Attention: The deadline to e-file your 2008 return was 10/15/2009, however, you can still use eSmart Tax to prepare, print and mail your 2008 return to the IRS/State for processing

Tax e-File FAQ: Money - Refund, Tax Owed, e-File charge, Direct Deposit and Direct Debit, etc.

All questions relating to your tax dollars and tax preparation fees

Tax Refund:

Tax Owed:

e-file Service Charge:

I have e-filed my tax return.  When can I expect my refund?  (back to top)

  • Your e-file has to be accepted by the IRS before your refund is processed.  The complete e-file cycle typically takes 2-3 days.  If your return is rejected for any reason and you need to revise and resubmit, the e-file cycle will repeat.
  • The IRS processes refunds once a week, typically on Friday.  Once your return is accepted, if you chose Direct Deposit, your refund may be deposited in your account in about one week.  If you chose to receive a paper check, the IRS needs to print and mail it.  In this case your check may take 2-3 weeks longer to reach you.
  • State refund cycles vary by State.  Some are faster than Federal while others take longer.  Check with your State for specifics.

My e-file was accepted over a week ago. Where is my refund?  (back to top)

You can get refund information about your federal income tax return through the IRS’ secure website 72 hours after IRS acknowledges receipt of your return. Where's My Refund? is fast, easy and safe. You will need to enter three pieces of information from your e-filed return:

  • Your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
  • Your filing status
  • The exact whole dollar amount of your expected refund. 

IRS issues refunds every Friday. If you check the status of your refund and are not given an issuance date, wait until the next week before checking back. If you filed Form 8379 with your return, allow 11 weeks from your e-file date before checking your refund status.

Where's My Refund? 

What is Direct Deposit? Why should I use it?  (back to top)

  • Direct Deposit is an electronic method for the IRS or State to deposit your tax refund electronically into your checking or savings account.
  • Direct Deposit is much faster and more secure than a paper refund check; however, you need to make sure the routing and account numbers for your bank are correct.  Both numbers are printed on your personal checks or you can ask your bank.
  • We suggest you use Direct Deposit for your tax refund whenever possible.

Will there be any charge if I choose Direct Deposit?  (back to top)

No, there are no fees for choosing direct deposit.

I have entered a wrong routing number or account number for Direct Deposit. What should I do?  (back to top)

You need to contact the IRS directly, explain the mistake and have the IRS recall the direct deposit and issue you a check or a new deposit. However, this could take a while. You can call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

I forgot to choose Direct Deposit in my e-file. Can I change it?  (back to top)

There is no way to change your return once it has been transmitted. You will have to wait to receive results back from the IRS. If your return is rejected for an error, you can correct the error and then change to the direct deposit option. If your return is accepted, you will not be able to make changes.

Can I have my refund deposited into someone else's account?  (back to top)

For your protection, Direct Deposit should be made only to an account with the same name as that on a refund check.

Why is my refund short?  (back to top)

The IRS or States can withhold some or all of your refund for back taxes, unpaid student loans, alimony, child support or other liabilities.  If your refund is less than the refund amount on the accepted return, you can contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 for clarification.

I owe federal taxes - How do I pay?  (back to top)

  • You can pay using Direct Debit.  This is an option within the federal portion of your return. 
  • You can pay by mailing a check with a payment voucher to the IRS.  Our system will prepare a payment voucher for you.  You’ll find this voucher by clicking on the Print link next to your return once you have successfully submitted it.  Do not include your tax return if you have e-filed.
  • The IRS accepts payment by credit card.  You can find approved financial institutions at www.irs.gov with contact info and payment procedures. Generally, a convenience fee will be charged by the financial institution.
  • You may also pay in Installments with Form 9465.  This needs to be approved by the IRS and you will be notified after your e-file has been accepted.  This form is also within the federal portion of your return. 

I owe State taxes - How do I pay?  (back to top)

  • Some States accept payment by Direct Debit, but some do not.  Please refer to your State Department of Taxation for more information or go to http://www.esmarttax.com/states.asp.
  • You can pay by mailing a check with a payment voucher to your State.  Our system will prepare a payment voucher for you.  You’ll find this voucher by clicking on the Print link next to your return once you have successfully submitted it.  Do not include your tax return if you have e-filed.
  • You can check your State’s website for more specific information.

When do I pay if I owe taxes?  (back to top)

Tax payment deadline is April 15th, no matter how you pay. With paper check, the payment and voucher need to be mailed before April 15th. With Direct Debit, you can set a withdrawal date on any day before April 15th. Even if you have filed an extension, Form 4868, you still need to pay (estimate) before April 15th. Otherwise, the IRS may add interest and penalties.

What is Direct Debit?  (back to top)

Direct Debit allows the IRS or State to withdraw money directly from your checking or savings account. With e-file, you can select the date of withdrawal for anytime before April 15th, even if you file early. If you file after April 15th, the withdrawal will occur immediately upon e-file acceptance.

Does my bank allow Direct Debit?  (back to top)

Most financial institutions accept electronic funds transfers. Some, especially credit unions, may not allow Direct Debit or Direct Deposit. If you are in doubt, check with your bank. It is your responsibility to ensure that your financial institution accepts electronic funds transfers.

My tax payment has not been deducted from my bank account. How do I check on this?  (back to top)

Once your e-file has been accepted, we do not receive nor can we request more information from the IRS/State about your taxes or your refund. First, you should check your e-file status and make sure your return has been accepted. Then contact the IRS or the State for further information. Please be aware that the IRS and individual States operate differently and that some States do not accept payment by Direct Debit.

What are Installment Payments?  (back to top)

If you owe taxes and would like to pay it in installments, you can complete Form 9465 with your return.  This submits a payment plan to the IRS for approval.  After your return is accepted, the IRS will contact you regarding the payment plan, the monthly amount, etc. so that you can pay your taxes in installments.

I made a mistake and sent in too much money. What should I do?  (back to top)

You don't need to do anything. The IRS service center should make the correction and you should receive a refund of the difference between what you owe and what you sent in. Source: http://www.irs.gov/faqs/index.html.

I made a mistake on my tax return. Should I have paid more taxes?  (back to top)

  • First, allow the return to be processed. Then, if the return is still incorrect after it has been processed, you will need to fill out Form 1040X (PDF), Amended U.S. Individual Tax Return. Include copies of any schedules that have been changed or any W-2 Forms that you did not include initially.
  • To avoid paying interest on any amounts owed, Form 1040X should be submitted after you receive your refund, or by the due date of the return, whichever is earlier. Send a check or money order for the full amount payable to the United States Treasury. On your payment, include your name, address, daytime phone number, social security number, the tax year, and the type of return.
  • For more information visit http://www.irs.gov/faqs/index.html.

How much does it cost to e-file with eSmart Tax?  (back to top)

Prices for e-filing with eSmart Tax can range from FREE to $99, depending on the level of service you’d like to take advantage of. Please check the Pricing page for more information.

How do I pay eSmart Tax for my tax preparation fees?  (back to top)

  • During the checkout process in Step 6: File, you will be asked for your credit card or e-check information.
  • Credit card payments are processed on the same day.  If rejected, your return will not be processed and you will receive an e-mail asking you to resubmit your payment information.
  • For authentication purposes, the option to pay by e-check is available for users that opt to have their refund directly deposited into their bank account or their tax due directly debited from their bank account.  If you choose to pay by e-check, the e-file will be held for a minimum of 3 business days for the check to clear before e-file processing.

My e-file was rejected. Can I get a refund for the e-file charge?  (back to top)

Because your e-file could be rejected for a number of reasons or information errors beyond our knowledge or control, we can not guarantee your e-file will be accepted. You can revise and resubmit your e-file for free, but we will not refund the e-file charge once your return is processed.

Can the fees for using eSmart Tax be subtracted from my tax refund?  (back to top)

Yes.  For a small fee eSmart Tax can have its fees taken out of your refund.  Using this option, you have no out-of-pocket expenses to prepare and file your return and you do not have to provide a credit card or e-check information for payment.

Do I have to pay again if my return is rejected and I have to resubmit?  (back to top)

No, if your return is rejected, you can revise and resubmit for free.

I paid my tax preparation fees to eSmart with my credit card. Will my taxes be deducted from my credit card?  (back to top)

No, eSmart Tax’s tax preparation fee is totally separate from the payment of your taxes. You can pay taxes with a credit card, but only through an IRS authorized financial institution who may also charge you a convenience fee.  

My credit card was declined. How do I submit new payment information?  (back to top)

Click on the Edit link next to your return.  Go to Step 6 - File, verify your payment information or enter new payment information, and then resubmit your return. 

Why was my credit card declined? Can I give you my credit card number over the phone?  (back to top)

There are several reasons why your credit card may be rejected. Make sure you have entered the correct credit card information. Also, make sure you did not use a debit card by accident. Our system currently does not support debit card payments. In addition, some banks issue ATM cards with Visa or MasterCard logos on the card. Anyone using such cards will experience a higher rate of rejection. Sometimes a valid card is rejected for high risk or suspected charge. If rejected, you will either need to try another card, select a different payment option, or call your credit card company. We apologize for the inconvenience, but eSmart Tax does not accept payments over the phone.

My credit card payment for my State return was rejected. Why wasn't my Federal return processed?  (back to top)

  • When you file a Fed/State Joint return, it is considered one e-file. If the payment for State e-file is rejected, both the Federal and the State returns are not processed.
  • If you file a Federal-Only return, then file a State-Only return, then they are treated as two separate returns. If the payment for State e-file is rejected, the Federal return will still be processed.
  • Some States, require that you have an accepted Federal return before your State return is processed. In this case, a Fed/State joint ensures compliance.

Why do you hold my e-file when I choose to pay by e-check? (back to top)

Instead of the quick fund authorization like credit card payment, e-check is processed through ACH (Automated Clearing House) and takes a few days to clear. We hold your e-file for a minimum of 3 days to assure that your check clears.

Why was my e-check rejected? (back to top)

  • The most common reasons are Insufficient Funds, Account Not Found, or a Savings Account that does not allow e-check transactions.
  • You need to confirm with your bank that e-check is allowed for your account.
  • e-checks take few days to clear, and a rejection and/or resubmit request will result in further delay.

My bank already cleared the tax preparation fee from my account. Why is my payment status still showing Verifying Payment? (back to top)

With ACH, your bank may have debited your account and cleared the e-check, but may not have the information nor receive the funds until several days later. Your tax return will be processed immediately after your e-check has cleared, but it takes few days for us to receive the information.

I have submitted my return using e-check payment. Can I change my payment option to credit card? (back to top)

Once you submit your return, the payment and the return are already being processed and you will have to wait for the result before taking further action.


Get your tax refund fast with eSmart Tax.