ANNAPOLIS — With the tax-filing season in full swing, Comptroller Peter Franchot recently announced that his office has processed more than one million tax returns. The one-millionth return was submitted by a Prince George’s County tax filer.
To date, 1,020,123 returns have been processed, with more than $1.2 billion in total refund payments issued. Comptroller Franchot urged Marylanders to
e-file, as it’s the most secure and efficient way to submit a tax return. Most Marylanders who file electronically receive their state refunds within three business days.
“As my office aggressively confronts a growing number of tax fraud and identity theft schemes, e-filing is the safest way for Marylanders to submit tax returns,” said Comptroller Franchot. “It also enables us to more quickly process returns and get refunds back to taxpayers.”
March 1, 2016, represents the earliest date that the one-million milestone has been reached, outpacing the previous mark of March 6, 2012. Through expanded public outreach efforts, the number of electronic returns processed has steadily increased. Last year, the Comptroller’s Office processed more than 2.5 million returns electronically, a record high. Electronic filers represented more than 81 percent of all personal income tax returns filed last year.
This year, the tax-filing deadline is Monday, April 18, 2016, rather than the traditional April 15 date, which is Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C.
Marylanders can file their state tax returns electronically through the state’s free iFile system, which can be accessed online at www.marylandtaxes.com. A list of other approved vendors to file electronically can also be found on the website.
For more information on any tax-related matter, visit www.marylandtaxes.com, call 1-800-MD-TAXES (1-800-638-2937) or 410-260-7980 in Central Maryland, or email taxhelp@comp.state.md.us.