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Tax filing services, tax law assistance available to Idahoans across the state [1]

['Mia Maldonado', 'More From Author', '- April']

Date: 2023-05

At least two organizations are offering help for Idahoans who may need to file their taxes last-minute and those who need an extension or have tax-law questions.

The Idaho State Tax Commission announced in a press release Wednesday that it will offer curbside tax filing for last-minute tax filers in the Boise area.

Boise tax filers can drop off their state income tax returns without getting out of their cars on Tuesday, April 18, the day income taxes are due.

Tax commission employees will be outside the Boise office with bins accepting Idaho returns and passing out forms from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A drop box for Idaho returns is in the parking lot, accessible 24/7.

Filers can also visit the customer service counter inside to make payments or get answers to tax questions.

When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 18

Where: Idaho State Tax Commission Chinden Campus, 1321 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise

Another way to get help is to call 208-334-7660 in the Boise area or toll free at 800-972-7660. Office and phone hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, except on Wednesdays when the hours start at 9 a.m.

Extended payment option available for eligible tax filers

For those who cannot file their taxes by the Tuesday deadline, the Idaho State Tax Commission also offers an automatic six-month extension if you pay enough of your total tax by the deadline.

In a press release Thursday, the tax commission said an automatic extension means tax filers do not have to send a written request — but it’s an extension of time to file your return, not an extension of time to pay your taxes.

To qualify for the extension, you must pay one of the following:

80% of the estimated tax owed in 2022

100% of the total tax reported on your 2021 income tax return

With a valid extension, tax filers can avoid a late penalty fee, but they will still be charged 5% annual interest on any tax they owe after April 18 until it is paid.

To see if you qualify for an extension, the tax commission asks Idahoans to complete the worksheet on Idaho Form 51.

To make a payment and avoid a filing penalty, filers must do one of the following:

Mail Form 51 with your check or money order

Make an online payment through the Idaho State Tax Commission website

Make a payment at any tax commission office in Idaho

If you qualify for an extension to file, you must file your Idaho tax return and pay any tax and interest due by Oct. 16.

For more information on where to find tax forms, make payments and get answers to tax questions, visit the tax commission website at tax.idaho.gov. The website also offers links to free e-filing options for some tax filers.

U of I offering free tax law assistance to low-income taxpayers

The University of Idaho announced Tuesday it will offer a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic to those in need of tax law advice and representation.

The clinic has been closed for several years, and it is opening its doors again this semester for qualified residents who have legal needs for any tax year.

Clients interested must usually be at or below 250% of the federal poverty level to be eligible. (For a single filer, that is an annual income up to $36,450.) If they qualify, clients can receive advice, paperwork help and, in some cases, representation in legal proceedings.

The clinic is geared to Idahoans who might have made a mistake in previous tax years and are facing legal issues.

The clinic is not a service that helps prepare taxes, but it instead offers legal assistance related to tax law.

The University of Idaho College of Law offers a separate, volunteer-led program to help prepare people’s tax returns as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance partnership with Boise State University. People who earn less than $60,000 per year are eligible for those services.

For information about the tax clinic, contact clinic director John Hinton at [email protected].

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