What If You Need An Extension For Your State Return
If you also need more time to file your state return, be aware that rules vary by state. Some states recognize the federal extension and automatically grant you a state extension too. Others have separate requirements.
Be sure to check with your state to see what you need to do to get a state filing extension. You can usually find this information on a state tax website, or in the states individual income tax instructions.
Import Last Years Tax Information
If some of your personal or financial information is the same as last year, you might be able to save some time entering information. Cash App Taxes can import information from last years Form 1040 to your current return. You can import your existing information from Credit Karma Tax, H& R Block, TurboTax, and TaxAct.
Signing Into Cash App
The Cash App Taxes login process deserves its own entry because it can get pretty complicated.
Before you get started, you download Cash App and enter some basic info. If youre filing through the mobile app youll stay logged in and follow the prompts.
Youll be asked to enter a debit card to connect to the account, but you wont be charged, and you dont have to use any other Cash App services unless you want to.
If youre filing on a computer or tablet browser Im an elder Millennial, so I like to file taxes from the computer the login process takes a minute. Each time you log in, you have to:
- Get a QR code from the login page.
- Scan the QR code with your phone.
- Enter the password on your phone.
Its basically a two-factor authentication system every time. While this system is great for keeping info safe, it can get annoying if you need to log out and log in again.
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Did You Make A Mistake On Your Federal Income Tax Return But Didnt Catch It Until After You Filed
Maybe an important tax document arrived in the mail days after you e-filed your return. Dont worry, youre probably not in trouble. You can likely file an amended tax return to correct the error.
Filing an amended tax return gives you the chance to correct tax forms youve already filed, even if the mistake or omission is on an old return. Heres what you need to know about how to file an amended tax return.
Postpone Filing Not Paying
In case you missed it earlier, consider this statement to be rendered in 5-foot-high flashing red lights: A filing extension is not extra time to pay your taxes.
If youre approved for a filing extension, you have until Oct. 15 of the current tax year to file your federal income tax return for the preceding tax year. But for most people, federal income taxes are still due in April each year. Not paying your taxes on time will result in interest charges and possibly penalties. This means that youll want to try to pay estimated taxes by Tax Day.
To estimate how much tax you owe, you can use the worksheet provided in Form 1040-ES. You dont have to file the form to get a tax extension, but the worksheet can give you a good estimate of how much you should pay on Tax Day. Income information, deductions and credits from your prior year tax return can also help in estimating your current-year tax obligation.
Or if you know youre going to owe and arent sure how much to pay with the extension to minimize any interest and penalties, you can seek professional advice to estimate that amount, Szymczak suggests.
The IRS offers guidance for choosing a tax professional, and you can check out the website of the National Association of Tax Professionals to find a paid preparer.
Also Check: How To Check If Taxes Were Filed
How To Contact Credit Karma Tax
The only way to contact Credit Karma is by submitting a request online to its member support department as it does not provide phone support.
However, you can also contact Credit Karma Tax via chat 24/7 if you have questions at any point during filing. This chat feature can be located within the Help section located at the top of your dashboard when logged into Credit Karma Tax.
Who Should Use Credit Karma Tax
Filers who crave simplicity and want to save money on tax preparation will get the most out of Credit Karma Tax.
Because the platform doesn’t have separate packages for specific tax situations, like self-employment or investment income, it relies on the user to find the tax forms they need beyond the most basic ones. It’s a true do-it-yourself experience. That said, the interface is clear and easy to navigate, even for novices.
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If You Already Have A Cash App Taxes Account
Log into your Cash App account on your desktop and submit a case to Cash App Taxes. You will have to validate your identity before getting a copy of prior year returns filed with Credit Karma Tax. This validation involves entering a code sent by email or text, providing your legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
How Much Can I Get
This amount is based on your federal refund amount, personal info, tax info, and any third-party data we may consider. Refund Advance is available in amounts of $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $3,000, $3,500, and $4,000.This table shows the maximum Refund Advance for each expected refund range. Keep in mind this is only one of the factors that determine your Refund Advance amount.
