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IRS Offers Last-Minute Tips For Tax Filers

IRS Offers Last-Minute Tips For Tax Filers

The clock is ticking down to the April 15 tax filing deadline, but the Internal Revenue Service says most people have already filed their 2014 returns.

Figures released by the IRS on Friday show that as of April 3 the agency has received nearly 100 million returns, with the majority of filers getting an average refund of $2,800.

For the first time this year, tax filers have to reveal whether they had health insurance. If they did not, they may be subject to what's called a "shared responsibility" payment.

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Raphael Tulino, an IRS spokesman in San Diego, said several exemptions could spare taxpayers the payment.

"If you don't qualify for one of those exemptions, then you may have to make a shared responsibility payment for not having insurance. And if you have to do that, that's done, I think on line 61 of your form 1040," he said.

The penalty is $95 for an adult or 1 percent of income above the filing threshold, whichever is greater.

For last-minute filers who can't make the deadline, the IRS says they can file for an automatic six-month extension, which gives them until Oct. 15 to submit a return.