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Filing online will make for speedier income tax returnsJan 19, 2010 (The Garden City Telegram - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The likelihood that Kansans who file their state income taxes by paper may have to wait 16 weeks for tax returns instead of the usual six to eight may push many Kansans to file online. The urge to move to online filings stems from the Kansas Department of Revenue's plan to not hire temporary employees to deal with the mail influx this tax season because of state budget cuts. Filing online could mean a more accurate, faster way to complete tax forms than paper filing, and cost five times less than processing paper form, according to the KDOR. Those who file online could see a refund in five days, according to the KDOR. For some tax preparers in Garden City, the encouragement to file online is welcome. Many tax preparers say they already file online and prefer the method to paper filing. KDOR is requiring any paid preparer who prepares 50 or more Kansas individual income tax returns in a year to electronically file 90 percent of returns eligible for electronic filing. Susan Chase, of Susan Chase Public Accountant, 1502 E. Harding Ave., said more returns filed online will lessen the workload and lessen the amount of papers the office will need to print this tax season. Chase said filing online is a better option. "It's definitely encouraged. It's more accurate, and we've been encouraging people to do it for a long time. It's more efficient," she said. David Hetrick at Lewis Hooper & Dick, 405 N. Sixth St., said although he understands why the KDOR is pushing Kansans to file electronically, he wants people to have the option of filing on paper if they wish to do so. "As a principle, it annoys me that they can require people to do that," Hetrick said. He said some people, including many of the elderly, may not trust the online system or may not want to hire someone to file online. "Some people don't have computers and shouldn't have to hire someone to do it for them if they want to do their own," Hetrick said. He said at Lewis Hooper & Dick, 93 percent of income tax returns are filed online. At Hays & Grapengater CPAs, 413 Campus Drive, Kelly Hays said most returns have been filed online for almost three years now. "It won't affect us a great deal," he said. Hays, like Chase, said filing online is more efficient and accurate, and is a better option for Kansans. "It not only benefits us, but the state of Kansas," Hays said. According to KDOR, a paper return costs five times more to process than an electronically-filed return. KDOR recommends WebFile or www.kswebfile.org for filing Kansas returns as a free and convenient way to file online. Another option is IRS e-file from authorized IRS e-file providers, or KDOR approved commercial tax filing Web sites or software products. Status of refunds can be checked from the KDOR Web site by visiting www.ksrevenue.org and clicking on "Your Personal," then clicking "Refund Status Online," or by calling (800) 894-0318. Questions about completing your Kansas Individual Tax return can be answered at (785) 368-8222. For more information, visit www.ksrevenue.org. To see more of The Garden City Telegram or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.gctelegram.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Garden City Telegram, Kan. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |