Mass. says most filing tax returns electronically

BOSTON (AP) - Less than a month before the tax filing deadline, Massachusetts officials continue to urge taxpayers to file their state returns electronically if possible.

And most appear to be doing so.

The state Revenue Department said it had processed nearly 1.4 million electronic returns as of Friday, compared to about 154,000 paper returns.

The department said the average turnaround for a refund was 3.4 days for electronically-filed returns and five days for those filed the old-fashioned way.

Officials hope to eventually eliminate all paper returns and may stop mailing blank forms to taxpayers by next year, making them available only upon request.

The department has set up an online page called "The Filing Zone" - a spoof on the classic TV show "The Twilight Zone" - that provides guidance for electronic tax filers.

Cox Media Group