Tax season is underway, with Maine Revenue Services and the IRS processing 2023 Individual Income Tax Returns. In Maine, the deadline is Wednesday, April 17. If you live in a FEMA-designated disaster area affected by the severe storms and flooding, you now have until June 17, 2024 to file state and federal tax returns. Taxpayers in these areas are encouraged to make payments and file if they are able and prepared to do so before June 17, 2024.

Here at Maine Revenue Services, we understand that tax season can be stressful. Here are some tips to make it easier.

1. Get started. The stress of taxes prompts a lot of folks to procrastinate, but that’s not a good idea.  The sooner you start, the more time you give yourself to ask questions, resolve issues, or track down any information you need, and the easier the process will be.
    
2. Gather your records. Organize what you have and make sure you are not missing any official tax documents — including W-2s from employers, 1099s for non-employment income, statements from financial institutions, and other records related to income from investments and freelance work. Employers are required to provide W-2 forms by January 31, 2024, so if you haven’t received yours already, it’s a good idea to speak with your employer. If you work with a tax professional to prepare your taxes, check with that person to confirm which documents you need to complete the filing process.
   
   
3. File online. Though Maine Revenue Services has been successfully offering a safe, secure electronic platform to file and pay state taxes since 1996, more than 72,000 Mainers still file Individual Income Taxes on paper. While some folks lack reliable internet access, others just like the feeling of having something tangible. But filing on paper is expensive and inefficient. And filing online is going to get your return processed faster than filing on paper.
4. Get to know the Maine Tax Portal. This year, filing online is easier than ever as Maine Revenue Services’ new online system, the Maine Tax Portal, is open for Individual Income Taxes for the first time. This platform, which has been rolled out in stages since 2021 and is already being used by more than 140,000 Maine businesses, is part of a multi-year modernization effort. The Maine Tax Portal replaces I-File and EZ Pay, which have been deactivated, and makes filing, managing, and paying Maine taxes, fees, and programs faster, easier, and more convenient.
   
   On the new system, in addition to paying and filing state taxes, you can set up payment arrangements, check balances, and view notices from Maine Revenue Services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you use third-party, self-service software to prepare and file taxes, you can continue to use those services, just as you have in the past. If you work with tax professionals who prepare and electronically file your taxes, they can continue to use the same platform they have been using. If you need to have them view your payment history, you can create a username on the Maine Tax Portal and authorize access to your Maine Tax Portal account. Step-by-step instructions and resources are available at maine.gov/revenue/portal.
   
   
5. Get help. Maine Revenue Services is offering free, live training webinars on how to use the Maine Tax Portal through April 11, 2024. You only need to attend only one session for the type of Maine tax, fee, or program that pertains to you. To ensure that the tax season goes as smoothly as possible, we encourage all Individual Income taxpayers, as well as the tax professionals who are not familiar with the Maine Tax Portal, to attend these online training sessions and visit the Maine Revenue Services website to learn how to use the new system. You can find the schedule here. Maine Revenue Services has training videos, and other informational resources online at maine.gov/revenue/portal. You can send questions by email to taxpayerassist@maine.gov with “MTP” in the subject line or by calling Maine Revenue Services at 207-624-9784.

Michael Fortin is the director of promotion for the Maine Tax Portal at Maine Revenue Services, a bureau of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services.