{"id":20580,"date":"2017-06-14T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-14T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T17:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T23:47:50","slug":"advantages-of-e-filing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/filing\/efile\/advantages-of-e-filing\/","title":{"rendered":"Advantages of e-filing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>E-filing has some key benefits over sending your return via the U.S. mail.  We\u2019ve outlined advantages of e-filing your taxes here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-should-i-e-file\"><em>\u201cShould I e-file?\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Determining whether or not you should e-file is a decision you should ultimately make. You have the option of e-filing or filing your taxes via mail to the IRS. Before you choose your method of submitting your federal tax returns, you may want to review the benefits and drawbacks of e-filing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-benefits-of-e-filing\">Benefits of e-filing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the benefits of e-filing your tax return:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/filing-taxes-online-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"filing taxes online\" class=\"wp-image-47716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/filing-taxes-online-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/filing-taxes-online-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/filing-taxes-online.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The IRS doesn\u2019t have to re-enter your information into its system, decreasing the risk of data-entry errors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You receive an acknowledgment that the IRS received your return. The IRS doesn\u2019t send an acknowledgment when it receives paper returns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ll likely receive your refund faster if you e-file your return rather than mailing it, simply because it saves you a trip to the Post Office and the mailing time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-weighing-e-filing-advantages-with-drawbacks\">Weighing e-filing advantages with drawbacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve covered e-filing advantages, we should also look at the drawbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drawbacks can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some individual returns (Form 1040) cannot be e-filed if they have attached forms that are not accepted by e-file or able to be sent with a transmittal document (such as the items on Form 8453). However, if the form, schedule or document can be sent to the IRS separately using Form 8453 as a transmittal document, the rest of the return must be e-filed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fees may apply.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-e-filing-and-owing-the-irs\">E-filing and owing the IRS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you owe the IRS, you can ask the IRS to electronically withdraw the money you owe directly from your bank account. You can decide when the IRS withdraws the money \u2013 up to the last minute on the filing deadline, even if you filed your return earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-where-to-go-for-help-with-e-filing\">Where to go for help with e-filing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/online-tax-filing\/\">online tax filing<\/a> now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>E-filing has some key benefits over sending your return via the U.S. mail. We\u2019ve outlined advantages of e-filing your taxes here. \u201cShould I e-file?\u201d Determining whether or not you should e-file is a decision you should ultimately make. You have the option of e-filing or filing your taxes via mail to the IRS. Before you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,125],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-efile","category-filing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<title>Advantages of E-Filing | H&amp;R Block<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn more about the benefits of e-filing your tax return with help from the tax pros at H&amp;R Block.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/filing\/efile\/advantages-of-e-filing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Advantages of 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