How to best handle IL-2210 when e-filing using FreeTaxUSA

Question

Filed 2023 taxes with FreeTaxUSA and 2210 was included for federal return but not IL-2210 for Illinois return. Because of this, IL DOR assessed underpayment penalty for the 2023 IL tax return even though we paid estimated equal to 110% of the previous year's taxes. Since we are not able to file the IL-2210 when e-filing the Illinois return, should we fill a paper IL-2210 and mail it in as soon as we e-file the Illinois return? Or is there a better way to handle this? Thank you.

Matches · Answer

I once tried to fill out a IL-2210 by hand … it's awful!  For those of us with irregular income, who make corresponding estimated payments, not having the FreeTaxUSA software do it for us is a really big problem.

For irregular income, say $1000 during Q1, Q2, Q3, and then $50000 in Q4, the FreeTaxUSA software isn't gathering the right info for the State to figure out that estimated payments of $50, $50, $50, and $2500 were the right ones to make.  And I'll get a letter from the State come July with a bill for my supposed underpayment.

Please, please, please add support for IL-2210 so I can correctly file my 2024 taxes using your software.

CorinaE · Answer

The Illinois Department of Revenue actually indicates that they encourage taxpayers to let them figure out your penalties for you and send you the bill rather than completing the IL-2210 yourself. If you do choose to file the form when it is not included in your account it would need to be included with the tax return you file, you would need to file your IL tax return via mail and include the IL-2210 with the paper filing.