Got Your Tax Refund? State Urges You to File Electronically

With the tax-filing deadline less than one month away, Comptroller Peter Franchot is encouraging taxpayers who have yet to file to take advantage of all the conveniences of electronic filing.

 “I encourage all taxpayers to file electronically. It is the best way to ensure a quick refund and even allows taxpayers who owe money to delay payment until April 30,” Franchot said in a news release.

To date, more than 1.2 million taxpayers have filed their personal tax returns electronically with more than 113,000 filing via paper. Based on 2.94 million returns filed last year, the returns filed so far represent 46 percent of last year’s total.

The comptroller urges Marylanders to file electronically to ensure they receive their refund within days as opposed to weeks. More than $1 billion in refund payments have been issued to more than one million taxpayers. 

Simple mistakes in filing can slow down the processing of a tax return and refund significantly. To ensure an accurate return, taxpayers should remember to:

• Check Social Security numbers.
• Verify bank account (checking/saving) and routing numbers for direct deposit refunds and direct debit payments.
• Double-check calculations and
• Include all pertinent information including relevant forms and documents, such as the W-2 form.

Although electronic filing is strongly preferred, taxpayers filing paper returns should follow all the tips provided above, as well as remember to:

• Write legibly, or type
• Use a pen
• Sign the tax return

Electronic filing saves the state significant money in processing costs. Paper returns cost the state more than $2 to process, compared to 19 cents for e-filed returns resulting in savings of millions of dollars each year.

Free, state tax assistance is available at all of the agency’s 12 taxpayer service offices, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  For branch location information, visit http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/taxhelp/localoffices.asp.

The agency’s call center is available to taxpayers, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. through April 15. To check the status of a refund by phone, call, 410-260-7701 or 1-800-218-8160. Refund status can also be obtained by visiting the agency’s website at www.marylandtaxes.com.

For more information on electronic filing or any other tax-related matter, go to the comptroller’s website or call 410-260-7980 in Central Maryland or 1-800-MD-TAXES (1-800-638-2937) outside of Central Maryland.