MARLBORO COUNTY — With the 2025 filing season underway and the anticipated high demand for IRS phone lines around the Presidents Day holiday, the Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers to visit IRS.gov and use online tools to get immediate answers.

Presidents Day weekend is typically a busy time in the tax filing season, according to IRS statistics, when calls to IRS phone lines are often at their highest.

The IRS has resources to help taxpayers beat the rush. On IRS.gov, taxpayers can use the Let us help You page that covers most topics for filing season and beyond. In addition, people can get free help online with self-service options.

The IRS offers several free filing options. There’s also step-by-step help about filing a personal federal income tax return.

Skip the mail: File electronically and choose direct deposit

Approximately 93% of taxpayers file their federal income tax returns electronically, and most choose direct deposit to receive their refunds. According to Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service, paper refund checks are 16 times more likely to have an issue, like the check being lost, misdirected, stolen or uncashed.

The IRS offers free online and in-person tax preparation options for eligible taxpayers through IRS Free File, IRS Direct File and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.

Taxpayers who earned $84,000 or less in 2024 can use IRS Free File Guided Tax Software now through Oct 15. IRS Free File Fillable Forms are also available at no cost to any income level and provide electronic forms that people fill out and electronically file themselves.

Direct File is now open in 25 participating states where taxpayers can use Direct File to e-file directly with the IRS for free. It’s a free web-based service – available in English and Spanish – that works on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers. It guides taxpayers through a series of questions to prepare their federal tax return step-by-step. Direct File automatically guides taxpayers to state tools to complete their state taxes. Get help from IRS customer service representatives through a live chat feature in English and Spanish. Interested taxpayers can go to directfile.irs.gov, where they can determine if they’re eligible.

The VITA and TCE programs offer free tax return preparation to eligible people in the community by IRS certified volunteers through a network of community partnerships. The VITA program has operated for over 50 years. VITA sites offer free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including, people who generally make $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers. In addition to VITA, TCE program volunteers offer free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

MilTax, a Department of Defense program, generally offers free return preparation and electronic filing software for federal income tax returns and up to three state income tax returns for all military members and some veterans, with no income limit.

Skip the wait: Get tax info with an Individual Online Account

Individuals with Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) can create or securely access their Individual Online Account and get the latest information about their federal tax account.

With an IRS online account, taxpayers can:

Access their tax records, including their Adjusted Gross Income from their most recently filed tax return.

View, approve and sign authorizations from their tax professional.

Request and view their identity protection PIN (IP PIN), a six-digit number known only to the taxpayer and the IRS that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using their information.

Check refund status.

Validate and save bank accounts.

View balance and payment history and create a payment plan.

Make a payment and schedule or cancel future payments.

Get virtual assistance for balance due and payment-related questions.

Manage their communication preferences.

Skip the wondering: Check refund status online

The popular Where’s My Refund? tool on IRS.gov has the most up-to-date information available about a taxpayer’s refund status. Recent improvements to Where’s My Refund? allow taxpayers to see more detailed refund status messages in plain language, reducing the need for taxpayers to call the IRS.

Most Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) related refunds should be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 3 if taxpayers chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return. Taxpayers can check Where’s My Refund? for their personalized refund date. Where’s My Refund? should show an updated status by February 22 for most early EITC/ACTC filers.