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E-file federal, state returns
together, deductions for school volunteers, and some in Northeast
get one-day reprieve
By Andrea Terry Abramowitz •
Bankrate.com
While taxpayers filing paper returns may have
to be sure they don't mix up their federal and state tax returns,
those who file electronically usually don't have to worry about
that.
Most taxpayers can e-file their federal and
state returns simultaneously through a tax professional or home
computer. The returns are transmitted to the Internal Revenue Service,
which then forwards the state return information to the appropriate
state tax agencies.
Only two states with income taxes, Hawaii and
Vermont, don't offer e-filing for state returns.
Many IRS-sponsored volunteer sites offer free
e-filing. Call the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040 to find the location
nearest you.
As of Feb. 18, the IRS had received 18.4 million
e-filed returns.
Deductions
allowed for school volunteers
School volunteers are entitled to some tax deductions on their 1999
Federal income tax returns if they itemize.
Un-reimbursed expenses while performing services
for the school qualifies, including:
- Mileage at $0.14/mile for going to and from
the school and any additional mileage incurred as a result of
completing school business, or actual expenses incurred, such
as oil and gas, may be used in lieu of the $0.14/mile charitable
standard rate.
- Parking fees
- Tolls
- Telephone expenses
Keep records detailing the out-of-pocket expenses
for the volunteer activity.
Additional information can be found in IRS
Publication 526, Charitable Contributions.
Another
day of reprieve for Northeasterners
April 15 falls on a Saturday this year, making the due date for
federal tax returns Monday, April 17. However, that's Patriot's
Day in Massachusetts -- a legal state holiday. So, the due date
for many Northeasterners is Tuesday, April 18.
Taxpayers who send their tax returns to the
IRS Service Center in Andover, Mass. are the lucky ones. This includes
residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, NewYork
(not including New York City or Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester
counties), Rhode Island and Vermont.
-- Posted March 6, 2000
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