Castelli Explains Changes for 2012 Tax Returns

• Editor's Note: What follows is user-generated news. If you would like to post your news to Patch, for detailed instructions. The following is a press release from NYS Assemblyman Robert Castelli

Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli (R, C – Goldens Bridge) announced to his constituents today new procedures at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to streamline our state’s tax-reporting system and lower costs for taxpayers.

“By working with Governor Cuomo, my colleagues and I have enacted new policies that modernize and streamline the state’s tax system, in order to make filing New York state tax returns and receiving refunds easier and less costly for taxpayers,” Castelli said.

“Updating the state’s tax-reporting system and making it more user-friendly helps taxpayers receive their state rebates faster, while greatly cutting down on paper waste and the associated environmental and financial costs.” 

Several of the changes that came about as a result of last year’s budget, which will affect this year’s state tax filings include:

• New York State paper tax forms will no longer be mailed automatically. Tax forms are available atwww.tax.ny.gov, at local libraries, or by calling Assemblyman Castelli’s office (914) 686 – 7335.
• Software companies can no longer charge a separate fee for the electronic filing of tax returns.   
• In addition to either direct deposit or paper check, taxpayers may now request to receive their tax refunds on a debit card.  
• Taxpayers with incomes below $57,000 may be eligible to prepare and file their federal and state income taxes for free.
• An Enhanced Online Service account will give taxpayers the ability to view their prior tax-filing history, respond online to department notices and to sign up for email alerts.

In addition to these enhancements to the state’s tax-filing procedures, Assemblyman Castelli authored and passed legislation along with Assemblyman George Latimer and Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins to modernize county clerk offices throughout New York by allowing real-property transactions to be filed electronically.

The bill was signed into law by Governor Cuomo as Chapter 549 of the laws of 2011, last September.

“Preparing and paying one’s taxes is never an enjoyable experience,” Castelli said. “It is my duty as your assemblyman to enact policies that will help hard-working Westchester County families expedite this process, in order to make it less painful, while lowering the costs associated with filing and preparing tax returns.”  

Castelli says that this increased government efficiency goes hand-in-hand with his mantra of lower taxes, and “spending smarter and not harder.”

In December, he voted to enact the lowest marginal tax rate for the middle class in over fifty years as part of the Governor’s fair tax reform bill, as well as to repeal the MTA payroll tax on many small businesses in Westchester.