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Keeping Tabs On Your Old Tax Returns May Not Be Your Top Concern In Life Until A Situation Comes Up When You Need Them
For example, if you apply for a mortgage or student loan, you typically have to disclose your income but lenders wont always just take your word for how much you earn. Thats where your official tax records come in. They can serve as proof of your income when applying not only for loans but for things like rental housing, government benefits or other kinds of financial aid.
If you dont have a copy of your tax return on hand when you need it, no problem! You can use a few different methods to get your past tax information.
The first big question: Do you need a full copy of your tax return, or can you get by with a transcript?
How Do You Log In To Cash App Taxes
Filers who want to use Cash App Taxes may be confused by the login process. To create a tax account you’ll need to download the Cash App on your own. Next, you’ll need to select the “Free Tax Filing” option from the “Banking” menu.
From there, you’ll have the option to immediately start filing your return. Or you can choose to let Cash App Taxes estimate your refund instead.
If you choose to start filing, you’ll be asked tor provide an email address. You’ll then be sent a confirmation code to that email address and then another one to your phone. Once both have been verified, you can begin to fill out your personal information.
Note that you won’t have to complete your entire return on your phone. Once you’ve logged in using the app, you’ll have the option to scan a QR code to finish completing your return on a computer.
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How Does Cash App Taxes Work
To use Cash App Taxes, you download the Cash App mobile software and create a Cash App account, using a valid email address or phone number. The onboarding process will also ask for a debit card to connect with the account, but it’s not necessary to proceed.
From Cash App’s mobile app, you can access Cash App Taxes through the banking tab: Under the Taxes section, find the link for Free Tax Filing. An interstitial screen offers File Now or Estimate Refund buttons as well as a link for users who have filed with Credit Karma Tax in previous years.
How To Get A Copy Of Your Tax Return
If you do need a copy of your tax return, you have a few options.
- You can ask your tax preparer to send it to you.
- If you used an online tax preparation and filing service to e-file your return, you may also be able to access a copy of your tax return directly through the program for the years you filed through the software. But be aware the service may limit the number of years you can access or charge a fee to allow you to access and download past years returns.
- Finally, you can always request a copy directly from the IRS. You cant request a past years return over the phone or online, so youll need to fill out Form 4506 and mail it in. Itll also cost you $50 per copy, per tax year for which youre requesting a return copy, and it could take 75 days for the IRS to process your request.
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Who Is It For
If youre fairly confident about filing your taxes, dont expect to need a lot of hand-holding, and want a completely free way to finish your return, Cash App Taxes may be a good choice. It can handle most situations, as long as you dont have something extremely complicated.
However, if you want a little more tax-specific guidance, and you think youll need more customer service support, it might make more sense to use TaxAct or TaxSlayer for budget options. For those who like more robust and dedicated tax help, it can make more sense to pay the cost of TurboTax or H& R Block softwareor even hire a CPA.
Carefully consider your tax situation and your needs, balancing cost with access to personalized help.
Tax Services That Arent Covered
Cash App Taxes doesnt support some forms people might need, like:
- No part-year resident state returns.
- No multiple state returns.
- No underpayment of estimated tax.
- No returns for prior years.
- No forms for married filing separately in community property states.
- No state forms for New Hampshire or Tennessee.
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How Can I Get My Refund Faster
Filing a complete, error-free return can make it easier for the IRS to process any refund youre owed in a timely manner. If the IRS needs additional information or to communicate with you about a mistake on your return, your refund could be delayed. Also, e-filed returns tend to get faster refunds than paper returns mailed to the IRS. So if you want your refund as soon as possible, e-filing an accurate return is probably the way to go.
Whether you mail or e-file, the IRS also recommends choosing to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account, rather than requesting a paper refund check. The IRS calls direct deposit the safest, fastest way to receive your refund.
Learn How Cash App Taxes Can Help You File Your Taxes For Free
If you want to file your own taxes, these days you have a wide variety of options for how to go about it. While the traditional tax software or the option to hire an accountant are still on the table, fintech has made it easier than ever to find cheap ways to file your taxes online.
Cash App Taxes is one of the newer names in the tax filing arena. And while the name may be new, the service has actually been around for years under the name Credit Karma Tax. Now that Credit Karma Tax has been acquired by Cash App and launched under the new name Cash App Taxes, youll want to understand how it works and whether its the best tool to help you file your taxes this year.
