FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM FEBRUARY 28, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 27
tax guide
E-fi le and direct deposit: Your go-to tax choices this year
New York State Taxpayer Advocate
Margaret Neri encouraged all New York
State taxpayers to e-fi le their tax returns
and have any refund directly deposited
into their bank account.
“We know that New Yorkers want their
refunds quickly, and we aim to deliver,”
said New York State Taxpayer Advocate
Margaret Neri. “Th at’s why we recommend
that fi lers avoid paper, and combine
the simplicity and security of e-fi ling
with direct deposit to speed refunds by up
to two weeks.”
Benefi ts of e-fi ling
E-fi ling is safer and more effi cient than
sending paper returns through the mail.
About 92% of all personal income tax
returns in New York State are electronically
prepared and fi led. All returns,
regardless of how they’re fi led, undergo
the same systematic review.
Use direct deposit
To use direct deposit, simply check
direct deposit on your tax return, then
enter your bank’s nine-digit routing number
and your account number. For checking
accounts, this information is available
on your checks; for savings accounts, contact
your bank.
Free fi ling options available
Taxpayers with adjusted gross household
incomes of $66,000 or less in 2018
may use free, user-friendly soft ware at
www.tax.ny.gov to electronically prepare
and fi le both their state and federal
tax returns. Taxpayers can search Free
File on the Tax Department website to
be directed to the tax preparation soft -
ware. Using the soft ware can reduce fi ling
errors that delay return processing
and refunds. Th is also prevents valuable
credits from being overlooked.
Eligible taxpayers can also visit a free
Tax Department preparation site. A
schedule of dates, times, and locations
for free-fi ling sessions statewide is available
on our Facilitated Self-Assistance
(FSA) program webpage.
Tax Department experts will be available
at each site to assist low- and middle
income New Yorkers through the
fi ling process at no charge. At certain
locations, they can assist taxpayers in
multiple languages, including Arabic,
Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Italian,
Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and
Urdu.
Check your refund status
Taxpayers can quickly view the status
of their New York State tax refund anytime
by using the Check your Refund tool
on the Tax Department website: www.
tax.ny.gov. Updated daily, it’s the fastest
and most convenient way to know when
to expect your refund. It provides the
same information available to our phone
representatives—only without the wait!
You can also fi nd out when your
refund will be issued by signing up for
Tax Department email alerts. Visit the
Tax Department homepage at www.tax.
ny.gov and select subscribe at the bottom
of the page.
Don’t have a computer or smartphone?
Call the Tax Department’s automated
refund-status line anytime at 518-457-
5149.
New York State Taxpayer
Rights Advocate
As a New York State taxpayer, you have
rights protecting you from any unfairness
in the administration and collection
of taxes, as well as a variety of options to
resolve tax issues.
Th e Offi ce of the Taxpayer Rights
Advocate will help you understand your
rights and will help fi nd the best way for
you to pay the amount of tax you owe.
Th e Offi ce of the Taxpayer Rights
Advocate, an independent offi ce within
the Tax Department, provides free assistance
to resolve diffi cult or ongoing tax
problems, options to consider if a tax
issue is causing undue economic harm,
and recommendations for administrative
or legislative reforms.
For more information, visit tax.ny.gov.
From the NYS Department of
Taxation and Finance
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