Taxpayers: Don't bother checking the mail in January for the forms and instructions you need to file your federal income-tax return. The IRS won't be mailing tax packages anymore.
Continued growth in electronic filing prompted the agency's decision to stop sending paper Form 1040s, Schedule As and other documents, according to a statement on IRS.gov. About 96 million taxpayers have filed their returns electronically this year, an IRS spokesman says. He also says the move is expected to save the IRS about $10 million per year.
The IRS will send a postcard about the change in early October to people who filed paper returns and didn't use a tax preparer or tax software. To get forms, taxpayers have the following options:
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
--Download forms and instructions (which will be available early January 2011) from IRS.gov.
--Pick up paper forms from your local IRS office, library or post office.
--Use IRS Free File to fill in forms and file them electronically. Taxpayers who earn $58,000 or less can get free tax software with step-by-step help.
--Take advantage of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program for free tax preparation and, in many cases, free electronic filing if you earn $49,000 or less.
--Take advantage of free basic tax preparation through Tax Counseling for the Elderly if you're 60 or older.
-
119 JCPenney Stores Just Sold — Here’s What Shoppers Should KnowThe $947 million JCPenney deal hints at bigger retail and real estate shifts.
-
Top Four Retirement Withdrawal Strategies to Maximize Your SavingsThese retirement withdrawal strategies avoid tax and stock market pitfalls that can eat into your savings.
-
Ask the Editor, July 25: Questions on Four New Tax DeductionsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on four new tax deductions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill."
-
Five Ways Trump’s 2025 Tax Bill Could Boost Your Tax Refund (or Shrink It)Tax Refunds The tax code is changing again, and if you’re filing for 2025, Trump’s ‘big beautiful’ bill could mean a bigger refund, a smaller one or something in between next year. Here are five ways the new law could impact your bottom line.
-
Ask the Editor, July 18: Questions on the $6,000 Senior DeductionAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the new $6,000 deduction for taxpayers 65 and older.
-
Ask the Editor, July 17: Tax Questions on the New Tax LawAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the new tax law.
-
Ask the Editor, July 4: Tax Questions on Inherited IRAs
Ask the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on the rules on inheriting IRAs.
-
IRS Watchdog: Three Problems the IRS Must Address in 2025IRS The tax season is over, but new changes to the IRS can pose risks to your taxpayer experience.
-
Ask the Editor, June 27: Tax Questions on Disaster Losses, IRAsAsk the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on paper checks, hurricane losses, IRAs and timeshares.
-
Ask the Editor, June 20: Questions on Tax Deductions and IRAsAsk the Editor In our latest Ask the Editor round-up, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter Editor, answers four questions on deductions, tax proposals and IRAs.
