News Release
April 3, 2006 - Electronic Tax
Filings Up Again; Savings Too
COLUMBUS, Ohio - – With the April 17th
filing deadline near, Ohio Tax Commissioner William W.
Wilkins is urging taxpayers who have not yet filed their
state income tax return to follow the increasingly large
crowd and file electronically. Paperless returns are up by
more than 100,000 compared to last year and Wilkins thinks
the upward trend will continue.
“Clearly a growing number of taxpayers are recognizing the
advantages of filing paperless. It’s encouraging to see so
many converts to electronic filing because it demonstrates
that taxpayers support our efforts to develop systems that
make life easier. Electronic filing provides multiple
benefits for them and it cuts our costs considerably.”
Wilkins says it takes about $3 to process a paper return
compared to only $1.15 for an electronic one.
The benefits of filing electronically include eliminating
mathematical errors and quick delivery of refunds, generally
within a week to 10 days after filing. An added benefit for
those who owe additional tax is the option of postdating
payments – taxpayers filing today can schedule payment at any
later date up until April 17.
Through March 29, electronic returns totaled 2,776,168
compared to 2,673,884 for the same date in 2005. Paperless
filings of school district income taxes are up as well.
Last year, and for the first time, more than half of the 5.4
million Ohio income taxpayers filed their return
electronically. The cost of processing the electronic returns
was approximately $3.4 million, compared to more than $8.8
million spent on processing paper returns.
Other taxpayer need-to-know points about the 2005 Ohio income
tax filing season are:
AT THE ODT
WEB SITE :
tax.ohio.gov
- Answers to most state income tax questions.
- Access to Ohio I-File, ODT’s free online
filing system.
- Taxpayers can E-mail Us tax questions –
check in the “Contact Us” area.
ALSO THIS
YEAR:
- Live assistance is available toll-free at 1-800-282-1780,
from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
- Tax rates were cut 4.2 percent, the first of five annual
cuts totaling 21 percent.
- Taxpayers with a taxable income of $10,000 or less owe no
income tax (but are still required to file).
- The personal and dependent income tax exemption is
increased to $1,350.
- The deduction for funds deposited in an Ohio Medical
Savings Account is increased to $3,731.
- Taxpayers due a refund can contribute all or part of it
to the Military Injury Relief Fund to provide grants for
members of the military injured while participating in
Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. Direct
contributions are also welcome. Mail checks to: Ohio
Treasurer of State, Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services, Military Injury Relief Fund, P.O. Box 182367,
Columbus, OH 43218-2367.
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For more information, contact Gary Gudmundson, ODT
Communications Director, at (614)644-6903.