Individual income tax filing season opens January 23, 2017

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Revenue will open state individual income tax filing season on January 23, 2017. For the benefit and convenience of Minnesotans, this is the same day as the Internal Revenue Service.

The filing deadline to submit 2016 tax returns is Monday, April 18, 2017, rather than the traditional April 15 date. This is also the same day as the Internal Revenue Service.

Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly reminds taxpayers that filing electronically and choosing direct deposit helps improve the accuracy and security of your return.

“Protecting Minnesotan’s refunds and ensuring the right refund amount goes to the right person is our top priority,” said Bauerly. “Minnesotans can help by filing electronically and using direct deposit, which is the most secure and effective way to receive your refund.”

Electronic Filing and Direct Deposit Choosing electronic filing and direct deposit is the most secure way to get your refund. Last year, over 2 million Minnesota taxpayers used electronic software to file their taxes. Visit the website to learn more about your electronic filing and free filing options for those who qualify.

Direct deposit is an easy and convenient way to get your refund. You can include your banking information on your tax return and get your refund deposited into your bank account. Direct deposit is available to you whether you file your return electronically or by mail. Check out the website to learn more about the benefits of choosing direct deposit.

Voter Registration Minnesota law requires that individual income tax return forms and instruction booklets include voter registration forms. This year, taxpayers using Minnesota-certified electronic filing software will see a new message prompting eligible voters to register to vote online at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.

Fraud Prevention The department takes protecting your personal information and your tax refund very seriously. We work to combat identify theft-related tax fraud by taking the time necessary to review and verify the information on all tax returns to make sure the right refund goes to the right person.

Protecting Minnesotan’s personal information means that refunds may take longer than in prior years because of the increase in attempted refund fraud. Don’t spend your refund until you see the money in your bank account.

Visit the website to learn more about our efforts to protect your information.

Track Your Refund You are able to track where your refund is in the process by using our Where’s My Refund? system.

You will be able to track which of the four stages your refund is in and whether you need to take any action to allow us to complete the processing of your refund. You will see the date your refund was issued when it is finished processing. View the video to learn more about Where’s My Refund?.

Free Tax Help You may qualify for free tax preparation help from IRS-certified volunteers at locations across Minnesota for your federal and state income tax returns. Qualified taxpayers are age 60 or older, have a disability, speak limited or no English, or have income less than $54,000 per year.

Most free tax preparation sites are open Feb. 1 - April 15. Visit our website to find free tax preparation sites near you

Tax Day is April 18: Department of Revenue has tips for taxpayers

ST. PAUL, Minn. – This year’s income tax filing season ends on April 18, and as the date approaches, the Minnesota Department of Revenue offers tips to help taxpayers as they get ready to file their returns.

“With just days left in the filing season, we know many Minnesotans are still preparing to file their taxes. These tips can make tax filing easier and protect taxpayers from potential refund fraud through identity theft,” said Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly. “We know people rely on their tax refunds and we are working to review returns as quickly as we can, but protecting taxpayer refunds from thieves means that some returns could take longer to process than in prior years.”
Income tax filing tips:

• E-file and choose direct deposit. Electronically filing your return and choosing direct deposit for your refund is the most secure and convenient way to file your taxes and get your refund.
  
• Enter your name and any dependents names exactly as they appear on Social Security cards. Incorrect names or Social Security numbers can result in refund delays.
  
• Double-check bank routing and account numbers used on tax forms for direct deposit. Incorrect account numbers can delay your refund.

• Complete each form and carry totals to the correct lines. If you electronically file, the calculations are automatically done for you.

• Do not staple or use paperclips on your paper return. Staples and paperclips on tax returns need to be removed by hand and can slow down processing.
  
• If you are paper filing your return with a new address, be sure to place an X in the “Place an X if a New Address” box in the header. Otherwise, the new address may not be picked up by our system, and a refund check or letter may not get to you.
  
• If you move after filing your return, contact us right away. That way anything sent to you will reach you, such as refund checks or requests for more information. You should do this even when requesting a direct deposit. Call us at 651-296-3781 or 1-800-652-9094 (toll-free) to change your address.
  
• File your return by the April 18, 2016 due date, even if you owe more than you can pay. Pay as much as you can by the due date and contact us as soon as possible to set up a payment plan for the remaining balance. Acting quickly can help to minimize any late payment penalties. For more information about making your payment electronically, visit our website.
  

For more individual income tax filing tips, check out our Weekly Tax Tip video series.
Criminals continue to prey on taxpayers through threatening text messages, phone calls, and emails. The department and IRS will never ask you to provide, update, or verify personal information through unsolicited emails or phone calls; nor will we threaten to send law enforcement to your home if a debt is not paid immediately, as criminals often claim. You can learn more about scams, steps to prevent identity theft, and the department’s fraud prevention efforts on our website.