Tax Prep Assistance from Congressman Quigley

Dear Friend,

April 18th is Tax Day, and it's approaching quickly. Preparing your taxes can be confusing, but you don't have to tackle it alone. Below you'll find advice and links to help you make sense of tax season.

Simple Filing

Due to recent changes in tax law, you can now e-file your taxes for free at www.irs.gov. This website also features helpful tips and tools for filing your taxes on your own or using commercial tax software.

Credits

The City of Chicago helps eligible residents file for a federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Many constituents owe less in taxes than credits earned, meaning they may get a refund check from the IRS. Even if you don't owe income tax, you may be eligible for the credit and cash. In 2010, the City's assistance sites returned $35 million in refunds to more than 20,000 families.

Full Assistance

Families earning less than $50,000 and individuals earning less than $25,000 can get free tax preparation assistance from professionally-trained volunteers at 26 sites in Chicago and 13 in the suburbs. Residents should bring all current W2 and 1099 forms, Social Security cards for all members of your household, a copy of your last recent tax return, and a photo ID. In Chicago, call 311 to find locations near you. In the suburbs, call 312-409-1555 or 312-630-0273.

Refund Help

You can see the status of your federal refund here. Typically, you'll be able to get information about your refund 72 hours after the IRS receives your electronically-filed return or in three to four weeks if you filed a paper return. Customer service representatives are also available by calling 1-800-829-1040.

Need an Extension?

If you are not able to file your federal individual income tax return on time, you may be able to get an automatic 6-month extension by filling out this IRS form.


Have more questions? The Internal Revenue Service provides resources and FAQ's, or feel free to call my office at 773-267-5926. For information about State of Illinois returns, visit the Illinois Department of Revenue.

And remember, to stay up to date on what's happening in the district and in Washington, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Please let me know if I can ever be of assistance to you. It is an honor to serve you in Congress.

Sincerely,

Mike Quigley
www.quigley.house.gov