6 Tips on Who Should File a 2014 Tax Return

Most people file their tax return because they have to, but even if you don’t, there are times when you should. You may be eligible for a tax refund and not know it. This year, there are a few new rules for some who must file. Here are six tax tips to help you find out if you should file a tax return:

1. General Filing Rules.  Whether you need to file a tax return depends on a few factors. In most cases, the amount of your income, your filing status and your age determine if you must file a tax return. For example, if you’re single and 28 years old you must file if your income was at least $10,150. Other rules may apply if you’re self-employed or if you’re a dependent of another person. There are also other cases when you must file. Go to IRS.gov/filing to find out if you need to file.

2. New for 2014: Premium Tax Credit.  If you bought health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2014, you may be eligible for the new Premium Tax Credit. You will need to file a return to claim the credit. If you purchased coverage from the Marketplace in 2014 and chose to have advance payments of the premium tax credit sent directly to your insurer during the year you must file a federal tax return. You will reconcile any advance payments with the allowable Premium Tax Credit. You should receive Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, by early February. The new form will have information that will help you file your tax return.

3. Tax Withheld or Paid.  Did your employer withhold federal income tax from your pay? Did you make estimated tax payments? Did you overpay last year and have it applied to this year’s tax? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you could be due a refund. But you have to file a tax return to get it.

4. Earned Income Tax Credit.  Did you work and earn less than $52,427 last year? You could receive EITC as a tax refund if you qualify with or without a qualifying child. You may be eligible for up to $6,143. Use the 2014 EITC Assistant tool on IRS.gov to find out if you qualify. If you do, file a tax return to claim it.

5. Additional Child Tax Credit.  Do you have at least one child that qualifies for the Child Tax Credit? If you don’t get the full credit amount, you may qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit.

6. American Opportunity Credit.  The AOTC is available for four years of post secondary education and can be up to $2,500 per eligible student.  You or your dependent must have been a student enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period. Even if you don’t owe any taxes, you still may qualify. However, you must complete Form 8863, Education Credits, and file a return to claim the credit. Use the Interactive Tax Assistant tool on IRS.gov to see if you can claim the credit. Learn more by visiting the IRS’ Education Credits Web page.

The instructions for Forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ list income tax filing requirements. You can also use the Interactive Tax Assistant tool on IRS.gov to see if you need to file. The tool is available 24/7 to answer many tax questions.

If you found this Tax Tip helpful, please share it through your social media platforms. 

Additional IRS Resources:

• The Premium Tax Credit
• Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PTC)
• Publication 5187, Health Care Law: What’s New for Individuals and Families
• Schedule 8812 (Form 1040A or 1040), Child Tax Credit
• Form 8863, Education Credits
• Publication 596, Earned Income Credit
• Publication 972, Child Tax Credit
• Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education

IRS YouTube Videos:

• Do I Have To File a Tax Return? – English | Spanish | ASL
• Premium Tax Credit – English | Spanish | ASL
• Education Tax Credits – English | Spanish | ASL  

IRS Podcasts:

• Do I Have To File a Tax Return? – English | Spanish
• Premium Tax Credit – English | Spanish
• Education Tax Credits – English | Spanish

Health Care Law Brings Changes to IRS Tax Forms

This year, there are some changes to tax forms related to the Affordable Care Act. Along with a few new lines on existing forms, there will also be two new forms that will need to be included with some tax returns. While most taxpayers will simply need to check a box on their tax return to indicate they had health coverage for all of 2014, there are also new lines on Forms 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ related to the health care law.

To help navigate these changes, taxpayers and their tax professionals should consider filing their return electronically. Using tax preparation software is the best and simplest way to file a complete and accurate tax return as it guides individuals and tax preparers through the process and does all the math. 

Here is information about the new forms and updates to the existing forms:

Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions

• Complete this form to report a Marketplace-granted coverage exemption or claim an IRS-granted coverage exemption on the return.
• Use the worksheet in the Form 8965 Instructions to calculate the shared responsibility payment.

Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit

• Complete this form to reconcile advance payments of the premium tax credit, and to claim this credit on the tax return.

Additionally, if individuals purchased coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, they should receive Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, which will help complete Form 8962.

Form 1040

• Line 46: Enter advance payments of the premium tax credit that must be repaid
• Line 61: Report health coverage and enter individual shared responsibility payment
• Line 69: If eligible, claim net premium tax credit, which is the excess of allowed premium tax credit over advance credit payments

Form 1040A

• Line 29: Enter advance payments of the premium tax credit that must be repaid
• Line 38: Report health coverage and enter individual shared responsibility payment
• Line 45: If eligible, claim net premium tax credit, which is the excess of allowed premium tax credit over advance credit payments

Form 1040EZ

• Line 11: Report health coverage and enter individual shared responsibility payment
• Form 1040EZ cannot be used to report advance payments or to claim the premium tax credit

For more information about the Affordable Care Act and filing your 2014 income tax return visit www.NTSrefund.com

EITC Awareness Day, January 30, 2015

IRS invites community organizations, elected officials, state and local governments, schools, employers, and other interested parties to join a national grassroots effort on EITC Awareness Day, January 30, 2015, to spotlight EITC. IRS estimates four of five eligible taxpayers claim and get this important credit. Help ensure everyone gets the EITC they earned.  Best of all, EITC is a financial boost for working people and your local economy.

EITC Awareness Day Vision Statement

EITC Awareness Day is a one-day blitz in mainstream and social media -to reach the broadest possible range of potentially-eligible taxpayers, including taxpayer segments we believe under claim EITC and newly eligible taxpayers.

For the last 40 years, Earned Income Tax Credit made life better for millions of workers. You may have extra money waiting for you. If you qualify and claim the credit, it could be worth $6,143 from the IRS for some workers.

Don’t be the one in five that misses this credit. If you or someone you know earned less than $52,427 from wages, running a business or farm or from Form 1099 Misc, check it out.

It’s easy to find out if you qualify. Stop by any National Tax Service store, answer a few questions about yourself and other family members to see if you qualify and estimate the amount of your credit.

EITC eligibility depends on several factors, including income and family size. If you don’t have a qualifying child and earned under $20,000, find out if you qualify for a smaller credit, worth as much as $496.

Tax Season Opens As Planned

IR-2014-119, Dec. 29, 2014

WASHINGTON -- Following the passage of the extenders legislation, the Internal Revenue Service announced today it anticipates opening the 2015 filing season as scheduled in January.

The IRS will begin accepting tax returns electronically on Jan. 20. Paper tax returns will begin processing at the same time.

The decision follows Congress renewing a number of "extender" provisions of the tax law that expired at the end of 2013. These provisions were renewed by Congress through the end of 2014. The final legislation was signed into law Dec 19, 2014.

"We have reviewed the late tax law changes and determined there was nothing preventing us from continuing our updating and testing of our systems," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "Our employees will continue an aggressive schedule of testing and preparation of our systems during the next month to complete the final stages needed for the 2015 tax season."

The IRS reminds taxpayers that filing electronically is the most accurate way to file a tax return and the fastest way to get a refund. There is no advantage to people filing tax returns on paper in early January instead of waiting for e-file to begin.