How to Get Your Illinois State Tax Refund

If you expect to get a refund from the state of Illinois, you should file your return as early as possible. In addition to any refund you are expecting due to money you paid as estimates or money you had withheld, Illinois also offers some refundable tax credits. One of these is the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which helps lower-income workers. If eligible for any of the refundable credits, you may receive a tax refund without having paid any money into the system.http://tax.illinois.gov/Individuals/Refunds.htm

A tax refund is basically the money returned from an interest-free loan you have given to the government. If you would rather hold on to that money, you can reduce your estimates and/or withholdings to try to get closer to the actual amount of your tax liability. Get a tax preparer to help with the calculation, because if you reduce your payments too far below your actual liability you will risk owing interest and penalties when you file your return.http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html 

1. The state of Illinois offers an online tax filing service that most taxpayers are eligible for.https://www.revenue.state.il.us/app/ifile/Eligibility.html This is the fastest way to file and get your refund.
   1. In order to use the system, you need a state-assigned PIN.
   2. The PIN can be found above your name on the pre-printed Illinois tax forms you received in the mail.
   3. You can also call 1-800-732-8866 to see if a PIN has been assigned to you.
   4. If you have not filed an Illinois tax return within the past two years, your Illinois driver's license or state ID number can be used as your PIN.https://www.revenue.state.il.us/app/ifile/1040Faq.html 
2. If your particular circumstances are complicated—if you run your own business, have income from several states, or own rental properties, for instance—you might benefit from the advice of a professional and should consider having your return professionally prepared by a CPA or a tax attorney.https://www.revenue.state.il.us/app/ifile/1040Faq.html 
3. Tax preparation services are usually more inexpensive than a CPA, and can usually complete a return more quickly.https://www.revenue.state.il.us/app/ifile/1040Faq.html 
4. You can also prepare your taxes using paper and pencil, or use a purchased tax preparation software package. Purchase of a federal return software package usually includes one free state return.https://www.revenue.state.il.us/app/ifile/1040Faq.html 

Errors in your return can cause your refund to be delayed. Here are a few common errors to check for:

1. Make sure your social security number is input accurately.
2. Your name needs to be spelled correctly. If you have prepared your return by hand, make sure it is legible.
3. Use the right form for your circumstances.
4. If you file a paper return, you need to sign it; if it is a joint return, both taxpayers need to sign.
5. Math errors can cause your refund to be delayed.
6. Illinois generally requires you to use the same filing status as you used on your federal return.http://www.taxesindepth.com/state-taxes-Illinois.html 

Although you can request your refund by paper check, you can receive it faster if you use direct deposit. Taxpayers who e-file in Illinois can get their refund directly deposited into their bank account within a week of filing.http://www.olt.com/il/ilrefund.asp

1. Direct deposit can be made into either a savings account or a checking account.
2. In order to sign up, you need your bank's nine-digit routing number as well as your bank account number.http://www.olt.com/il/ilrefund.asp
   

After you have filed, you can check the status of your refund using a few methods provided by the state. Illinois has both a web portal and a taxpayer assistance number (1-800-732-8866) that you can use to verify that your refund is being processed.https://www.revenue.state.il.us/app/refund/servlet/RefundStatus To request a replacement check in the event that your refund is not received or your check is lost, call the state comptroller's office at 1-800-877-8078.http://www.iltax.com/Individuals/Refunds.htm

Disclaimer: The content in this page is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Please contact a finance professional before using the information presented here.