Have you filed your taxes yet?

Dear Friends,

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” We’re just about 10 days away from the deadline to file your taxes for 2013, and I want to ensure every Delawarean is aware of the ways Delaware and the IRS can make this process as easy as possible.

If you have questions about filing taxes online, the IRS’ 1040 Central provides all of the information you’ll need to file your individual tax return quickly and easily. If you’re comfortable doing your taxes and determining your potential tax credits on your own, you can use IRS Free File and prepare your taxes quickly and without paying a cent.

If you’re not comfortable navigating the tax forms online, try calling 302-286-1654 for help or visiting  one of the the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers in all three counties that provide face-to-face help and can ensure that you save time and money on your tax filings:

For elderly or low- to moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own taxes, the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) provide free, in-person help. To find the nearest VITA or TCE program for you or someone you know, you can visit the VITA/TCE information page.

While most of us are working on filing our 2013 tax returns, there are thousands of Delawareans who should also be filing returns for 2010 they never filed three years ago or claiming a 2010 refund that never made it to their pocketbook. Did you know that there are nearly 4,000 Delawareans who are leaving an average of about $600 each in federal tax refunds on the table from 2010? Fortunately, there is still an opportunity to file that return or claim that money. But you have to act by this April 15th so find out how here: http://1.usa.gov/QL6kvk. .

I hope these resources will help make your tax day as smooth and straightforward as possible. As always, you can reach out about this, or anything else, through email or by contacting me on Twitter @SenatorCarper and on Facebook at facebook.com/tomcarper.

Sincerely,