Tax Return Step by Step Guide
This is a high level step by step guide on how to prepare to prepare and e-File your 2020 Federal IRS and/or State Income Tax Return(s).
Use this tax return preparation checklist to plan and prepare for your online tax returns on eFile.com.
It will not only assist you in gathering all the important tax records and documents you need to prepare and e-file your federal and state tax returns, but also assure a more accurate and faster process to prepare and eFile your taxes.
Tax Tip: If you expect to owe taxes on your 2020 Tax Return, do eFile your return or tax extension on time as the late filing penalties are higher than the late payment penalties. Most taxpayers are not aware of this, so file and pay as little or as much as you can on taxes. You can claim your 2021 Tax Refund until April 15, 2024 by filing a return. After that day, your refund will expire.
How to Prepare for 2020 Taxes
The 2020 Tax Season is underway. It is important to gather any documents you may need as they become available as well, as your 2019 adjusted gross income, or AGI. In this table, find various tax buzzwords you may come across accompanied by information for that topic and action(s) to take.
Collect necessary records, forms, and receipts throughout the tax year based on your income and expenses.
Have your
2019 Tax Return handy; collect
W-2,
1099, 1098-T, etc.
IT = Income Taxes. Most income and deduction forms will arrive in your mail box and/or electronically by January 31, 2021 for Tax Year 2020. Don't e-file earlier unless you are 100% certain you got all your forms.
See the preparation checklist before you e-file and view
tax return forms you can e-file or not.
Don't wait until the end of the tax year to assess your taxes. Plan in July and before the end of the year, December 31.
Assess your tax withholdings throughout the year and factor in all your income (W-2, 1099, etc.).
Consider retirement plan options and contributions as it's never too early for that. Keep track of your income if you collect any form of retirement income.
Find out if you actually have to file an income tax return. There are many reasons you may want to, even if you don't have a substantial amount of taxable income.
Use the
free FILEuctor tool to quickly determine if you should file a tax return.
Should you file yourself or as someone's dependent on your tax return? Find out who to claim as your dependent and how to claim them.
Are you a single parent or student with a child or dependent? You may be able to file as a specific filing status with the IRS and receive different benefits.
Estimate your tax refund or taxes owed before you start filing or e-filing your tax return. Find other free calculators courtesy of eFile.com and better understand your tax situation.
Use the
free tax calculator to enter information and figures to estimate the results of filing your 2020 Tax Return.
Even if you can't pay for the taxes you might owe, you should either file a tax return or an extension by the due date (usually April 15). The not filing penalty is higher than the not paying penalty.
Review eFile.com and IRS tax payments options on how to pay you taxes.
See Federal Income Tax payment options, such as an
IRS Payment Plan.
State Income Taxes
Review this guide if you need to (or want to) file a state tax return:
All the points listed above apply more or less to your state income taxes as well. For specific information, review the state page.
After your Tax Return has Been Submitted, Mailed, or e-Filed
Find out what to do after you submit your tax return:
After you have e-filed your return, monitor your emails, check your eFile.com account, and/or check your tax refund status.
Make sure your tax refund will be directly deposited into your account or mailed to the address on your tax return.
Download your completed tax return from your eFile.com account (under My Account) and keep it for your records. If you did not file your return on eFile.com (or even if you did), you may obtain a free transcript of your return from the IRS.
Need to make a change to an e-filed or filed return? You will need to complete and file an amended tax return.
Know what to do in case you get audited.
Get Ready to File your 2020 Tax Return with eFile.com
If all of this is overwhelming for you, simply create a free account on eFile.com and start the tax interview process by answering simple questions. We make it easy for you so you don't have to worry about too many of the sometimes complicated tax law details. You can monitor your preliminary federal or IRS and state tax return as you go through the process. Before you actually eFile your tax return, make sure you check for errors and overall results or contact one of our Taxperts if you have questions.
TurboTax® is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc.
H&R Block® is a registered trademark of HRB Innovations, Inc.