(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) announced today that the District has seen a dramatic increase in the number of individual and business tax returns filed electronically. More than 92,000 District taxpayers electronically filed their income taxes in 2004 - an almost 30 percent increase compared to 2003. Last year, e-filers represented 33 percent of the District's individual income tax population.
OTR also continues to see impressive growth in business electronic filing. Out of the one million business tax transactions OTR receives each year, nearly 25 percent are now done electronically, which is a more than 300 percent increase from 2003. In 2004, businesses also paid more than $1.18 billion electronically.
"We continue to reap the benefits of our investment in technology to make filing taxes easier and more customer friendly for citizens. We urge each taxpayer to file their taxes through one of our electronic methods. Not only are these methods easy to use, but they are very accurate and can provide faster refunds," said Deputy Chief Financial Officer Daniel L. Black, Jr.
With OTR's Electronic Taxpayer Service Center, taxpayers can file and pay their taxes online and check the status of their refunds. OTR also offers federal/state e-file, which allows taxpayers to transmit their DC and federal returns electronically by using an approved commercial software program either from their home PC or with the assistance of a tax practitioner.
OTR continues to offer free tax preparation services and extended customer service hours during the tax filing season to help District taxpayers with the filing of their individual returns. Free tax preparation services are available at OTR's Customer Service Walk-in Center on the first floor of 941 North Capitol Street, NE. Extended hours for the walk-in center will be available Friday, April 15 from 8:15 am to 8:00 pm. Extended telephone service will also be available Friday, April 15 from 8:15 am to 8:00 pm by calling 202-727-4TAX (727-4829).
