Tax Questions and Tax Help Online

Top 7 Most Common efile Tax Questions

1. What if I forgot my password or username?
   • If you do not have your password, go here to reset it: http://www.efile.com/my-password/
   • If you do not have your username, go here to retrieve it: http://www.efile.com/my-username/
   • If you have neither your username nor your password, or if you no longer have access to the email address you used when you created your account, go here to recover your account:
     http://www.efile.com/my-account-recovery/
2. Where do I find my AGI from last year?
   • You can find your prior year AGI by looking at a copy of your old tax return. If you filed a 1040, your AGI is on line 37. If you filed a 1040A, it is on line 21. If you filed a 1040EZ, it is on line 4. If you do not have access to your AGI, you can get a PIN to use instead.
3. How do I get a copy (or a transcript) of an old tax return?
   • If you prepared the return in question on efile.com, you can download a full copy from your account for free. If you did not prepare the return on efile.com, you can order a free transcript online from the IRS. More details on ordering tax return copies and transcripts.
4. How do I know if I have efiled or not?
   • You will receive email messages when you've efiled and when your return is accepted or rejected by the IRS. If you haven't received an email from us and you believe you should have, check to see if our messages have been blocked by a spam filter. If you have efiled, you can always get the latest status of your return by signing in to your efile.com account and clicking "Your Return" at the top of the left menu. If you don't see "Your Return," you have not yet efiled.
5. How do I know if my return was accepted by the IRS?
   • You will receive an email when your tax return has been accepted (or rejected) by the IRS. You can always view the latest status of your return by signing in to your account and clicking "Your Return" at the top of the left menu.
6. Where is my tax refund?
   • If you efile your tax return and choose to get your refund by direct deposit, you will generally receive your refund from the IRS 8-15 days after your return is accepted. If you choose to get your refund by check, it will take longer; the IRS generally mails refund checks about two weeks after your return is accepted. View estimated tax refund dates and learn how to track your refund.
7. What if my return was rejected by the IRS?
   • Don't worry, you can easily correct your return online and then efile it again for free. Sign in to your efile.com account and you will see instructions on how to correct your tax return. More details on how to correct common tax return errors and efile rejections.

Other Common efile Tax Questions

8. How do I correct or change an accepted tax return?
   • If you need to correct or add information to a tax return that has already been accepted by the IRS, you will need to prepare and file an amended tax return. You can prepare one online using efile.com, but the IRS does not accept amended returns electronically, so you will need to print it and mail it to them. More details on tax amendments.
9. How do I get a PIN (Personal Identification number) or how do I enter my PIN correctly?
   • You can get your PIN online from the IRS and use it to efile your tax return. View step-by-step instructions on how to retrieve and correctly enter your PIN.
10. How do I file a tax return for a previous tax year?
    • The IRS does not accept tax returns from previous years electronically, so you will need to download the appropriate tax forms, fill them out (on your computer or by hand), and then mail them to the IRS. Find and download tax forms.
11. How do I efile a state only tax return(s), without a Federal tax return?
    • You can efile only your state tax return(s) on efile.com, but as part of the process of preparing state returns, you must prepare a federal return. This is true even if you have already filed your federal return elsewhere. However, if you only wish to efile state returns on efile.com, you will NOT be charged for preparation of the federal return. More details on how to efile only state returns.
12. How do I efile a tax extension?
    • Yes, you can prepare and efile a tax extension from within your efile.com account. Just remember that an extension gives you more time to file a tax return, but NOT more time to pay any taxes you may owe. Learn about tax extensions.
13. Will I owe penalties for filing late and/or paying late?
    • If you owe taxes, the IRS will charge you penalties and interest for paying late, and even worse penalties for filing late. Read about the penalties for not filing a tax return and for not paying taxes on time.
14. Does the IRS have an installment payment plan?
    • Yes. If you cannot pay your entire tax bill at once, you may qualify to enter into an installment agreement with the IRS. Learn about installment plans and other alternative ways to pay tax.

More Common Tax Questions

15. What if someone else claimed my dependent?
    • If two people claim the same dependent, the IRS will apply tiebreaker rules. In most cases, the custodial parent is the one with the right to claim the dependent.
      If you believe the dependent qualifies as your dependent, it may be best to mail in a paper return to the IRS, since the efile software cannot apply the tiebreaker rules and will reject your return for claiming a previously claimed dependent. You can print your prepared return from your efile.com account and mail it to the IRS. More details on the tiebreaker rules and claiming a dependent.
16. Can I efile if I have a foreign address?
    • You can prepare your tax return online with efile.com, but the IRS only accepts efiled tax returns if you have a U.S. address, so you will need to print and mail it.
17. Where do I mail my W-2 when I efile?
    • When you efile, you do not need to mail your W-2 or any other forms to the IRS. However, you should hold onto the forms for your records.
18. What do I do if my return was efiled on time but was rejected after the deadline?
    • If your return was efiled on time but was rejected after the deadline, it will still be considered to be filed on time by the IRS if you correct your return and efile again within 5 business days (or 10 business days if you wish to print your prepared return and mail it to the IRS). Sign in to your efile.com account to see instructions on how to correct your return.
19. What do I do if I am the victim of identity theft?
    • If you believe you are the victim of identity theft, you should call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 for guidance.
20. Is it free to efile?
    • It is free to efile on efile.com, and if your tax return can be prepared on a Form 1040EZ, your preparation will be free as well. If your tax return requires a Form 1040 or 1040A in order to be properly prepared and claim your maximum refund, there will be a preparation charge--but you will always be charged for the least expensive service that meets your needs. Find out about the efile.com Lowest Price Guarantee.

Can't find what you're looking for? Feel free to contact us with a support request     

                Post Tax Questions Free                       Phone Support         

                Contact Us     

Can't do your taxes yourself? Need a prior year tax return completed? Have a complex tax question? Work together with a tax professional on your tax return online. No office visits, no appointments!