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One million acres of forest protected under The Conservation Fund, including in OR; Trump seeks to set aside his New York hush money guilty verdict after Supreme Court immunity ruling; 'Share the Pennies' weatherization program tackles climate solutions, reduces cost; Utah feels the impact of California's ban on gestation crates.

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SCOTUS gives former President Trump a huge win in terms of immunity, which might apply to charges of election interference. A new poll finds future court appointments are crucial for voters, and President Biden continues to face post-debate calls to leave the race.

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Ugly, imperfect produce destined for the landfill is being upcycled by a California candy company, a Texas volunteer uses his Navy training to map the gaps in broadband, and Pennsylvania has a new commission tasked with reversing its shrinking rural population.

SD tax filers to benefit from free IRS project

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Wednesday, February 7, 2024   

In the coming weeks, South Dakotans will be given a chance to file their taxes online directly with the Internal Revenue Service at no cost. Plans are coming together for the pilot project offered in a dozen states.

IRS officials hope the "Direct File" option will be ready by mid-March, giving taxpayers in selected states about one month to take advantage before the general filing deadline.

Jessie Schmidt, vice president of the South Dakota region for the Better Business Bureau, said it can be done through a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. She noted it is largely designed for those planning a straightforward federal return.

"[If] you're just a direct W2 employee, and that's where the majority of your income comes from, then direct finally may be just absolutely perfect," Schmidt asserted.

The IRS said the option is not available for people who work in the "gig economy" and lean on 1099 documents, nor for those who itemize deductions. The Better Business Bureau said the new service does not appear to have any red flags and uses a secure portal. However, larger tax preparation software companies have criticized the project, saying it will not help people maximize their refunds.

Meanwhile, those who plan to use certain credits, like the Child Tax Credit, are eligible but Schmidt cautioned some similar credits are not allowed.

"If you use the Child and Dependent Care Credit -- so if you've got two kids in day care and you're using that dependent care credit -- then you can't use this," Schmidt pointed out.

The new service only applies to federal returns, but it's a moot point for South Dakota, which does not have a state income tax. The project is separate from the IRS's long-standing "Free File" option, which guides households with incomes below $79,000 to outside vendors for no-cost online filing.


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