The Illinois Department of Revenue is working on tips and changes for Illinoisans who will be filing taxes in 2023.  IDOR Director David Harris says with the 2023 tax filing season around the corner, the hope is to prepare taxpayers to have the necessary documents available and to electric file if at all possible. 

When gathering documents for tax filing, make sure to have your adjusted gross income from 2022 on the IL-1040, a copy of your federal income tax return and schedules, a copy of all W-2s and 1099 forms, a property number and amount of taxes paid if claiming a property tax credit, voluntary emergency worker credit certificate, receipts for qualified education or moving expenses, and your routing and account number. 

Taxpayers may be able to reduce the amount of taxes owed through tax credits like the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit, the Illinois K-12 Education Expense Credit, and the Property Tax Credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC has been increased to 20% of the federal EITC.  The Volunteer Emergency Worker Credit is a $500 non-refundable tax credit for volunteer fire emergency workers. 

MyTax Illinois is the IDOR’s free online account management program. You can also utilize Where’s My Refund.  The information available includes IL-PINs, amounts of any estimated tax payments made, amounts reported on Form 1099-G, tax-prep software, tax professional, or even the paper form for IL-1040.

Taxpayers are encouraged to file electronically as early as possible.  If taxpayers electronically file an error-free return, they should receive a direct deposit refund in around four weeks. IDOR is continuing its efforts to work on expediting the process, along with increasing and enhancing efforts to protect taxpayers from identity theft and tax fraud. 

If you need more time, the state of Illinois does grant an automatic six-month extension to file an IL-1040 each year, but taxpayers must still pay any money owed on their returns by April 15th, 2024, to avoid penalties and interest.  Find out more at MyTax Illinois.  

Some changes this year include changing the 2023 personal exemption amount to $2,425.  The original due date for filing the 2023 Form IL-1040 and paying the 2023 individual income tax liability is April 15th, 2024, and the extended due date for filing a return is October 15th, 2024. Find out more information by calling 1-800-732-8866 or 217-782-3336.  You may also visit tax.illinois.gov.