Tax Resources

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 announced that the formal start of the 2021 tax filing season for 2020 taxes will be Friday, February 12. This was announced on Friday, January 15 when IRS FreeFile opened. This date is delayed later than usual to give the IRS more time to prepare. Taxes are due on Thursday, April 15, 2021.

If you submit your taxes yourself before the formal start date, they will be accepted and start to be processed on Friday, February 12. Paper forms are expected to take significantly longer to be processed due to staffing constraints.

Friday, October 15 is the deadline for filing for an extension.

Sources: https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free , https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/tax-software/when-can-you-start-filing-taxes

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

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.

Illinois forms are not available yet, but will be made available on this website when they are ready.

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: (changed since last year)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0002
1040 with payment: (changed since last year)
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931000
Louisville, KY 40293-1100
1040-ES with payment: (changed since last year)
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: (changed since last year)
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931000
Louisville, KY 40293-1000
1040X without payment: (changed since last year)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0052
1040X with payment: (changed since last year)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0052
4868 without payment: (changed since last year)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0045
4868 with payment: (changed since last year)
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: (changed since last year)
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
PO BOX 19041
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62794-9041
IL-1040 with a payment: (changed since last year)
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
PO BOX 19027
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62794-9027
IL-1040-V Payment Voucher for Individual Income Tax: (changed since last year)
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

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: 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 (general information), (844) 545-5640 (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. In person help is only by appointment and you must wear a mask and stay 6 feet away from other people.

Sources: search for 60712 at https://apps.irs.gov/app/officeLocator/index.jsp, https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-my-local-office-in-illinois

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 $69,000 or less can file for free using websites like TaxSlayer, H&R Block, TurboTax, and more at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile .

What changed in 2020?

Changes this year are due mainly to COVID-19 coronavirus.
Taxpayers who received an Economic Impact Payment, should keep Notice 1444, Your Economic Impact Payment, with their 2020 tax records. They may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax year 2020 federal income tax return if: they didn’t receive an Economic Impact Payment, or if their Economic Impact Payment was less than $1,200 ($2,400 if married filing jointly for 2019 or 2018), plus $500 for each qualifying child they had in 2020.

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-2021