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When You Should Hire A Cpa Or Tax Pro
When should you hire a CPA or tax preparer, and when can you do your taxes yourself? A look at the costs, advantages, and disadvantages of hiring a tax pro.
In recent years tax laws have undergone major revisions that could drastically affect the returns of people with complicated tax situations. If your tax needs take you beyond what TurboTax Deluxe can handle, you should seriously consider hiring a tax professional or getting live help from an IRS-certified volunteer rather than upgrading to TurboTax Premier or Self-Employed. A pro can not only capture all of your deductions accurately but also set you up for future tax strategies and savings.
A good tax professional can handle:
- self-employed filers and small-business owners with deductions, inventories, or employees
- investors with complicated portfolios and tax strategies
- income from partnerships or small companies with K-1 forms
- big life events such as getting married or divorced, sending kids to college, buying or selling a home, or receiving inheritance
- advice for future tax planning
With a tax professional, you dont have to do form-by-form price comparisons or hope that you fit inside an income or age captheyll take whatever you have, and most are clear up front about what theyll charge based on your specific situation.
The average cost of professional tax preparation ranges from $220 to $903 depending on the complexity of the returns.
Good Way To Track Credit Changes With Caveats
Ive been using Credit Karma for at least 7-8 years now, and overall Im very happy with how it shows my scores and keeps info up to date on my report. I was able to dispute a negative item through CK and have it removed, which gave my score a remarkable jump. I started with about a 580, and CK now shows me at 720. Now, the only downside is that CK uses the Vantagescore 3.0 model, while no lenders do. They all use FICO modeling, some are still using FICO 3 even though that model is from many years ago. This can make your score significantly different, sometimes higher, but usually lower. For example, when I bought my house back in 2016, CK showed me to be around 680. My actual FICO score used was closer to 620. That put me in a different interest rate bracket, so my payments were a little higher than expected. Fast forward to present day and while CK shows my score at 720, a recent Amex platinum card approval shows my score at 758. So, dont go into Credit Karma thinking its the same score you will get from a lender that pulls your report, but use it as a tool to monitor your credit and manage your debt. Its helped me in that regard, and I take the scores with a grain of salt understanding scoring models are different.
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People Who Need Help With Complicated Returns
While Cash App Taxes can handle a lot of tax situations, it doesnt offer as much navigation and guidance for these situations as its competitors do.
If youre confused about how to list self-employment gigs, rental property income, health care expenses, or any unusual forms you received, another service may be more helpful.
Help And Guidance For Tax Questions
This is an area where Cash App Taxes could use some work. If you have questions along the way, you have a few options:
- Informational links come with an that links you to a pop-up screen these explanations are basic and brief, and not always thorough.
- The Tax Help Center lets you search for terms or browse by categories. Theres some good information here, but it may take a while to find exactly what youre looking for.
Read more:Understanding the Differences Among Tax Credits, Deductions, and Adjustments
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How Can I File An Amended Tax Return
If you need to make changes to a previously filed tax return, youll use Form 1040-X. The form allows you to correct errors on these IRS Forms.
- 1040: This is the main individual income tax return for federal income taxes, starting with the 2018 tax year.
- 1040-SR: Seniors age 65 or older can use this form instead of the 1040, though both the 1040 and 1040-SR use the same schedules and instructions.
- 1040A and 1040EZ: The IRS retired both these forms with the 2018 tax year, but if youre filing an amendment for 2017 or earlier, you might have used one of these as your original return.
- 1040NR or 1040NR EZ: These forms are for nonresident aliens who work in the U.S.
In November 2020 Square Acquired Credit Karma Tax And Announced It Would Add Free Tax Filing Features To The Cash App How Do You Use It And Is It Safe
This year those looking for free options to file their taxes can look no further than an app they might already have on their cell phone: The Cash App.
Sqaure Inc. acquired Credit Karma Tax in November 2020 and this year will add that product into the features offered through the Cash App. The application routes that many users will be able to submit a simple tax return in minutes, free of charge.
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Streamlined Onboarding For An Intuitive Experience
As you begin your return with Credit Karma Tax, youll be asked a series of comprehensive questions used to map to applicable tax forms. Each answer is used to develop a personalized dashboard to help you file your taxes efficiently, and you will only fill out the forms required for your particular situation.