David Harris Director the Illinois Department of Revenue | Official Website
David Harris Director the Illinois Department of Revenue | Official Website
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) has reminded taxpayers of the impending deadline for filing 2024 state individual income tax returns. The deadline is set for Tuesday, April 15. Both the Illinois Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) commenced accepting individual income tax returns on January 27.
IDOR Director David Harris advised taxpayers to file electronically and use direct deposit for faster processing and refunds. "We encourage taxpayers to file electronically and choose direct deposit in order to ensure the fastest processing and issuance of any refunds," Harris stated.
Illinois is joining the IRS Direct File program this year, allowing eligible taxpayers to submit their federal returns directly to the IRS. This information can be transferred to MyTax Illinois to file state returns for free. "IRS Direct File offers free federal tax return filing, step-by-step guidance, and real-time online support," Harris explained. He added, "Eligible taxpayers can then use the verified Direct File information from a federal return to file their state taxes for free at MyTax Illinois, not only saving time but also reducing the likelihood of errors."
Apart from filing the Form IL-1040 at no cost through MyTax Illinois, taxpayers can make payments, answer department inquiries, and check refund status. Information regarding IL-PINs, estimated tax payments, and Form 1099-G amounts can also be accessed.
An error-free electronically filed Illinois return should result in a direct deposit refund in about four weeks. In 2024, IDOR received about 6.2 million IL-1040 returns, with electronic filings constituting 91.5%.
Taxpayers unable to meet the April 15 deadline will automatically receive a six-month extension until October 15, 2025. However, this extension does not cover tax payments. Due taxes must be paid by April 15 to avoid penalties. For those who cannot file but owe taxes, the Form IL-505-I, Automatic Extension Payment for Individuals, is available.
For tax inquiries, IDOR provides assistance via 1-800-732-8866 or 217-782-3336, with free language support for those with Limited English Proficiency. Extended phone hours are offered on April 14 and April 15 for any last-minute questions.
Up-to-date tax information and resources can be found on IDOR's website at tax.illinois.gov.
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