Rock Island Today

State Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, took to social media this week to remind her constituents that tax day has arrived and they could begin submitting their tax returns.

According to the Illinois General Assembly website, McCombie was first elected to the State Legislature in Springfield in 2016 and represents the 71st House District. McCombie previously was a member of Savanna City Council and served as mayor of Savanna, according to the website.  A graduate of Western Illinois University and lifelong Savanna resident, she owns and operates Blue Appraisals and is a real-estate broker with Mel Foster Company.

“Tax filing season officially begins today ... Jan. 23, when the Illinois Department of Revenue says it will start accepting state income tax returns and the Internal Revenue Service will begin accepting federal income tax returns,” McCombie said in a post on Facebook.

In a news release on Illinois.gov, David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue, said that his department will accept tax returns until April 18. This is a result of April 15 falling on a Saturday and Monday being Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C., according to NBC Chicago. 

“Taxpayers are encouraged to file electronically as early as possible in the tax season and choose direct deposit in order to ensure the fastest processing and issuance of any refund,” Harris said in the news release. “I encourage taxpayers to try My Tax Illinois, our free online account management program that has been recently updated and allows taxpayers to file their individual income taxes electronically.”

According to Illinois Department of Revenue, there are several new items this year for taxpayers to be aware of, including a checkbox allowing the department to provide health insurance eligibility details and also share information with the state’s health benefits exchange, a result of Public Act 102-0799. 

In another update, taxpayers who received student loan forgiveness that is not included in their federal adjusted gross income for tax years 2021 and 2022 must follow a new addendum to the IL-1040 and Schedule M instructions, according to the department. 

According to MyTax.Illinois.gov, the website offers state residents a chance to register a business, file taxes or check on the status of a refund. The website said that business owners also can file their taxes on the site. Additionally, Harris said in the release that many tax preparers and third-party software companies offer electronic filing.

In other changes this year, the Illinois Department of Revenue said that the 100 Club of Illinois has been added as a donation option on the Schedule G form for charitable donations.