Helpful Tips at Tax Time

No one likes to pay taxes, but as the April tax deadline approaches, it is important for government to operate efficiently for you in this process. So as you work on your tax return, I want to share with you some tips that can help make filing your taxes more painless.

One way to quickly get your return and easily complete your taxes is to file electronically. Electronically submitting your return eliminates the time it takes to mail in forms and is more convenient because it can be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information about filing electronically is available at http://dor.mo.gov/tax/personal/electronic.htm.

The Department of Revenue (DOR) has also found that electronically submitted returns have about 16 percent fewer errors than paper returns. Some common mistakes to watch for include math errors, not signing the return, or forgetting to include W-2s, bank and investment interest statements, copies of required federal documents and various receipts. Check your return carefully before you submit it so you can avoid these common mistakes.

Another tip is to file early. While many choose to procrastinate until they are close to the April 15th deadline, filing as early as possible can actually be a benefit. As tax season goes on, DOR becomes increasingly busy, so a return filed in February is more likely to be processed quickly.

The Legislature has focused on tax relief for citizens in Missouri over the past few years, and there are new tax deductions and exemptions that could benefit you. This includes a tax deduction for completing a home energy audit and implementing energy-saving recommendations. Our ongoing phase-in to exempt public pensions and Social Security is up to 50 percent this year. Details on these and all other 2009 changes can be viewed at the "What's New" section of DOR's website at http://dor.mo.gov/tax/personal/whatsnew/#audit.

If you have questions or need help with your taxes, DOR provides assistance. The tax assistance center in Southeast Missouri has expanded operation hours through April 30. It is located at 3102 Blattner Dr., Suite 102, in Cape Girardeau. You can also call (573) 290-5850 or e-mail capetax@dor.mo.gov for assistance. Military personnel with specific questions about military-related tax issues can e-mail military@dor.mo.gov.

The toll-free, automated phone number to order forms is 1-800-877-6881. The general web address for Missouri tax forms is http://dor.mo.gov/tax/forms/ and individual income tax forms are available at http://dor.mo.gov/tax/personal/individual/forms/. Faxed copies of tax forms can be obtained by calling (573) 751-4800 from a fax machine handset.