It’s that time of the year again – tax time! There is no denying that feeling when you see the size of your tax refund (which was over $3,000 on average last year).
To help you get ready for the tax season, we have some good news — TurboTax is officially open and accepting e-filed returns. That means that you can file now and be first in line for your tax refund. Although the IRS has not yet begun accepting e-filed tax returns, TurboTax will securely hold your completed taxes, transmit them to the IRS, and state when they open for e-file.
If you need some extra motivation, here are 5 quick tips to help you get a jump-start on your tax refund:
Table of Contents
1. Gather Your Documents in One Place2. Remember What You Did Last Year3. Get Your Taxes Done4. Check Out Your Free Filing Options5. Don't Wait to File1. Gather Your Documents in One Place
Gather your documents, forms, and receipts reporting income and tax-deductible expenses in one place so you don’t forget anything come filing time. If you are self-employed, be on the lookout for Form 1099-NEC and other forms that report income. You will need to have your forms and receipts for deductible expenses in front of you when you file as well.
Pro tip: Keep a folder next to where your mail comes in so that when W-2s, 1099s, and other relevant forms start to roll in, you can keep them together in an easily accessible spot. Also, always have a copy of your prior year’s tax return in case you need to access your prior year’s adjusted gross income when you file. If you are a returning TurboTax customer your adjusted gross income will automatically transfer to current taxes you are filing. Try our free Tax Document Checklist, which will help you understand what you need to gather and easily organize your documents based on your personal situation.
2. Remember What You Did Last Year
It’s not hard to remember big things like getting married or having a baby, but our lives are busy and some little expenses can add up to big tax deductions! Don’t forget to have receipts in hand for expenses like charitable donations and medical expenses when you sit down to file your taxes — these additional expenses may help you get a bigger tax refund.
3. Get Your Taxes Done
With TurboTax, it’s easy to get your taxes done. No matter what your situation or how you want to file, TurboTax has you covered. With TurboTax you can do your taxes yourself, get help from an expert along the way or hand them off to a dedicated tax expert who you can meet with virtually or locally in person to get them done from start to finish.
4. Check Out Your Free Filing Options
If you have a simple tax return only with limited credits and without having to attach additional forms or schedules, you may be able to file your federal and state taxes for free with TurboTax Free Edition. Roughly 37% of tax filers are eligible.
Yep, you read that right! If you have a Form 1040 with limited credits and without having to attach additional forms or schedules, you may be able to file your federal and state taxes for free.
If you have a *simple tax return only with limited credits and without having to attach additional forms or schedules, from November 30, 2023 through March 31, 2024, you can get live expert help along the way and have your tax return reviewed by a tax expert before you file for free with the TurboTax Live Assisted Basic Offer.
TurboTax Free Edition and TurboTax Live Assisted Basic, are designed for tax filers with simple tax returns only with limited credits and without having to attach additional forms or schedules, filing Form 1040 only. Simple returns covered include W-2 income, limited interest and dividend income that don’t require filing a schedule B, standard deduction, Earned Income Tax Credit, and Child Tax Credit, and Student Loan interest.
5. Don’t Wait to File
Last year, the average direct deposit tax refund was more than $3,000, so there is no reason to wait to file your taxes. Additionally, it’s worth noting that e-file with direct deposit is the fastest way to get your federal tax refund — the IRS states that nine out of 10 taxpayers who e-file with direct deposit will receive their federal tax refund within 21 days or less.
No matter what moves you made last year, TurboTax will make them count on your taxes. Whether you want to do your taxes yourself or have a TurboTax expert file for you, we’ll make sure you get every dollar you deserve and your biggest possible refund – guaranteed.