When does tax season start? And when are taxes due?
Most people start thinking about state and federal taxes at the beginning of the calendar year. The IRS has not yet announced that the formal start of the 2022 tax filing season for 2021 taxes. Taxes are due on Monday, April 18, 2022.
If you file online, most taxpayers should expect to receive their returns within 21 days.
If you submit your taxes yourself before the formal start date, they will be accepted near the formal due date. Paper forms are expected to take significantly longer to be processed due to staffing constraints.
The IRS lists steps you can take to get ahead on filing your taxes here.
Monday, April 18, 2022 is the deadline for filing for an extension. See more information on extensions here.
Where can I get forms?
The Library will print one (1) free copy of any individual form for you to fill out and mail in. We do not print copies of the large instruction booklets. This one (1) free copy can be picked up curbside, of course.
Forms, instructions, and publications are also available at:
- Federal: https://apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/formsPublications.html, and
- State: https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/forms/Pages/default.aspx
You can also request up to 100 copies of any form through the IRS order page. They will automatically include a set of the instructions for each type of form you order. You can expect your forms to arrive within 10 business days.
Source: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/forms-and-publications-by-us-mail
Common forms
All federal forms can be downloaded for free from the IRS forms and publications database: https://apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/formsPublications.html
Some common forms include:
Federal
- 1040
- 1040 instructions
- 1040 schedule 1 (Additional Income and Adjustments to Income)
- 1040 schedule 2 (Additional Taxes)
- 1040 schedule 3 (Additional Credits and Payments)
- 1040 A (Itemized Deductions)
- 1040 A instructions
- 1040 B (Interest and Ordinary Dividends)
- 1040 B instructions
- 1040 C (Profit or Loss from Business)
- 1040 C instructions
- 1040 D (Capital Gains and Losses)
- 1040 D instructions
- 1040 E (Supplemental Income and Loss)
- 1040 E instructions
- Earned Income Credit form
- 1040 Tax Table, Tax Computation Worksheet, and EIC Table
- Schedule 8812 Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents
State
All state forms can be downloaded from the Illinois Department of Revenue websites: business and other tax forms, individual tax forms, previous year tax forms.
Where do I mail my federal tax filings?
On its site regarding paper form filing, the IRS notes that “due to staffing issues, processing paper tax returns could take several weeks longer. Taxpayers and tax professionals are encouraged to file electronically.” You can see E-File options and the IRS Free File service.
- 1040 without payment:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0002
- 1040 with payment:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931000
Louisville, KY 40293-1100
- 1040-ES with payment:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931100
Louisville, KY 40293-1100
- 1040-ES (NR) with payment:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1300
Charlotte, NC 28201-1300
- 1040V with payment:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931000
Louisville, KY 40293-1000
- 1040X without payment:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0052
- 1040X with payment:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0052
- 4868 without payment:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0045
- 4868 with payment:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931300
Louisville, KY 40293-1300
Source: https://www.irs.gov/filing/illinois-where-to-file-addresses-for-taxpayers-and-tax-professionals
Where do I mail my state tax filings?
- IL-1040 without a payment:
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
PO BOX 19041
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62794-9041
- IL-1040 with a payment:
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
PO BOX 19027
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62794-9027
- IL-1040-V Payment Voucher for Individual Income Tax:
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62726-0001
- IL-1040-ES:
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
SPRINGFIELD IL 62736-0001
Source, and mailing addresses for more forms: https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/aboutidor/Pages/addresses.aspx#qst3
How can I get help with my taxes?
There are some programs that help people fill out their taxes for free. Generally, they require people to either be senior citizens or to have moderate to low-incomes in the tax year.
IRS
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly has some sites in the Chicagoland area. Search by zip code at: https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/
The IRS also has a free Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) available online to lead you through different aspects of your taxes through a question and answer format. Try it out here: https://www.irs.gov/help/ita
AARP
The American Association of Retired Persons Tax-Aide program has sites in Chicagoland as well: When available, search by zip code at: https://secure.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action
Where is the nearest IRS office?
5100 River Road, Schiller Park, IL 60176, (847) 737-6688 (phone number for general information), (844) 545-5640 (phone number to make an appointment), Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. Click here to get started making an in-person appointment with the Illinois branch of the Federal IRS. You can get help as a walk-in, but scheduling an appointment is advised. You must wear a mask and stay 6 feet away from other people. The IRS advises people to reschedule appointments if they feel sick.
Sources: search for 60712 at https://apps.irs.gov/app/officeLocator/index.jsp, https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-my-local-office-in-illinois , https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office , services offered at in-person offices: https://www.irs.gov/help/services-provided-one
Can I file for free online?
Illinois residents may be able to file their state taxes for free at https://mytax.illinois.gov/_/ .
Individuals and families with incomes $72,000 or less can file for free using websites like TaxSlayer, Intuit, TaxACT, and more at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile .
What changed in 2021?
Changes this year are due mainly to COVID-19 coronavirus stimulus bills.
CHILD TAX CREDITS – Families that received advance Child Tax Credit payments need to compare what they received against what they should be able to claim. Your family may receive Letter 6419 from the IRS to help. See Reconciling Your Advance Child Tax Credit Payments on Your 2021 Tax Return for more information. And see Advanced Child Tax Credit Payments in 2021 for more general information.
STIMULUS PAYMENTS – You may be able to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit while filing your 2021 taxes depending on your qualifications for the third Economic Impact Payment. The IRS may send you a Letter 6475 with the amount of payments you received. See more information here.
The IRS also has a full page of information to help you check on the status of economic stimulus payments (of which most citizens were supposed to receive to this year), or apply for the recovery rebate credit: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
Source: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/get-ready-for-taxes-whats-new-and-what-to-consider-when-filing-in-2022
Tax Safety
IRS Information about Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts
Report “phishing” (phishing means criminals trying to trick you into giving them information they can use to steal from you)
Reporting Tax Scams for businesses
More questions? Contact:
Internal Revenue Service
https://www.irs.gov/
(800) 829-1040 (individuals) – 7am-7pm, Monday-Friday
(800) 829-4933 (businesses) – 7am-7pm, Monday-Friday
Individuals – How to File and When to File
Understanding mailings from the IRS
Order Information Returns and Employer Returns from the IRS
Source: https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance
Illinois Department of Revenue
https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/
(800) 732-8866 or 217-782-3336 – 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday
TDD (telecommunication device for the deaf): 800-544-5304
Email for individual income tax questions: REV.TA-IIT@illinois.gov
MyTaxIllinois Help: REV.MyTaxHelp@illinois.gov
Order forms via email: REV.OrderTaxForms@illinois.gov
Source: https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/aboutidor/Pages/contactus.aspx