Once all the gifts have been opened and the holiday feast is consumed, if you’ve got some spare time in there the Michigan Department of Treasury wants you to turn your attention to the upcoming individual income tax season beginning late next month. They want you to take a couple of actions soon to ensure that returns are processed promptly when tax season gets underway in late January.
The Michigan Department of Treasury is encouraging you and I, as taxpayers, to begin gathering tax-related documents and updating our home addresses with current and previous employers so W-2s and other financial documents can be mailed to the correct address. Incorrect addresses typically lead to information being mailed to the wrong location and could cause delays when filing tax returns.
Glenn White is Deputy State Treasurer. He says, “State income tax filing season seems like a long time away, but it will be here before you know it.” As head of Treasury’s Tax Administration Group, White tells us, “Taxpayers who prepare today are less likely to face processing delays.”
Other notable items for Michigan’s 2018 filing season (2017 tax year):
- Beginning in January 2018, forms and instructions may be viewed and downloaded from www.michigan.gov/taxes. In addition, commonly used forms will continue to be available at Treasury offices, most public libraries, northern Michigan post offices and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services county offices.
- When tax season begins in late January, taxpayers can e-file their state tax returns instead of mailing a paper return. To learn more, go to www.mifastfile.org.
- Taxpayers may elect to use direct debit when e-filing their 2016 or 2017 tax returns. A direct debit is a tax payment the state Treasury Department electronically withdraws from the taxpayer’s bank account using the bank information provided on the electronically filed return.
- State income tax filers have the option of making payments electronically using the Michigan Department of Treasury’s e-Payments system. Payments can be made by using, electronic payment (eCheck), credit card or debit card.
- A taxpayer must file to claim a refund with the state Treasury Department within four years from the date set for filing of the original return. Individuals must file a 2013 Michigan Individual Income Tax Return to receive their refund for that tax year.
- Taxpayers who have been recent victims of identity theft are asked to report their circumstances to the state Treasury Department. Reporting identity theft helps thwart cybercriminals who attempt to file and steal a state tax refunds. To learn more about tax-related identity theft, go to www.michigan.gov/identitytheft.
To learn the latest about state of Michigan taxes, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes. Federal tax information is available at www.irs.gov. Oh, and, Merry Christmas from your Michigan Department of Treasury.
