Can I fill out the 1040 tax form digitally and print it, or should I use a pen? (Filing for Recovery Rebate Credit)

If I submit a paper return for a past year, how long should I expect to wait for the recovery rebate? I heard the IRS is still working through a huge backlog of paper returns.

For paper returns claiming recovery rebate credits from previous years, you're unfortunately looking at a much longer wait time than e-filed returns. Currently, the IRS is taking about 6-8 months to process paper returns, especially those claiming special credits. The backlog has improved since the height of the pandemic, but it's still substantial. I strongly recommend keeping copies of everything you mail, sending it with tracking, and having patience. You can check the status through the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov, but it won't show any information until your return has been processed.

Does this work for older tax years too? I need to file for 2023 but also might need to amend my 2022 return. Can taxr.ai handle both?

I'm a bit skeptical about uploading my tax documents to some random website. How secure is it? And do they keep your documents after analysis or delete them?

It definitely works for older tax years! I used it for my 2022 return when I was filing in 2024, and it handled everything correctly, including the recovery rebate. It should work fine for both your 2023 filing and 2022 amendment. Security is actually something they take very seriously. They use bank-level encryption for all uploads, and they don't store your documents permanently. They're automatically deleted after analysis, usually within 24 hours. You can also manually delete them immediately after you're done if you prefer. I was hesitant at first too, but their privacy policy explained everything clearly.

Wait, how does that actually work? The IRS phone system is notorious for hanging up on people. Does this service somehow bypass the queue or something?

This sounds too good to be true. I've literally never been able to reach a human at the IRS. Are you sure this isn't just some service that charges you and then does the same thing you could do yourself?

It doesn't bypass the queue - that would be against IRS rules. What it does is automate the calling process. Their system repeatedly calls the IRS using the proper menu options until it gets through, then it connects you when an agent answers. You're still going through the official channels, just without you personally having to redial for hours. No, it's definitely not a scam. I had the exact same reaction you did! I was expecting to waste money and get nothing. But think of it this way - their whole business model depends on actually getting people through to the IRS. If they didn't work, they'd have tons of negative reviews. I spoke with an actual IRS representative who helped resolve my recovery rebate issue right away. The time saved was absolutely worth it, especially when trying to track down a missing stimulus payment.

Do you know if we need to include any special forms or worksheets with the 1040 when claiming the recovery rebate? Or is it just the standard 1040?

You'll need to fill out the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet that comes with the instructions for Form 1040 for that specific tax year. This worksheet helps you calculate the correct amount of credit you're entitled to. After completing the worksheet, you'll enter the final amount on the designated line of your Form 1040. For tax year 2022, you'll want to look at Line 30 of Form 1040, but verify this as line numbers can change year to year. You don't actually submit the worksheet with your return - just the completed 1040 with the correct amount entered. However, keep the worksheet with your records in case the IRS has questions later.

I used H&R Block software for my 2022 return last year to claim a missed stimulus payment. It was definitely easier than the PDF route - the software walked me through exactly what to enter and calculated everything. BUT most tax software won't let you e-file prior year returns, so I still had to print and mail it anyway.

This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation and was wondering - when you mail the form certified mail, do you need to send it to a specific IRS processing center, or just the regular address listed in the instructions? I want to make sure it gets to the right place for the fastest processing possible.

You'll want to use the specific processing center address for your state - don't just use the general IRS mailing address. The Form 1040 instructions include a chart showing which processing center to use based on your state of residence and whether you're including a payment or expecting a refund. For recovery rebate credit returns (which are refunds), there are usually dedicated processing centers that handle these faster. Make sure to look up the 2022 Form 1040 instructions specifically, as the addresses can change from year to year. Using the wrong processing center can add weeks to your processing time. Also, I'd recommend writing "Recovery Rebate Credit" clearly on the outside of the envelope - some people report this helps it get routed to the right department more quickly, though this isn't an official IRS requirement.