| Nowadays, every department in the governmental or | | | | return at the time of submission to keep it as record. |
| private sector boast a digital nervous system - as Bill | | | | No more requests or visiting offices for the same. |
| Gates put it in his best seller Business at the Speed of | | | | · Electronic filing facilitates payment by credit card. |
| Thought - through which it interfaces with the public, | | | | Also, with electronic filing, the back office processing |
| listen to the grievances and carries out or facilitates | | | | time has reduced by days. For example, even if the |
| various services. Our current topic of discussion, is | | | | customer had waited till the last day before filing his |
| electronic tax filing, it makes use of the digital nervous | | | | her returns, still it is possible to get the filing processed |
| system of the tax department, and in simple terms, it is | | | | within hours of submission as opposed to the 10 odd |
| the World Wide Web's way of filing your tax returns. | | | | day's delay that used to occur during the days of |
| In a way, Internet has revolutionized the way people | | | | paper returns. As a result, as mentioned earlier, it has |
| have access to information. It virtually eliminated the | | | | become possible to complete the refunds within a |
| unending delay that used to associate with the | | | | couple of weeks since filing. |
| process of getting services done from governmental | | | | Here is the process of filing returns by electronic |
| bodies in a big way. In the present context, long gone | | | | means: The customer first should prepare his tax |
| are the days of unending queues and taxing paper | | | | returns (by oneself or through a tax professional). |
| works. The electronic filing has made the submission of | | | | Once the tax returns are in place, then the filing can be |
| tax returns a customer friendly exercise. Let us have | | | | done through an IRS e-file provider. Filing can be done |
| a look from close quarters the advantages of | | | | online as well, but if you are not sure about the |
| electronic filing as opposed to the conventional way of | | | | technicalities, it is better to seek professional help. |
| filing returns and study what sizeable change it had | | | | Generally most tax professionals will be licensed IRS |
| made in the whole process. | | | | e-file providers. Sign all relevant documents and get a |
| · The first and foremost reform electronic filing | | | | customer copy as a record or for future reference. |
| had brought about is that it virtually eliminated the need | | | | The IRS e-file provider will then file the returns |
| for going through the exhaustive steps of filling the | | | | electronically. Within 48 hours of filing the returns, the |
| forms and rushing to the nearest post office to get it | | | | IRS will send the customer/IRS e-file provider an |
| posted before the due date. | | | | acknowledgement specifying the current status |
| · Not only the paper work, electronic filing in fact | | | | (acceptance or rejection as it may apply). If it is a |
| has eliminated all sorts of physical movement required | | | | rejection, remedial steps should be taken immediately. |
| in completing the filing of returns. No more office | | | | As of now, if filing the returns online by oneself, the |
| hopping is required. The only thing you needs is a PC | | | | service as such is free. But if getting the job done |
| and a reliable Internet connection. | | | | through an IRS e-file provider, he/she may charge you |
| · In electronic filing, any mistake that has invariably | | | | a fee for offering you his/her expertise. As there is no |
| crept in is corrected in less time. As every bit of data | | | | solid rule of law in place governing the charging of fees |
| of the tax payer is available online, there is no | | | | for electronic filing of returns, the fees charged by |
| wastage of time searching dossiers. | | | | different IRS e-file providers may vary and hence, |
| · Electronic filing has also reduced the time lag | | | | from a customer point of view, it would be better to |
| before receiving your tax refunds. Also, with the online | | | | shop around and find out the cheapest deal possible |
| submission, it is possible to take a printout of the filed | | | | before hiring one for your service. |