Even though the deadline to file and pay federal income taxes has passed for most people, you may still be dealing with tax-related issues.
Check your refund status
You can check on your refund using the Where's My Refund? Tool on the IRS website or the IRS2Go app. If you don't have access to a computer, you can call 800-829-1954.
You'll need your Social Security number, tax filing status and the exact amount of the refund from your tax return.
The tool updates once a day, so you don't need to check more often.
Check your withholding
You should check your withholding using the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on the IRS website. This will help make sure your employer is withholding the correct amount of tax from your paycheck and help to avoid an unexpected amount due and possible penalties when you file your taxes next year.
You can use the results from the Tax Withholding Estimator to fill out a new Form W-4 and adjust your income tax withholding if necessary. If you have pension income, you can use the results to complete a Form W-4P and submit to your payer.
Review your payment options
If you owe taxes, you can review all of your payment options online on the IRS website.
Bank Account
You can use your bank account on IRS Direct Pay.
Debit or Credit Card
You can pay with your debit or credit card or digital wallet with one of the third party payment processors the IRS uses.
Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
You can use the Electronic Tax Payment System to pay your taxes.
You'll need to enroll first if you haven't already before you make a payment.
This is the best option for businesses or large payments.
Wires
You can do a Same-day wire at your bank. You would need to fill out this Same Day Taxpayer Worksheet and take it to your financial institution.
Check or Money Order
You can mail a check or money order to the IRS. These are addresses by state for individuals to use when making a payment after you've already filed your taxes.
Cash
You can make a payment in cash with one of the Cash Processing Companies used by the IRS at a participating retail store.
PayNearMe stores are participating 7-Eleven, Ace Cash Express, Casey's General Store, CVS Pharmacy, and Family Dollar stores.
Pay with Cash/VanillaDirect stores are participating Dollar General, Family Dollar, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Pilot Flying, 7-Eleven, Speedway, Kum & Go, Stripes, Royal Farms, and Gomart stores.
Apply for a payment plan
If you need more time to pay, you can apply for a payment plan on the IRS website.
Carefully consider if you need to amend a tax return
If you realize that you made an error or forgot to enter something on your tax return after you filed it, use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant - Should I File an Amended Return Tool online to help determine if you should correct errors or make other changes to the tax return you filed.
Common errors that you should fix are errors about filing status, income, deductions and credits. You usually don't need to file an amended return to correct a math error or if you forgot to attach a form or schedule.
Normally, the IRS will correct math errors and notify you by mail, and they will send a letter requesting any missing forms or schedules.
Note that if you are expecting a refund from your original return, you should not file an amended return before the original return has been processed.
It's currently taking the IRS longer to process mailed documents including paper tax returns and all tax return related correspondence.
It's taking more than 21 days to issue refunds for some 2020 tax returns that require review, including incorrect recovery rebate credit amounts and returns that used 2019 income to figure the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit.