Iowa individual income tax returns may be filed electronically for the 2020 tax year by utilizing the Federal/State Electronic Filing program. This program allows you to file both the federal and Iowa returns in one transmission. The state tax data is subsequently retrieved by the Iowa Department of Revenue (hereafter referred to as the "IDOR").
Electronically filed state returns must be transmitted to the IRS Service Center which supports that state. The Austin Service Center supports Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Therefore, the Iowa electronic return will be transmitted to the Austin Service Center, regardless of the location of the Electronic Return Originator (ERO).
Federal/State electronic filing for Iowa returns is available to all interested parties who have been accepted into the federal electronic filing program and transmit returns to the IRS Austin Service Center. However, the IDOR will conduct a suitability check on applicants accepted into the Federal/State Electronic Filing Program and will notify any applicant who is ineligible to participate. If you are currently certified by the IRS, the IDOR will automatically accept you as an electronic filer for Iowa returns under the Federal/State Electronic Filing program.
To participate in the Federal/State Electronic Filing Program, participants must first be accepted by the IRS. For more information regarding the federal application process, see IRS Publication 1345 and IRS Publication 3112. You may also call the IRS ERO helpline at 1-866-255-0654 or visit http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/e-File-Providers-&-Partners/Become-an-Authorized-e-file-Provider.
The IRS will provide the IDOR with the name, address, and contact information of each participant as part of the Federal/State program. There is no need to file an additional application with the IDOR, and EROs need not reapply unless federal requirements change (as specified in IRS Publication 1345).
The following Iowa forms are eligible for electronic filing:
Returns which are excluded or disqualified from electronic filing at the federal level may not be filed electronically at the state level. Additional state exclusions include:
Enter
The Iowa electronic file is created, released, and transmitted simultaneously with the federal electronic file. The files will be transmitted to the IRS Ogden Service Center, and the state tax data will subsequently be retrieved by the IDOR. Therefore, no additional steps are required during this stage of processing.
The presence of an electronically filed state return will be indicated by the appearance of the state's standard two-letter postal abbreviation in the State column of the Electronic Filing Status Report. This report may be found by clicking the 2020 Electronic Filing icon and selecting Reports/Status.
Once the IDOR has retrieved the state tax data, an acknowledgment is issued, indicating acceptance or rejection. If you are a service bureau customer,
Iowa has adopted the PIN signature alternative as implemented by the Internal Revenue Service. If this signature alternative is used, the IA 8453 will not have to be signed by the taxpayer and will not have to be retained by the ERO.
Returns eligible for Iowa electronic filing will have Form IA 8453, Declaration for Electronic Filing, included with the completed return. If the IRS PIN is not used or e-filing a State Only return, form IA 8453 should be reviewed thoroughly before it is presented to the taxpayer for explanation and signature. Signatures are required of the taxpayer (and spouse, if applicable) and the ERO. If the ERO is not the paid preparer, then the paid preparer must also sign the form. Form IA 8453 is to be signed and dated before the return is transmitted to the IRS.
If the IRS PIN is not used or e-filing a State Only return, it is the responsibility of the ERO to keep Form IA 8453, along with all required schedules, attachments and information, for 3 years from the filing season due date or from the filing date, whichever is later.
The following should be attached to Form IA 8453:
Although the Form IA 8453 will be retained by the ERO, Iowa will monitor compliance of the IA 8453 completion and retention requirements by requesting that Form IA 8453 be provided to the state by EROs on a certain portion of the accepted returns. IDOR will send a notification via the acknowledgment system for the selected returns. The notifications can be accessed by clicking on Rejection Detail while in the Electronic Filing Status Report.
If, prior to transmitting the return, the ERO has made non-substantive changes to Form IA 8453 (i.e. corrected an address, the spelling of a name, etc.), it is not necessary to have the taxpayer re-sign Form IA 8453. These changes may be made on the face of the signed Form IA 8453 and initialed by the ERO.
The taxpayer must complete and sign a new IA 8453 if net income on the IA 8453 differs from the electronically filed return by more than $50, or the total Iowa tax, tax withheld, state refund or the tax due differs from the amount on the return by more than $14.
If errors are found after the return has been transmitted and accepted, Form IA 1040X, Amended Return, must be filed. Amended returns may not be filed electronically.
The IDOR accepts electronically filed balance due returns. Enter an "X" on federal
If an electronically filed return has a balance due, Form IA 1040-V, Iowa Individual Income Tax Payment Voucher, will be included in the completed return. The taxpayer should be given the Form IA 1040-V with instructions to mail their payment no later than April 30, 2020. The payment and voucher should be mailed to:
Iowa offers direct deposit of state refunds. Refunds from Iowa may be deposited in either the same account as the federal refund, or in a different account. Direct deposit information may be entered on federal
Taxpayers are advised to wait at least four weeks from the date of transmission before calling the IDOR to inquire about the status of a refund. The IDOR refund line may be reached at 1-800-572-3944 (Iowa only) or 515-281-4966 (from Des Moines area or out of state). When calling this number, the taxpayer should be prepared to provide the Social Security Numbers and the amount of refund on the face of the return.
Phone: 1-800-739-9998, option #3, option #1, option #1
Fax: 1-316-612-3405
Form IA 1040-V
Upon Request - Mail or Fax the IA 8453 with attachments to:
Fax: 515-281-0431
Tax Helpline for Refunds
Iowa only: 1-800-572-3944
Des Moines Area or out of state: 515-281-4966
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