Free online state tax filing options are available nationwide

Federal tax returns get most of the attention during the annual tax season. That's because Uncle Sam's individual income tax laws apply across the country.

But as noted in yesterday's post, states also demand taxes from their residents, and most of them require annual income tax filings, too.  taxes also are demanded of most Americans. And in most of the 43 states and District of Columbia that tax some type of individual earnings, April 15 also is the due date.

No individual income tax states: The only states with no personal income tax at all are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.

Tax savvy readers noticed a new member to the list. Since the start of this year, New Hampshire no longer taxes dividend and interest income.

Tax savvy readers also noticed that I didn't include Washington state on the totally no-tax on personal income list. That's because while Evergreen State tax officials don't collect from their residents' wage income, the state does levy capital gains tax on wealthier residents. So, technically, it's no longer a totally no-individual-income-tax state.

State/U.S. filing deadlines: Most states with individual income taxes tend to be tied to our filings for Uncle Sam. That generally means that you need to finish your federal return first so you can use some of that information to complete your state (and, in some cases, more local jurisdiction) return.

Most of the states also follow the federal filing deadline, which this year is the usual April 15 deadline. Five, however, don't. They are —

• Hawai'i, which wants state flings by April 20;
• Delaware and Iowa, with a tax deadline of April 30;
• Virginia, with a May 1 tax due date; and
• Louisiana, which has a May 15 filing deadline.

In addition, two states that do follow the federal tax filing calendar offer their taxpayers a later state tax deadline if they file electronically. They are —

• New Mexico, with an April 30 e-file due date; and
• Oklahoma, with an April 20 e-file deadline.

If you're a Land or Enchantment or Sooner State taxpayer who files a paper return, those documents must be submitted to the states' tax departments by April 15.

And in all cases, federal and state, when a tax deadline falls on a weekend or federal, or in state cases, a state holiday, the tax due date is moved to the next business day. That applies this year to Hawai'i taxpayers and Oklahoma e-filers since April 20 is on Sunday. These taxpayers' state returns are due by Monday, April 21, this year.

E-filing nationwide: As the later deadline for e-filers noted above shows, states are, like the Internal Revenue Service, going electronic as much as possible. In fact, instead of just encouraging e-filings, in some cases they are requiring it from both individual and business taxpayers.

On Tax Day, most taxpayers nationwide use tax software to prepare and e-file their returns. Those with adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less can find a program this year at Free File, the no-cost online tax preparation and electronic filing program offered by the IRS and its Free File Alliance partners. To help complete 2024 tax year returns,  eight software companies are participating.

In some cases, those Free File companies offer free state returns, too. But not all. So check out the options carefully before choosing.

You also might be able to use the IRS' own no-cost, online tax preparation software and e-filing program. Known as Direct File, this year it's available to eligible taxpayers in 25 states. Where state taxes also must be filed, Direct File sends those taxpayers to state-supported tools where they submit their state tax returns.

Other levies online, too: While no-income-tax state residents don't have to worry about annual individual filings, their states do collect other levies. I know from personal experience, having lived most of my life in two such states, Texas and Florida, state officials always find some way to ding you.

That's why most of these states join their compatriots in collecting many of those other taxes and fees, such as payment of excise and sales taxes or business franchise tax fees, electronically.

Even some more local jurisdictions within states, like my local county tax assessor-collector who gets my property tax payments each year, allow and even encourage taxpayers to go online to those sites to take care of those obligations.

The Texas Comptroller's website has general property tax info and a link to my county tax office. Check your state's tax site to see if it has similar information about your local tax collectors' online accessibility.  

State tax data and payment options: Since all us taxpayers want to get our filings, federal and state, over as soon as possible it's easier to go with a tax return preparation and electronic filing option that consolidates them.

However, it doesn't hurt to check out all state preparation and e-filing possibilities, especially if you don't meet the federal free filing requirements. That's the case, for example, if you the IRS' Free Fillable Forms option. This Free File component only covers federal filings. 

Below as the state tax/revenue departments' online tax, both business and individual in some cases, that offer electronic filing and payment options.

If you just want other tax information for your state, this state tax department directory has links to those home pages.

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