Tax Return Checkout Steps

How to finish, submit my return? Steps to take during checkout.

When you prepare and e-file your 2023 Taxes, you will need to enter your 2022 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to verify your identity with the IRS. Learn here how you can obtain your AGI from your previous year's tax return. If you do not have a copy of last year's return and/or did not file with eFile.com, you can get a transcript of your prior year return from the IRS.

Before you begin the eFile checkout process, sign into your eFile.com account. Then, follow the steps below - the instructions below contain images that are not interactive, only from inside your account. It may or may not match exactly what's in your account based on your filing status and/or tax situation.

Step

Description
1. Sign in to eFile.com
2. Click "File Now" button

While in your eFile.com account, click "File" on the left side of your eFile.com account screen (or click the green "File Now" button).

My Return

3. Preview and File your tax return

Click one of the buttons to proceed to the next screen or review your tax return before you file it.

Filing Your Return

4. Double checking your return

After the system double checks your return, click the green "Continue Filing" button.

Filing Your Return

5. Click "Continue Filing" button

After reviewing the next steps, click "Continue Filing".

Filing Your Return

6. You want to e-file, click "Continue Filing"

Select the return (or returns) you want to e-file, then click "Continue Filing".

e-Filing Your Returns

7. E-filing your return

Click the "No thanks" button at the bottom to continue e-filing your return.

Audit Assist

8. Click "Accept" button

Consent to seeing all tax return preparation payment options by entering your name(s) in the box (or boxes if you have a spouse) shown and clicking the green "Accept" button.

Checkout-Consent

9. Payment method and Promo Code

Review your tax return preparation fee(s) and select your payment option. If you have a promo code, click the "Have a promo code?" link.

Preparation Fees and Promo Code

9.1. Enter the promo code

Enter the promo code in the white box, click the green "Apply Code" button, and click the green "Continue to Payment" button.

Enter, Apply Promo Code

10.1. Enter your credit or debit card information

Enter your credit or debit card information. Make sure that you enter the correct billing and address information before clicking the green "Pay Now" button. Otherwise, your order will not be processed. After four attempts, there will be a 12-hour processing delay.

Enter Credit- or Debit Card

10.2. e-Collect Agreement and Account Information

To select the e-Collect payment option (to deduct the fees from your refund), click the green "I Agree" button on the e-Collect Agreement Screen shown here:

e-Collect Agreement

Then, enter the requested information shown below and click "Continue Filing".

e-Collect Information

11.1. Options For Receive your refund

Select how you would like to receive your refund, then click "Continue Filing". If you are also filing a state tax return, your state refund options will be listed below the "Your Federal Tax Refund" section as shown on this screen:

Options for Receiving Refund

11.2. Select how you would like to pay your taxes owed

Select how you would like to pay your taxes owed, then click "Continue Filing". If you are also filing a state tax return, your state taxes owed options will be listed below the "Your Federal Taxes Owed" section as shown on the screen below. We recommend you pay your IRS taxes directly at the IRS site as you can better track payment. Direct bank payment transfers or ACH is free. There is processing fee for credit card payments. Visit our guide on how to pay IRS and state taxes.

Options For Paying Taxes Owed

12.1. Enter your federal direct deposit information

Enter your refund direct deposit information for the bank account where you want your refund deposited, then click "Continue Filing". Your name must be on the account. To split your refund deposit up into 2 or 3 accounts, click the "I'd like to deposit my tax return into separate accounts" link. Double check your entries. Once your return has been accepted by the IRS, you will not be able to change the direct deposit information.

Direct Deposit Info

12.2. Enter your federal direct debit information

Enter your taxes owed direct debit information for the bank account where you want your tax payment to be directly debited by the U.S. Treasury. Then, check the "I Agree" box and click "Continue Filing". Please double check your entries. Once your return has been accepted by the IRS, you will not be able to change the direct debit information.

Enter Direct Debit Information for Taxes Owed

13. Enter state Identification details

Provide information to your state to verify your identity online if required by your state, then click "Continue Filing".

State Identification

14.1. Verifying your identity online with the IRS

Begin signing your 2023 Tax Return by verifying your identity online with the IRS. If you filed or e-filed a 2022 federal tax return (and/or your spouse if you're married filing jointly) by any method (online, on paper, on another website, or with a tax preparer), then click the green "Yes" button. Continue to Step 15. If you (and/or your spouse if you're married filing jointly) did not file or e-file a 2022 federal tax return, by any method (online, on paper, on eFile.com, on another website, or with a tax preparer), then click the green "No" button. Skip to Step 16.

Begin Signing Your Return

14.2. Click the blue link No thanks, I'd like to provide my 2022 adjusted gross income (AGI) to sign my return

If you filed or e-Filed a 2022 federal tax return (and/or your spouse if you're married filing jointly) via eFile.com, you are given the option to have our software automatically enter the 5-digit electronic signature PIN that you selected to sign your 2022 Return. Click the green "Continue Filing" button if you wish to do this. Skip to Step 16. Otherwise, click the blue link No thanks, I'd like to provide my 2022 adjusted gross income (AGI) to sign my return to enter your AGI (Step 15).

Identify Yourself To The IRS Prior Year PIN

15. Enter your 2022 AGI details

If you filed or e-Filed a 2022 tax return last year, enter your 2022 AGI in the white box (or boxes if you're Married Filing Jointly) shown below and click "Continue". You can find it on your 2022 tax return. On the Form 1040, your AGI is on line 11 for 2022 returns, regardless of if you used Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR.

For more AGI help, visit our prior-year AGI page.

Enter Prior Year AGI

16. Enter Identity Protection PIN (IP-PIN)

Answer the question on whether or not you have an Identity Protection PIN (IP-PIN). This 6-digit PIN is assigned by the IRS to victims of attempted identity theft and the number is different from the prior-year AGI you entered to verify your identity with the IRS. If you received an IP-PIN, click "Yes" and continue to Step 17. If you did not receive an IP-PIN, click "No" and skip to Step 18.

My Return

17. Enter IP-PIN in white box

Enter your IP-PIN in the white box (or boxes if you're married filing jointly), then click "Continue Filing".

Your IP-PIN

18. Electronically sign your return with a self-selected 5-digit PIN

Electronically sign your return with a self-selected 5-digit PIN. Make up any 5-digit number (except "00000" or "12345") and enter it in the white box. If you're married filing jointly, you'll also need to enter a 5-digit PIN for your spouse. Agree to the Consent to Disclosure by checking the "I have read and agree to these conditions" box and clicking the "Sign Return" button. Once this happens, we will automatically generate a PDF copy of your tax return (which you can find on the "My Account" screen).

Sign Your Return

19. Check the "I'm not a robot" box and click the green "E-file Return" button

This is where you actually e-file your return(s). Check the "I'm not a robot" box and click the green "E-file Return" button.
IMPORTANT: Your return(s) will not be e-filed unless you click the "E-file Return" button AND you see the screen in Step 20.

  • Optional: If if the "I'm not a robot" box does not display check here.

eFile Your Return

20. Verify your tax return status

Your return has been e-filed! Click "My Return" on the left side of your account screen to see your e-file status anytime. After clicking continue, we recommend you download a copy of your return.

Your Return Has Been e-Filed

That's it! Your return has been e-filed. You will receive an email when your return is accepted or rejected by the IRS and/or state tax agency. About 24 hours after your return has been accepted by the IRS and/or state tax agency, you can check the status of your refund.

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