[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-402834-105":59,"doc-detail-402834-en":134},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":127,"head_meta":129,"extra_data":131,"updated_unix":133},105,"en","tax-preparation-and-what-to-do-with-your-refund","Tax Preparation and What To Do With Your Refund","","Guidance for taxpayers on choosing the correct tax form, understanding when filing is required, and identifying eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Explains how to complete Form 1040 or Form 1040SR, and reviews tax filing assistance options, including IRS Free File, Free File Fillable Forms, and VITA. Advises against products promising faster refunds via loans or advances, and provides practical strategies for planning how to use a refund.",{"@graph":69,"@context":126},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/tax-preparation-and-what-to-do-with-your-refund/402834/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/tax-preparation-and-what-to-do-with-your-refund/402834.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"kopisore","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-09-27",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":39},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118,122],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"Do I have to file a tax return if I owe no taxes or have low income?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"You may still need to file depending on your situation. Filing may be necessary to claim credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, and there is a penalty for not filing when you are required to.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What free tax filing options does the document recommend?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"It recommends IRS Free File (online Q&A software), Free File Fillable Forms (prepare forms and file electronically), and free tax preparation services such as VITA, M-VITA, and TCE.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"Why should I be cautious about rapid refund or refund anticipation loan products?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"These products can involve loans or advances based on your refund amount, may require repayment, and can include application fees. The document notes that waiting for the IRS refund and using free IRS tools can be quicker without those fees.",{"name":123,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":124},"How can I plan what to do with my tax refund?",{"text":125,"@type":113},"The document suggests using the refund for savings, paying down overwhelming debt, or covering upcoming regular expenses while avoiding unnecessary purchases and not spending the refund before it is received.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":128,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":130,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":132,"site_id":62},402834,1790688719,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":135},{"doc_id":132,"user_id":136,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":137,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":138,"file_id":139,"file_url":140,"file_type":141,"file_size":142,"view_count":39,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":14,"language":143,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":144,"faqs":145,"seo_title":146,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":147,"read_time":24,"preview_page_count":4},962090880963,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","Tax Preparation and What To Do With  \nYour Refund  \nLorna Saboe-Wounded Head | SDSU Extension Family Resource Management Field Specialist  \nTax season can be a stressful time for filers if you are not sure of the correct form to use and are concerned about filing the correct information. This article will provide a quick overview of which form to use for standard situations, recommendations for seeking out tax filing help, and suggestions for what to do with your tax return.  \nDo I have to file and which form should I use?  \nFile a tax return even if you do not owe taxes or have little earned income. There is no penalty for filing taxes when you don’t need to, but there is a penalty for not filing your taxes if needed. Depending on your filing status (single, married, etc.) and the number of dependents, you may qualify for the Earned Income [Tax Credit. See ](Tax Credit. See www.irs.gov)[www.irs.gov](Tax Credit. See www.irs.gov) Earned Income Tax Credit ([https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/](https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/)[ ](https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/)[earned-income-tax-credit](earned-income-tax-credit)) to learn about income qualification for this credit. If you qualify, you have to file taxes to receive this credit. The simplest and easiest tax form to complete is Form 1040. Form 1040SR is used for people 65 and older.  \nTax Filing Assistance  \nIf your tax return is not going to be complicated, paying someone to complete and file a tax return for you may not be a good use of your resources. Here are three free filing options that can be completed either online or face to face.  \n[1. Use Free File on ](1. Use Free File on IRS.gov)[IRS.gov](1. Use Free File on IRS.gov) ([https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free](https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free)) . The free software guides you through a Q&A format to help prepare your return and claim every credit and deduction for which you may be eligible.  \n2. Use the Free File Fillable Forms ([https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms](https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-forms)) . This option allows you to prepare your forms and to file electronically.  \n3. Use a free tax preparation service-Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a free tax preparation service available for anyone with an income of less than $57,000 . Other similar services are Military Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (M-VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) . To find the nearest site, search online at [https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Find-a-Location-for-Free-Tax-Prep](https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Find-a-Location-for-Free-Tax-Prep) or call the IRS at 800-906-9887.  \nCarefully consider tax preparation services that advertise a rapid tax refund, refund anticipation loan (RAL), or any product that involves receiving your refund quicker than waiting for the refund from the IRS. The advance, loan or direct deposit is based on the amount of your refund. Receipt of a product identified as a loan means you will need to pay back the loan. If you have other financial obligations, you may not have the funds from the tax refund to pay the RAL. In addition, there will be fees associated with the application for the advance refund and the loan. Additionally, you will have to pay the fee for the tax preparation service.  \nPromising receipt of the funds quicker than receiving the tax refund from the IRS is one marketing strategy used for these products. Filing your taxes electronically using the free IRS software or the free fillable forms, and using direct deposit of your refund to a bank account or pre-paid card is as quick as a rapid refund or RAL. In addition, there are no fees for the tax preparation service or to process the loan.  \nPlanning to use your refund  \nOnce you have filed your taxes, make a plan for how you will use your refund. Options for using","cbCaicOhGwvzM0pn","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaicOhGwvzM0pn","pdf",108322,"English","# Choosing the Right Tax Form\n## Filing requirements and eligibility\n## Common IRS forms\n# Tax Filing Assistance Options\n## Free File on IRS.gov\n## Free File Fillable Forms\n## VITA and similar services\n# Refund-Related Cautions\n## Rapid refund and refund anticipation products\n# Planning How to Use Your Refund\n## Saving and debt payoff\n## Preparing for upcoming expenses\n## Avoiding spending before receipt","[{\"question\":\"Do I have to file a tax return if I owe no taxes or have low income?\",\"answer\":\"You may still need to file depending on your situation. Filing may be necessary to claim credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, and there is a penalty for not filing when you are required to.\"},{\"question\":\"What free tax filing options does the document recommend?\",\"answer\":\"It recommends IRS Free File (online Q\\u0026A software), Free File Fillable Forms (prepare forms and file electronically), and free tax preparation services such as VITA, M-VITA, and TCE.\"},{\"question\":\"Why should I be cautious about rapid refund or refund anticipation loan products?\",\"answer\":\"These products can involve loans or advances based on your refund amount, may require repayment, and can include application fees. The document notes that waiting for the IRS refund and using free IRS tools can be quicker without those fees.\"},{\"question\":\"How can I plan what to do with my tax refund?\",\"answer\":\"The document suggests using the refund for savings, paying down overwhelming debt, or covering upcoming regular expenses while avoiding unnecessary purchases and not spending the refund before it is received.\"}]","Tax Preparation and What To Do With Your Refund | PDF",1790534410]