Some people choose not to file a tax return because they aren’t legally required to file, but they could be missing out on refundable tax credits or an income tax refund, according to a news release.

This could apply to someone if they:

  • Have had federal income tax withheld from their pay.
  • Made estimated tax payments.
  • Qualify to claim refundable tax credits.

Some Valuable Tax Credits Eligible People Can Claim on a Tax Return

  • Child Tax Credit  Taxpayers can claim the Child Tax Credit if they have a qualifying child under the age of 18 and meet other qualifications.
  • Credit for Other Dependents – Taxpayers who do not qualify for the child tax credit may qualify for the Credit for Other Dependents. This includes people who have:
    • Dependent children who are age 18 or older at the end of 2022.
    • Parents or other qualifying individuals they support.
  • Education credits  Education expenses can add up fast, but there are two higher education credits to help. The American Opportunity Tax Credit is for qualified education expenses for the first four years of higher education. The Lifetime Learning Credit is for qualified tuition and related expenses paid for eligible students enrolled in an eligible educational institution.

Interactive Tax Assistant can Help When Deciding Whether to File

The Interactive Tax Assistant is a tool that provides answers to many common tax law questions based on an individual’s specific circumstances. It can help someone decide whether they should file a tax return and if they’re eligible for many common tax credits.

The tool keeps the taxpayer anonymous. The taxpayer’s information isn’t stored and is used by the assistant only to answer the taxpayer’s questions. The assistant will not share, store, or use information in any other way, nor can it identify the individual using it. The system discards the information the user provides when they exit a topic.

Taxpayers can e-file to Get Refunds Faster

The fastest way people can get a refund is to e-file and select direct deposit. The IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds for e-filed returns in fewer than 21 days.

Source: IRS