or requesting information via e-mail – and a letter asking you for information the IRS should already have is probably a scam, too.

“We’ve had reports that a lot of people are receiving official looking e-mails that claim to come from the IRS,” said Devine. “And basically these are crooks trying to steal your personal information.”

Devine says the Internal Revenue Service has identified nearly 1400 unique phishing sites that use the IRS logo or otherwise purport to come from the IRS. You can verify whether a contact is legitimate or report a possible scam by contacting the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

The Internal Revenue Service estimates 39 percent of all individual returns filed in Missouri will be mailed in the old-fashioned way.

Though more returns are filed electronically than in hard copy, mailed returns are still expected to increase over last year, the Postal Service reports, because more Americans are expected to file tax returns this year.

"The most common mistakes Americans make in mailing their forms are not including enough postage and not providing the correct IRS mailing address," the Postal Service says. "After the first ounce – which usually covers about four, letter-sized sheets – mailers need to add 17 cents for each additional ounce."

"Post offices are not extending retail hours on tax day so customers are encouraged to mail early in the day."

Reportedly, 20 percent of all Americans wait until the last week to file their returns.

This is the third year Post Offices are not extending hours, but want to remind everyone to get forms mailed early in the day, says Valerie Hughes, spokeswoman for the Gateway District in St. Louis.

"In today’s world, our customers have many alternatives to mail things," Hughes told the Missourinet. "We have contract postal units, we have the automated postal centers, and of course, tax day comes the same time every year, so Americans can plan for it." 

To find the correct Internal Revenue Service address for your tax forms, visit the IRS.gov Missouri page .

Jessica Machetta interviews Valerie Hughes [Download/listen MP3]

It’s less than a month from the April 15th due date for filing 2008 income tax returns and the Internal Revenue Service is offering some advice to anyone who might need some help filling out those forms.

Michael Devine with the IRS in St. Louis says some low-income earners might be eligible for help from the IRS, itself, but others are responsible for their own tax filing. And, he says a tax professional might be called upon to help out. But he cautions the taxpayer should be careful when choosing a tax preparer.

Devine points out the taxpayer whose signature is on the bottom line is the person who – at the end of the day – is responsible for the accuracy of the return, so it is important to select a preparer with a good reputation.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

The Internal Revenue Service is holding onto more than a billion dollars for Americans who are owed the money from 2005, but who have not filed income tax returns for that year. $21.2 million of that money is owed to 26,000 Missourians. And, time to claim the money is running out.

Michael Devine, media relations specialst for Missouri and Kansas with the IRS in St. Louis, says this is money that was withheld by employers and should be refunded to taxpayers.

There is a three year statute of limitations for filing for IRS refunds – meaning the deadline to file for 2005 is April 15th of this year. Any money not claimed by that date goes back to Uncle Sam.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

The deadline for filing 2008 income tax returns is still more than two months away, but – by now – Missourians should have received most of the documents they are expecting – documents that include W-2s and other employment-related forms and 1099s for intereat and dividends.

Michael Devine, Media Relations Specialist with the Internal Revenue Service in St. Louis, says all those documents should have been sent by January 31st. Devine says if taxpayers are expecting any documents not yet received they should contact the employer to find out where the documents are and ask that the papers be sent. Devine says anyone who has not received needed documents by February 15th should contact the IRS, which might be able to help taxpayers obtain copies of the forms or file without the documents.

Devine adds taxpayers should not file their returns until they have all the required forms. He says this will require the returns to be amended and will slow down any refund that might be forthcoming.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Time is running out for anyone looking for certain 2008 tax deductions.

One of the most popular deductions this time of year comes in the form of charitable contributions. These contributions can be in the form of clothing, cars, real estate, and even cash or check.

Michael Devine with the Internal Revenue Service in St. Louis says it is imperative that people making contributions get receipts for those contributions to prove that donations have been made. Next on the importance list is making sure the contributions are made before midnight December 31st.

Not all 2008 deductions have a December 31st deadline. You will still have until April 15th of 2009 to make an Individual Retirement Account contribution for 2008. For most Missourians the maximum IRA contribution for 2008 is $5,000. But the maximum is higher for those 50 years old and older.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Many Missourians are familiar with the April 15th deadline for filing income tax returns, but another tax deadline is just about here. It’s the October 15th filing deadline for Missourians who requested an extension in filing their documents and/or the money they owe to the Internal Revenue Service .

Michael Devine, Internal Revenue Service Media Relations Specialist for Missouri & Kansas, says if you owe money it is important to pay what you owe as quickly as possible. Interest on money owed has been growing since April 15th, but additional penalties will be assessed if the actual return is not filed by tomorrow.

If you do not have all the documents you need, file anyway and enclose a note to the IRS. If you owe money, pay what you can afford to pay. The IRS will work with you on a payment schedule.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)